Month: February 2010

Clever idea and great value too!

Here we have another fine item from Louis Gaynor released by one of the last remaining dealers catering to the Magic Collector: Joe Stevens. I don’t know how Joe puts these out so cheap – $45 is almost what you pay for a packet trick these days – in fact I just paid $81 for two ungimmicked decks!

What a neat idea and great looking prop this is. No matter how hard they try you can always find where the ball is hidden. And what’s more no electronics, magnets or threads. In fact no set-up of any kind and it’s always ready to roll.

Highly recommended for Performers and Collectors everywhere!

Click here for more information.

A real beauty from George Robinson.

A real treasure from my good friend George Robinson. The box looks amazing and intriguing with the chain. The effect is as clean as a whistle and there is absolutely nothing to find.

In effect you dangle the box from the chain in front of a spectator and inform him there is a deck of cards with a prediction inside the box. You ask him to mimic cutting a deck and count how many cards they have cut to and to look at the card at that position. This is all done in their mind. Next they reveal where they cut to and open the box and they take out the cards and prediction – the cards are not touched by the performer. They now count down to the number and show the card, it matches the prediction.

This is a beautifully clever idea which has a number of possibilities. The amazing thing is that the box and deck of cards are 100% ungimmicked and nothing is added or taken away. And yet you can always predict the card they will count too.

When George puts his mind to something you can always be assured of the highest quality, and this is one of those items that surely will keep everyone guessing.

It is a beauty George!

Most Highly Recommended for Collector’s and Performers everywhere!

Click here for more information.

Great Idea, that looks good and works!

This is a very clean way to force any of the 6 spots on a die, but unlike loaded dice the result is much more predictable. If you have ever used loaded dice, they quite frequently do not land on the number you hope.

Labco have produced a very nice package with dice that are beautifully and undetectably gimmicked to allow you to force any one of the 6 spots.

There are no electronics and thus far I have always forced the number I was expecting. The only downside is that you do need to use the cup and roll the die on the small board, but both look very innocent. The cup is in fact innocent, whilst the board is gimmicked.

Very nice indeed! Highly Recommended!

Click here for more information.

One of the real Collector’s Workshop Jewels

I’ve wanted this item for many years but have missed out on the runs that George has made. It is a very clever and beautiful item that works perfectly. One of the best thought out items that the original Collector’s Workshop put out. The box is a beauty and then you see the cage – wow what a wonderful combination.

In effect a watch is borrowed and covered with a hanky and held by the spectator, whereupon it vanishes. Then this perfect wooden box is pulled from a bag that has been in full view all this time along with a key. The spectator opens the box and inside the box is a gold cage that fills the box. The cage is pulled out and their hanging in the center is the spectator’s watch and they open the door and retrieve it.

Unlike some of the early CW pieces the routine is very well thought out and the vanish and appearance all work perfectly. This is definitely a highlight in my collection.

George will be doing a new run soon so make sure you get signed up for one – you will not be disappointed.

Highly Recommended for Collectors and Performers.

Click here for more information.

Dave Powell beats Milson Worth!

I’ve always loved the Milson-Worth Astro Ball and so I was excited when I saw Dave Powell was introducing his version. As with most of Dave’s work it is a beauty to behold. But what makes it even more impressive is if you look at the dimensions from the front it looks like the ball could not easily fit in the glass without tipping the glass. So when the ball ends up inside the glass it looks all the more amazing. This is quite different from the Milson-Worth version with this regard.

There are only fifty of these so make sure you snap yours up whilst you can. I’m hoping that Dave will be producing some other collectible items based on the success of this one. Dave Powell continues to impress me as one of the lesser known wonderful craftsmen out there.

A must for collectors everywhere, and its a great trick too!

Click here for more information.

What a Clever Principle and Great Trick!

Wow I was very lucky to get an early release of this amazing new effect from Josh Jay sent to me by that all round great guy Paul "Falling Down" Richards. I’m a big fan of Rob Bromley’s Extractor and this sweet gimmick allows me to perform an amazingly clean signed card to wallet without an expensive gimmicked deck or a trick wallet or any sleights whatsoever. Hello! What are you waiting for …

This is one of those ideas that people are going to love and I’m sure there will be lots of other effects based on this method. As far as I know this is totally new method and it works very smoothly. It really is as easy and good as the video looks.

You will not be disappointed with this beauty.

Highly Recommended!

Click here for more information.

Absolutely Perfect!

I’ve been trying to move away from cool electronic items, but I must say this Spirit Bell by Nick Wenger is absolutely amazing. It looks like some old contraption from Medieval times and even though you or the spectator build it piece by piece right in front of everyone, when you are done the bell still manages to ring on command.

Even when you know how it works you still can’t believe it – I have never seen a Spirit Bell like this. It looks great, works great and really is an amazing piece of electronic wizardry.

Get one if you can – you will not be disappointed!

Click here for more information.