Criteria
Rating:	Overall rating of item	High, Good, OK, Fair, Ugh
WOW Factor:	Overall rating of entertainment value	High, Good, OK, Fair, Ugh
Method:	Overall rating of method, handling or gaff	High, Good, OK, Fair, Ugh
Value:	Overall rating of dollar value based upon materials and workmanship	High, Good, OK, Fair, Ugh

Item/Manufacturer	Comments
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Pen Through Arm Jesse Feinberg Rating: Ugh WOW: Ugh Method: Fair Value: Ugh	Without tipping the gaff, the Bic Stick pen you receive is gimmicked to make it look like the pen is being pushed into your arm. Most folks familiar with the Wand through Arm will be able to reconstruct this in their minds as the principle is similar. The pen I received was not made terribly well. It left a mark in my arm when I tried it -- it damn well hurt. The loosely written instructions explain you can adjust this yourself. It also states the pen may be locked and handed out for examination with the aid of an extra gaff which is included with the pen. I defy anyone with my pen to add the gaff and hand it out for examination. Anyone with a half a mind would figure it out instantly.
The Stagge Ring aka "Stagger Ring" Magic Makers Rating: High WOW: High Method: Good Value: High	If you ever wanted to perform the linking fingers rings, but felt the standard Himber rings were unattractive, clunky and dated in their appearance, than this one might be for you. While there are many methods for performing linking finger rings, and many knock-offs, the Magic Makers have given some thought to design and created a very contemporary and attractive, natural-looking finger ring. The gaff is not perceptiple to the naked eye. I frequently can not find the locking mechanism -- and that's part of the challenge of working with this ring. You're going to need to develop a feel for it. Additionally, when I purchased my ring it did not come with any instructions. In developing my own handling, I was able to apply many standard linking rings moves which looked quite good. The real challenge is in working with the locking mechanism and gracefully unlinking the rings. Once linked, there's very little you can do, except put them away in your pocket and offer to the ring back as an afterthought.
The Wonder Clock Magic Makers Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	I've got to hand it to Magic Makers. They have become experts at knocking off classic effects. When I was a kid, frequenting Tannens, I used to see this prop in their display case, and I always wanted one. It's an unusual bit of mentalism you can carry in your pocket, and the spectators can examine it until the cows come home. The problem with this effect is you need really good eyes and light. I tried to make the gaff more visible, but at age 45 my eyes are not very good, and I need to pick up the clock and raise it to my forehead to determine the time set on the clock. Still the prop is well made (though my sliding door slides rather unevenly), and worthy of your consideration. A classic effect.
The Borrowed Ring on Pencil Mark Leveridge Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	This is Mark's own handling of the classic ring on pencil effect, presented in two small booklets, one containing the text and instructions and the other containing the line diagrams. The difference between this routine and others is the element of performing the routine with a borrowed ring. In this version the ring penetrates a handkerchief to appear on a pencil twice. At the routine's conclusion, the ring appears on the pencil while both ends are held by a spectator under cover of the handkerchief. I found the routine fairly straight forward and easy to do. If you are looking for a way to pull spectators into your routines more, this one might work for you.
Burnt! AXcreations Chris Dearman Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	One of my all time favorite effects is "Smoke to Glass" where a covered glass fills with smoke. Fred Kaps used to do this with a brandy snifter and covered it with a silk. Then he would blow smoke rings towards the glass, finally unveiling the glass filled with smoke. Beautiful effect. I later saw Peter Samelson do a version of this in his close-up show. Also very pretty and mysterious. When the audience sees the smoke in the glass, they gasp. Burnt! is a close-up version of this effect. You display a book of matches and a small glass vial with a screw-on cover. Everything is examinable. The spectator drops an unlit match into the vial, the magician seals it shut, and then places it in either his own fist or the spectator's fist. Lo and behold, when the hand is opened, the match is discovered to be burnt and the vial is filled with the remnants of smoke. I must say that when I first read about this one, I suspected chemicals, but I am delighted to say no chemicals are used, and the effect really does leave you totally clean at the end. You can repeat the effect within minutes with some preparation away from the audience. I envision this effect being routined similar to Kaps' with the magician passing the smoke into the spectator's fist, or even using this effect to reproduce the "Hex" effect where ash mysteriously penetrates the back of a spectator's hand, but you use smoke instead. Lots of possibilities. First rate effect.
Ring & String Diamond Jim Tyler Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	If you look around, you can find many ring and string routines, but none are cleaner or better taught than this one. In this version a borrowed finger ring penetrates a string, vanishes, and finally reappears on the magician's finger. Diamond Jim is very thorough in his photo-illustrated instructions and insures every move is carefully detailed and described. He even includes a nice leather string for the routine. Just borrow a finger ring and you're ready to go. This routines packs small but carries large. With a little practice, this could become your reputation maker.
New Age Spellbound Diamond Jim Tyler Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Two seconds after I opened this one I showed it to my wife and she told me it was a beautiful trick. She doesn't remember me showing her "Spellbound" with a copper and silver coin. So what does this tell you? It tells you that "New Age Spellbound" is a more memorable and visual version of the classic effect. Diamond Jim has a unique way of updating classic effects and principles and reapplying them to present situations. "New Age Spellbound" takes advantage of the popularity of healing with crystals and wraps a color-change routine around it. The stones supplied cling to your palm making palming effortless for even those of us with forever sweaty palms. A nice drawstring bag is included. This one is very pretty. I started trying all different types of color-changes with the stones, and I actually think they look nicer and handle better than coins. I'm adding this one to my repertoire. Go get it now.
Leaving Home Jay Sankey Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Jay is well known for his ability to focus on a particular sleight and then generate multiple effects for that sleight. It's uncanny that one guy can think up so many incredibly visual effects around such basic sleights. It's brain power and sheer ingenuity. Leaving Home is about as visual as it gets and it is guaranteed to leave them gasping. This is perfect for walk-around or table-hopping because the spectators will ask you to perform the effect without even realizing they are taking the bait. You wear a key hanging around your neck on a length of black silk cord. When the specs fall for the bait, you visually pull the key off the loop of string, and then just as quickly toss it back on. It can be handed out immediately. There's nothing to find because it is indeed just a key on a loop of string. The beauty of this is the simplicity in handling and the incredible visual link of the key back onto the rope. You merely toss the key at the loop of  string and it visibly melts onto the string. Takes some practice for anyone unfamiliar with the "Strike Vanish." Previously published in GENII. Comes with illustrated instructions, keys and string.
Fender Bender Alain Nu Rating: Good WOW: High Method: Good Value: Good	Alain Nu may be to spoons in the new Millenium what Uri Geller was to spoons in the 1970's. He is very clever, and he will fool the pants off you. In his hands, this material is clean and well done. And there's the rub. This manuscript is only 6 pages long, 4 of which is text. Even with the nicely done illustrations, it's not enough for me. I attended his lecture and listened to what he said he was doing, but I've had questionable results attaining similar results at home. Visually, this is a stunner -- very strong magic. The spoon bends sideways which is totally unexpected and almost impossible for a spectator to reproduce without considerable effort. The effect does come with the necessary gimmick to give the illusion of a spoon bending sideways, but for those of us with small hands, I doubt we'll be able to add this to our repertoire any time soon. I'd prefer to see Alain produce an hour long video showing the illusion and routine from multiple angles. In watching his explanations at the lecture, he moved very fluid and fast (obviously comes with much practice), and he even sleeved the gimmick at the end without flashing one bit. If you have the time and large hands, you should pick it up. The rest of us might wait for a video.
Compact Key Marvoyan Meir Yedid Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	This is one of those quickies that you will either love and use all the time or you'll store it in your drawer with Snapper and Cubio. You show a normal house key, and instantly separate the round head of the key from the teeth. It can be restored and repeated as many times as you wish, and the key may be examined after it is restored. There is some minimal, simple sleight of hand required, but anyone can learn this quickly, and the recommended clean-up move when performed properly will make Compact Key a well remembered mini illusion.
Super Nail Magic Makers Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	This is one of those gimmicks that you will not detect when it is demonstrated for you. It will drive you crazy. Then the dealer will tip the method, you will kick yourself, and you will want one just to show another magician. The effect is that you show a rather large nail (looks like a roofing spike about 1/4 inch thick and 5 inches long. You let the specs examine it and return it to you. Then you slide the nail into a small piece of rubber tubing, leaving the head and point exposed, and begin to bend the nail by gently applying pressure to the rubber tube and saying in your best Israeli accent, "Bend, bend, bend." You then straighten the nail, and hand it back out for a quick inspection before running for the hills. I see many uses for this gimmicked nail including a zig-zag effect in the hands. I recommend duffing the rubber tube and performing this either inside a folded playing card or in the hands without any other cover. I also suggest that you do not hand the nail out at the end of the effect. Put the heat on something else.
Color Changing Rope Gary Frank Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	Originally manufactured and distributed by Arte Kahn of Zanadu Magic back in the late 1970's, this is a very cute and easy to do color changing rope. You hold a foot-long piece of white rope between the hands and in a flash it turns red. Your hands are clean. I've always gotten great results from this one. It packs small, takes no skill, and is dirt cheap.
Super Sight Magic Makers Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	This is my new favorite mental effect. You show a small black drawstring bag, a small brass tube and five brass weights, each with a different in-laid color. The spectator is directed to place one of the weights in the bag, and the rest in the tube, and then to screw the tube shut. You immediately turn-around upon brief inspection of the tube and reveal which weight is in the bag. Very easy to do. No skill required. The method will fool most people -- magicians included. Extremely well-made props. And no, you don't figure it out by the weight of the tube. Buy this one.
Wonder Signal Loftus Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	This is a newly manufactured version of the classic paddle trick which was released back in the late 70's, early 80's. A black paddle is shown with three blue spots. These then change to yellow, then red, and finally to blue, yellow and red like a traffic light. I always liked the extra visual changes and the paddle is made just as nicely as ever. Easy to do and you get great reactions. Minimal skill required.
Flexible Mirror Ickle Pickle Rating: Fair WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Poor	I am not sure about this one, folks. I remember seeing Henning do this on Carson 20 years ago and thinking the effect had real potential. However after seeing the Ickle Pickle version, I now am sorry I did not save my money for the Supreme version. A wooden frame and mirror are shown and placed in a cloth bag. A large knitting needle is then poked through the center of the mirror. To further prove the malleability of the mirror, you bend the entire frame and mirror in half. Then you restore it, remove it from the bag and briefly show it to the audience. This version is made poorly. The design and workmanship are very bad. You would have to be blind not to see the gaff. The joints are not aligned well, and the mylar tape is a little tacky. One redeeming feature: the audience will swear you let them examine the entire thing, but they never actually get a chance to look at the frame because all of the heat is placed upon the ungimmicked props: the mirror, the needle and the bag. My advice: save your money.
Mike Rogers' Dice Cup Gambling Kit Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Great package includes a hand-made leather dice cup, five precision-cut dice, two jumbo dice, the Marlo book on dice stacking and a stacking surface. The cup is gorgeous, the quality is very high, and   Mike's service was always first-rate. Mike passed away this year, so the only way you'll get one of these baby's is through the used market on eBay!
Polter Light Chazpro Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	An ordinary light bulb lights in your hand, in a spectator's hand, etc. Well-made and comes with everything you need. Only one complaint: after a few hundred performances you will need to send it back to Chazpro for maintenance.
See Through Blindfold Delal Chazpro Rating: Fair WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Fair	Not particularly well-made black blindfold for mind-reading. Really can not be examined though spectator can look through and see nothing while you can see with limited vision. Probably better versions available. If this is a Delal creation, it is disappointing.
Can O' Corn Collector's Workshop Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: Fair	A borrowed item appears inside a sealed metal can of vegetables which spectator opens himself. The devices supplied allow you to transform any can into a giant Bill Tube. Surprised to find a special can opener (as advertised on TV) in the box as part of the package. Gimmick is probably visible to the spectator once the can is opened so some care must be taken in handling. My gimmick does not fit flush with the demo can supplied. Recommend you slam the can against the table as you remove it from your case or grocery bag. Very clever but costly at $80 for the kit.
Magic Pendulum Chazpro Rating: Fair WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Fair	Pendulum may be used to find selected cards, as a lie detector, or in many other ways. In your control at all times. Would have given this a higher rating but the materials were inexpensive and I was hoping for something metallic and more mysterious-looking than a black ball on a string. Not worth $20. Comes with a PK set-up.
Skull Chazpro Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Unlike the pendulum described above, this palm-sized plastic skull does not come with a PK set-up, though batteries are included (install them yourself -- no instructions makes this a bit tricky). Same type of effects possible with red eyes blinking on/off, but only $10.
Pocket Production Panels - Mirrored Chazpro Rating: 3 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	It's the classic Temple Screen Production miniaturized for close-up. Comes in three flavors with plain plastic panels, mirrors or leather. I chose mirrors since I felt everyone thinks you use them in the first place. C ould also tell your audience you use these tri-fold mirrors to practice, and then produce a deck of cards. Not going to win awards with this one, but as an intro to a routine, it works for me.
Time to Watch Contento Rating: Good WOW: High Method: OK Value: Good	If you like multiple blow-offs (aka multiple climaxes), then this pseudo-mentalism effect has more magical coincidences than anything else I have seen in its class. I purchased this effect thinking I was received a gaffed pocket watch -- albeit a cheap man's version of the more expensive watches which are so popular now -- and was surprised to receive a nice normal pocket watch with some very simple, clever ideas. The effect reads better in the ad then it does in the instructions, so beware, it's a bit a confusing to follow. My kit was supposed to include a marked card, but mine must have slipped through without marks. The instructions also require you to make the card a corner short, but why not do this for me already for $30? I expect this will play bigger and be more satisfying once I re-routine it. Don't know how anyone makes any money selling this effect considering the cost of the included pocket watch. Thanks.
Spirit Slates Chazpro Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Well-made wooden flap slates for simple mental magic. I had been looking for a set of slates for some time and this one fits the bill quite well. They offer mini slates (poker-sized) for close-up and large slates (8 x 10) for stage work. You can get them either with or without a magnetic gaff. I managed to finagle some factory seconds directly from Chazpro for a bargain. Drop him a line at Chazpro. Highly recommended.
Aviator Dice Cup Kardwell Rating: Ugh WOW: N/A Method: N/A Value: N/A	The ad said this was leather but the box says plastic. It is too shallow to stack four Las Vegas style dice.
Jumbo 2 inch Dice Kardwell Rating: High WOW: N/A Method: N/A Value: N/A	For some reason every gambling house carries colored jumbo dice but not white. These fit the bill nicely.
Enchanted Ring Tannens Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	I love magic that occurs in the hands of the spectators. This one is well made, and quite slick. A small brass ring is impaled by a pin through a black metal block. The ring is hung on the spec's finger, they lower the block to their palm, and the ring magically melts through the pin. Totally examinable, too. You won't be disappointed by this one. Finely machined.
Spooky Silk Tannens Rating: 2 Stars WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Fair	I have never seen an uglier pattern on a silk before. I have shopped around for a gaffed silk with a classy and elegant pattern, but this looks like something a farmer might tie around his head. It works fine but looks awful.
Malini Egg Bag Tannens Rating: 3 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	True to the Malini method, this one is made of smooth black material which allows the egg to slide around nicely. Simple in appearance and well sewn. You would think, though, that for $20+ they would throw in a plastic egg, right? Supply your own.
Quarter Go aka Lipencott Box Viking Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	A borrowed ring or coin appears inside a beautiful locked wooden box. Always wanted one of these just to see the gaff. Exceptionally made. All wood and brass fittings and an absolutely indetectable gaff. You won't be sorry. Worth every penny. Viking does it again.
Final Cut Steve Fearson Rating: Good WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	I wanted Imam's "Knifing" illusion without the blood, and this comes damn close. Works on a familiar principle. Easy to carry. Instantly resets. Gimmick talks a bit, but effect is faithful to the ad. You get what you pay for though I wish the knife was nicer made.
Laser Beam Rating: Fair WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Fair	Came with a reasonably powerful PK type magnet instead of the usual small disc magnet. Plastic light looks like toy and difficult to open to replace batteries or repair electronics. Why doesn’t someone make this in a  laser pen already?
It’s Alive James Rating: OK WOW: Good Method: Good Value: OK	Great comic illusion gone commercial. Manufactured for someone with enormous hands and wrists. Flimsy. No documentation included.
Telekenetic Timber Palmer/Koch Rating: Fair WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Fair	A block of wood is balanced against a glass and upon command it falls overs by itself. A little unreliable if you ask me, but an interesting illusion if you can sell it.
Magnetic Card Box Viking Rating: 3 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: OK	Nice looking wooden box, but flap does not fall flat and is cut too small to provide total coverage of hidden card beneath it.
Golden Penetration Frame Circle Magic Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Beautiful brass and glass version of classic effect. Nicely packaged with cloth bag and display stand. Numbered and warranted by manufacturer. This is the way magic used to be made.
Flash Card Wallet Plus Viking Rating: Fair WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Fair	Vinyl wallet with firing system built into it. Electronics are not dependable. Someone should take this approach and build it into a deck of cards.
Sword through Brass Block Tannens Rating: Good WOW: High Method: High Value: Fair	Beautiful set of props consisting of gimmicked block and miniature sword comes packaged in cloth bag. Handling is questionable. Can use brass block with matchbox handling, too. Pricey. Cigarette through Quarter is similar effect and less expensive.
Ring Flite Mak Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Well made with locking reel and leather key chain. Documentation is thin, but works well.
Pen through Anything Cornelius Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Pen is stabbed through bill and moves around with making holes. Will work with bills, cards, other thin, flat surfaces. Wild to look at. Well made gimmicked pen. Wish you could write with it. Comes with duplicate pen so spectator may examine it after a switch.
Jardine Ellis Ring Johnson Rating: OK WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	I know multiple methods for ring on stick, so I am not entirely sure why I bought this. The thumb routine needs to be performed carefully to be effective.
Brass Hot Rod Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Show a brass paddle with different colored gems on both sides. Spectator picks one. They all change, on both sides, and all is examinable. Well made locking brass version of the original paddle effect. Flawless.
Wedding Bell El Duco Rating: Good WOW: High Method: Good Value: OK	Very different illusion whereby a borrowed finger ring vanishes from a ring box held by a spectator, and it reappears inside a bell that another spectator is ringing. I’ve seen this sold by a few dealers with varying quality bells. Mine was brass. Considering the cost of the materials, you are really paying for the effect. Expected a reel on the bell, and was surprised to see it required some special handling, but still relatively easy to perform. Startling effect.
Business Card Rise Cornelius Rating: OK WOW: Good Method: OK Value: Fair	Commercial effect but a little pricey considering the cost of the materials.
Brass Bill Tube Viking Rating: High WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Signed bill vanishes and appears in a locked brass tube. Has gone up in price substantially over the years, but it is also much better manufactured than 10 years ago. My advice, throw the little padlock away that comes with the tube, and substitute a heavy combination luggage lock.

Steven Schneiderman.
Copyright © 2001 Steven Schneiderman. All rights reserved.
Revised: December 03, 2006