Year: 2008

Can I take some credit for this quality?

This new piece from Howie at the Trickery built by his secret craftsman, Paul Lembo, is by far the best piece of quality I have seen from the Trickery since their master craftsman Jerry left the fold. Everything about it has been improved. The finish, the brass fittings, the smoothness of the mechanism.

I can’t help but think that my comments on the last piece from Paul helped? Maybe I’m crazy, but it sure seems that the difference between the two pieces addresses all the areas I was concerned with.

The only issue I have with this piece is price. At $295 I think is overpriced for what it is. It is just a Silk Cabi Box in the end. No innovations, and there have been a slew of them before this. That is really my only issue with it, otherwise it is almost perfect. Take a look at Mel Babcock’s beautiful magic, it is better quality and you get a lot more for your money. There is certainly a market for items of this quality, but I believe you have to look very carefully at the pricing of these items. Mel Babcock, Alan Warner, Chance Wolf, and the new guy in France Francois Danis have it right, and I’m afraid that the Trickery is going the right way with quality, but the wrong way on price.

I would have given this 5 stars for the quality but I knocked one off for the price. Maybe with a little bit of public pressure I can influence the price as I have influenced the quality?

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A Contender for The Mystery Box Crown

So I’ve always been a fan of the Kennedy Mystery Box – over the years I’ve owned nearly all the variations including three exotic wood versions. So when this item came along from those great guys over at Magic Wagon I was keen to see it.

Firstly, it is made in their usual high gloss style and looks amazing. The gimmick is totally different from the Mystery Box and indeed anything else of this genre that I have seen.

The big benefit to this item over the Kennedy Box is that it can be shown empty when you first put it down on the table. The downside is that the box cannot be examined as closely. It does come with a duplicate box to switch out if required – although I don’t think it is necessary. The move that you make is different to the move that is needed with the Kennedy box and it is personal preference which is easier.

The instructions also detail a fabulous Coin thru Box routine that is easy and very convincing. The unit is certainly more versatile than the Mystery Box, is priced very well, and looks amazing. This is certainly another winner from Magic Wagon!

Highly Recommended!

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Beautiful and Clever without Electronics!

I really love this new item from those great guys over at the Magic Wagon. It is a simple concept but works very effectively without any electronics, rolling balls, or similar subterfuges. You place the elegant chip holder on the table and have 4 spectators each choose a chip and place it in their pocket with your back turned.

When you turn around you name precisely who has each chip and then hand the box for minute examination. Everything is clean.

I really like this principle and it is a clean, small unit that is quick to reset and makes is very practical to use.

Highly Recommended!

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Another Amazing Beauty!

When Howie at The Trickery teams up with the Magic Wagon, what you get is amazing, beautiful, and unique magic. The Atomic Ball has always been one of my favorites and now we have the truly Definitive version.

This is just breathtaking to behold and a truly amazing effect. You show the box and remove the two dice and rings and the single "atomic" ball. The box is clearly and openly empty. Now you close the box and place the ball between the dice stacked inside the rings. With a simple incantation the ball melts away from the dice. You cleanly and openly lift up the rings and the dice – the ball has really gone, and your hands are clearly empty without any moves. Everything is just natural.

Now for the final kicker you open up the box, and there right where it should be is the Atomic ball back in its slot.

A truly elegant and amazing effect!

Highly Recommend!

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Amazing Mini Magic Mentalism!

So the Magic Wagon have been producing some spectacular magic over the last couple of years but for the most part many collector’s and dealers have not figured out how amazing their magic is. After Martin’s Magic, Howie at the Trickery has been their biggest champion and supporter, but there have been few others. When this item came out it seemed to usher in a new level of amazing and finally turned the heads of some collectors and dealers. Now people can’t get enough of their magic!

This item is another beauty with a clever method and breathtaking props. You show four chairs and three brass prediction plates. The spectator freely places the plates on any three chairs. When the plates are turned over they each have a different color which matches precisely the color on the base of the chair. Now when each of these chairs is turned around they bear the word "Seated" on a brass plate, but on the one they did not choose the plate is empty.

This item can be repeated with a different result each time and is very clean in execution. Each chair is hand crafted of genuine teak and the workmanship is collectible quality.

This is another Highly Recommend item!

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Beautiful Classical Magic

So as much as it is great to receive new magic it is also nice to receive old magic that is made correctly. This new line from Howie at the Trickery is a wonderful breath of fresh air with a familiar face. The quality is right there with Mel Babcock and so the items really do look better than the photos. In fact some of the finer wood pieces are almost impossible to capture correctly on film – well certainly by me anyway!

This is a Mini-Card star that uses a mini deck of bicycle cards and the mechanism is smooth and works every time. Thanks to its mini size this beautiful effect will even fit neatly in your magic cabinet without any problems.

I can only hope that Howie will keep this line going for a while – so often with cool magic, just like a great TV Series, you get hooked then it mysteriously vanishes, while Law and Order continues to plod on!

Highly Recommended for Collector’s everywhere, and you’ll be able to perform it too!

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Beautiful Classical Magic and Great Mechanism Too!

More classical magic that works as beautifully as it looks. Mel Babcock would be proud of these items as there is certainly similarities to his style. Howie, please keep hold of this new craftsman you have found – let’s not have another Disappearing Jerry situation!

What is particularly pleasing about this item is that the load mechanism works quite differently from others I have see and it works very well. To release either of the double loads you do not need to place your hand inside the box at all, which is particularly useful for productions of spring items and silks.

Highly Recommended for Collector’s everywhere, and you’ll be able to perform it too!

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A clever idea!

If you like the classic Pom-Pom Prayer Stick, this item should appeal to you. It is the same basic effect, but instead of pulling open the stick at the end you can see all the way through the middle of the stick because it is totally clear.

I probably prefer the traditional approach, but this is a great fooler for those who know how the other method works.

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Amazing and Daring Mini-Illusion!

So I am a big fan of the Delben Two Hole Wrist Chopper and this item I am pleased to announce not only looks better, but works better too! I was very surprised when I received this item from Joe Fairchild as the pictures I had seen online were all painted. This natural wood version is much better!

The construction of this beautiful fooler is a bit more solid than the Delben version and the method is quite different because this item can be examined, which is not possible with the Delben version. Don’t get me wrong, the Delben version is still a wonderful item, but if I had to choose I would certainly go with this one.

If you are looking for a mini-illusion that is a real fooler then this would be the one to choose.

Highly Recommended for Performers everywhere!

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