Month: May 2009

Beautiful and Simply the Best Nest of Boxes…Period.

The Viking Himber Nesting Boxes are the very best on the market. The Viking quality and attention to detail is second to none. The method is marvelous and is the perfect solution for a single-person performer…or this set can be used with an assistant. The versatility and incredibly well-disguised method make this one of my favorite props for any venue. The price is high, but totally worth it for such a quality prop that I consider to be an instant collector piece.

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Beautiful piece, but not very functional

Mikame Craft is known for beautiful magic apparatus and Mr. Mikame does not disappoint with this hand-made mirror cabinet. However, due to the hand-made nature of this prop, it is not always functional. I have had the opportunity to "play" with three different cabinets and each one seems to have its own minor problems. On one of them, the inside mirrors did not properly align, so their was the tendency for one side or the other to prematurely spring open. On another cabinet, the hole on the top for the sword appeared to have been drilled too large, so the sword moved around too much…once again causing the mirrors to spring back too soon. The third cabinet had no problem with the mirrors, but the front doors did not properly align and the hinges on one side left about a 1/16" gap in the door because it would not fully close. Again, this is a very beautiful prop for a shelf or desk–and occasional use. But for regular use in performances, this prop is probably not the best option…especially given the very high price.

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Very beautiful, but not practical for regular use

Mr. Mikame makes beautiful wood magic and this silk cabby is no exception. However, for regular use, this is not very well made. I have had problems with the hinge pins on the gimmick load box coming loose and wriggling out of their holes. I applied a dab of super glue on the outer edge to keep them in place and this seems to help. Another problem is the size of the gimmick load…it seems to be smaller than the load space on other silk cabbys. For example, I have a 50 foot x 4 inch streamer silk that I use in several other cabbys, but only about 3/5 of it will fit into the Mikame load box. Also, one of the doors does not have enough friction to stay closed on its own so I have to hold my fingers over the edge of it to keep it closed during performance. This is a pretty piece for display and occassional performances, but the price is quite high if you are looking for a good silk cabby for regular performances.

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Really Fun Prop to Keep on your Bar!

The Zig Zag for cans is one of my favorite Mikame pieces. It looks great and the traditional zig zag of the can is always a crowd pleaser. A few downsides…it is a bit noisy while performing, which tends to make the audience think you are up to something tricky. Plus, the box cannot be examined or viewed from the back. All in all, it makes a great coversation piece…especially when you do the trick and then open the magic can of soda, beer, etc. and pour a drink for an audience member.

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Beautiful craftsmanship, but has drawbacks

The Mikame Magic Mirror is a very well-made prop, with a great disguised gimmick. The wood crafting is beautiful, but the bag that comes with it is not as good quality. After less than 10 performances, the bag already has visible holes from the needle that is used to penetrate. Plus, the hinge seems to be getting a bit worn down and not working as well as it did just a few weeks ago. Still, this is one of the most attractive flexible mirrors I’ve seen and it is great for the hobby magician…but not for regular performances.

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One of Mikame’s BEST!

The principle behind this trick is old, but Mikame’s craftsmanship has breathed new life into it. I absolutely LOVE this little piece of wonder because it is beautifully made, fully examinable, and a total fooler when performed with just a little practice. It is great for audiences of all ages and the routine can even have the magician repeat the trick several times with slight variations each time. That means you can get quite a bit of entertainment value for the small investment it takes to buy this great little magic box! It is one of the best made Mikame pieces in a price range that does not break the bank. Get one today!!!

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