This is funny!
This is not meant to be a huge illusion, but has great entertainment potential as a bit of filler in almost any act. The finger stretcher is used to see how much magical dexterity you have. If you can go all the way to six inches you are the best!
Some of these old ideas can certainly take you places!
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Four Mummies, Lights, Camera, but not enough Action!
Ok so this is a well made, clever effect using 4 colorful mummies.
The basic premise is: you show the 4 mummies and the pedestal. Whilst your back is turned a specatator removes any one of the mummies and places it into a coffin on the pedestal and covers it up. When you turn around you lift the second cover to expose the crystal. As the spectator stares into the crystal it glows the color of the selected mummy. Then it mysteriously stops. No matter how they try they cannot get it to light again with any of the other mummies.
So all sounds very cool. The box and pedestal are made of wood with some heavy duty coating to give them a stone like look and finish. Making them of exotic woods would have made them look nicer, but they are still attractive as they are. The mummies appear to be made of some sort of chalky like material but painted with a high gloss finish. These are fine, except they are brittle so can easily chip if not handled carefully.
The electronics is self working, and once the first mummy has illuminated the light, without resetting the unit, it is not possible for the spectator to cause the light to come on again. So far so good.
This effect does exactly what it says it will do and there really are no complaints except for: so what. Clearly there is some sort of electronics in the box … its a puzzle that you can’t then get it to light again, but I don’t think people are going to walk away amazed. What this effect needs, like so many “clever” effects is more mystery, more magic, more story, more action!
As a part of a larger routine I think this could be made into something very cool. As a cool, different prop to show off in your den it is cool, but as something that is going to amaze your audience I don’t think so. Maybe I’m getting too jaded in my old age. Don’t get me wrong I like this prop, but what we need is cool electronics and entertainment. Not just cool electronics.
Well that is my opinion, and I’m sticking to it!
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Posted November 16, 2002:
Andy, I am the granddaughter of Ben Stone (DelBen Magic). I came across your website while searching for some of his work. I never realized that what he did had such an impact. It is nice to see that you have a picture of my grandparents on your site! Thank you for remembering him. He was truly a magical person. -MS
Thank-you Mariam – Ben was a great guy and I enjoyed the time I spent chatting with him. -Andy Martin
Mariam Stone
This is a great comedy piece from Collector’s Workshop.
Basically, the very ornate family heirloom tray and goblet is handed to the spectator and a few moments later the tray collapses and the goblet breaks apart and falls to the floor – much to the shock and horror of the performer!
If you had the original version of this effect you might have been dissappointed because of the strange noise the tray makes. Well George Robinson has fixed that now with a whole new mechanism that is 100% silent – just the way it should be. Now this little baby is exactly the way you expect it to be. A sheer delight to perform, and hilarious for the audience! As an added bonus it is now possible to change the time it takes before the tray collapses.
Great job George – keep those refinements coming!
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A true favorite of the CW line
My review is for the original version which is completely mechanical in that the release is through a clock spring motor so timing is critical but easily manageable and the base is beautiful furniture finished solid walnut rather than brass as in the new version. Otherwise the workings are the same. The effect is startling and dramatic. The ring that appears in the ribbon is the actual spectator’s ring; there is no switching. Very clever item from the devious minds at CW.
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As if by Magic the Ring appears!
Well I’ve been complaining for a while now that there is no good, cool magic out there to buy. What a load of horse that is!
I did not realize how much good magic I was missing by over looking a few key Collector’s Workshop effects. Just in the last few weeks I’ve picked up: Creation, Billet Box, Samurai Sword, Can of Corn, and Zodiac to name a few. These are all wonderful effects, that if you don’t own you should check them out at: Collector’s Workshop
This little beauty is another real winner. Easy to do, remote control, visual, and very perplexing.
A ring is borrowed and vanished and without you touching the ribbon it suddenly and visibly appears tied to the ribbon!
Sometimes when I buy expensive props they just don’t work as well as you would expect, but this marvel has worked everytime so far and really didn’t take any getting used to. I only wish all high-end props were this simple and error free! A wonderful prop, and highly recommended!
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A Bill Tube for Any Can
This is one of those effects that if routined the right way can be a real riot. I recently had a conversation with a working pro – whose name eludes me – who had a wonderful routine with this effect.
The gimmick bascially allows you to make a Bill Tube out of almost any can, from which you can make a watch or other small object appear in an apparently sealed can – the only way to get in being to use a can opener.
Nicely made, great value, and huge entertainment potential!
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A Fun Classic!
I’ve always been intrigued by this effect, so when I saw that my good man Ron Allesi had one up for sale I snapped it up!
The effect is simple enough: the square die turns into a round die as you bash the round tube into the box with the mallet! The method is clever and it is easy to do.
It has one angle issue, but this can be a very effective, entertaining piece of magic.
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Kinetic Key – A Classic Effect
I recently picked this up after watching a video clip and have absolutely adored it ever since. They are made incredibly well and some versions even include soldering or welding around the teeth which immediately distracts from any built in locking gimmicks. Kinetic Key, Jr. does not have the welding and appears to be more of a spectator challenge to me but is still gorgeous nevertheless. There is one simple sleight but it is performed so slow and casual that it appears as if nothing has happened. Needless to say, I perform it very often. In fact, every opportunity that I get. I loved it so much that I have been trying to collect all available versions on the market. A beautiful classic and a real pleasure to own.
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A Real Burn
I just purchased this and didn’t care for it at all. In fact, after one examination its headed straight for Ebay. Its $40 overpriced and extremely lame in my opinion. Avoid this one at all costs.
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