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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. |
