Month: November 2013

Nicely made and Packaged, but a Fooler?

So these have been going around and although the unit works fine and looks well made I don’t think anyone is going to be fooled by this – well maybe a four year old.

The base is too big and the ringer on the bell is huge and you can clearly see what looks like a magnet as part of the ringer. For the life of me I cannot understand why they didn’t use a much smaller magnet.

This is no Anverdi who did a much better job 30+ years ago and this is certainly no Nick Wenger either who did a supreme job in the last few years.

If you collect Spirit Bells then for sure get one, but if you wanted to fool someone in our era of iPhones, you won’t.

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A Beautiful Box and Routine!

This is the current Viking/CW version of this effect and is certainly better than the original. Although, it comes with a clean prediction of any card that the spectator chooses using the sword it has many other uses where a card box is required. It has a unique release mechanism for the transformation which means the box can be handled by the spectator before the transformation if so desired.

If you look at the original CW version of this box you’ll see how the knob on the lid has this big wide brass ring where the knob is, and on the newer version that does not exist. It’s this sort of attention to detail that makes George Robinson such a fine craftsman!

Also in this current version the sword now fits back in the box again, so you can carry the whole trick in the box and you have a reason for it since it stores the sword, cards, and prediction.

This is now a perfect and collectible Mental effect and I love it!

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A Beautiful Penetration

I just received this Rib Blok by James Swoger. Previously I owned the Jay Leslie remake, but this is the original version. This really is a very well produced work of art, the paint job is beautiful, and is right up there with Milson Worth.

The effect whilst as old as the hills themselves, is a very clean penetration of the block from the ribbon and its easy to set-up. There are a few angle issues and the clever method takes a bit of practice to do smoothly, but once mastered you have an impossible illusion!

If you’re a collector you’ll like this and if you’re a performer you’ll like this too!

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Beautiful Box and Great Routine!

When George Robinson at Viking Magic puts his mind to it he produces beautiful and functional magic. This is a very wonderful little box that creates a miracle.

I remember having great fun with Tenyo’s Flash Dice when I was a kid. This box is so much more than that. Its not only very beautifully finished in Palisander wood, it has some very neat features that make it possible to do some things that seem impossible.

I can’t recommend this enough. The woodwork is exquisite and the routine by Alan Wakeling is huge.

Great Job George – more like this please!

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A very clever device that never runs out of batteries!

I used to have the remake of this from Jay Leslie, but this is the original built by James Swogar. The method is much cleverer than you might imagine and really quite amazing to use.

It allows you to be out of the room and still know who chose which card. A clever principle makes it all possible to do without any magnets or electronics, with a very simple reset.

The stand is solid and well made and this item is surely a keeper, with many uses that will become apparent as you work with it.

Highly Recommended for Magicians and Mentalists!

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I prefer this to Cube A Libre

I’ve always had a soft spot for this effect from Harries of Sweden – it is well made, looks great, and is less confusing and easier to perform than the more traditional six block Cube A Libra.

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Easy and Truly Mystifying

If you perform this correctly, the effect is about as magical as it gets. A small amount of practice will leave you with one of the finest effects from the Collector’s Workshop stable – without selling your home!

Quite simply, four coins audibly penetrate the bottom of the class and a card case one by one. Very sweet!

The new version built by Viking/CW and my good friend George Robinson is very precise and reliable and works cleanly every time.

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Stunning and Extravagant!

I’ve always wanted a professional card trimmer but have never really been able to justify the cost. But when I saw this stunner I decided I had to have it, regardless of the cost!

Clearly I will never make my money back, unless I sell it, but it just looks so beautiful. Cuts cards really nicely too! This sort of craftsmanship in magic has always been rare, but these days it is almost non-existent.

The most beautiful piece of apparatus in my collection today – I love it!

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Great Piece of Mentalism!

This is a very clean prediction from the fertile mind of Paul Richards at Elmwood Magic.

You place an envelope down in front of the spectator which contains a small metal token. Then you introduce 5 ESP cards and ask the spectator to mix then and choose any one of the cards. No matter which one they choose the token and the card always match.

There is no force and only one Token which is in the envelope from the beginning.

A great item suitable for Close-up, Restaurants and Walk Around. The reset is done in a few seconds.

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Big Smiles and Surprises Every Time!

This is a simple idea but really makes the spectators smile and say "Wow!" when they see their card appear at the end of the animation. The cards are well produced and the refill pack has ten different force cards to choose from. Yes it does use a force but it is worth it.

I have found that you can really get an extra kick out of this routine if you do it twice back to back (with different cards each time of course), because it appears to rule out any sort of set-up.

And the best thing is after the smiles the spectator is left with your business card in their hands, along with the printed sticker of their chosen card which they will remember.

Great item for close-up, restaurants, and walk-around.

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