Month: July 2015

Anverdi’s Finest Hour?

This has to be my favorite Anverdi effect! For years I ignored it because I thought I knew what it was and didn’t want to pay for it. However, I’m so glad I recently purchased one because it really is a beauty and a 100% fooler!

It looks like a nice looking petty cash box – in fact I load it up with cash so it IS a cash box. You’ll notice when you open the box there is the cash and a smaller box inside – this holds the 7 keys. I show the cash and then take out the little box and rattle it ask the audience what do they think is inside – they invariably say coins. So I say no and tip out the keys and locate the one with the purple key fob (you could use a ribbon etc, but I like the idea of a fob as you could also have a prediction on there if you so desired). I give this to the spectator to lock the box – you never need touch it again after it is closed and locked by the spectator.

I then take off the key fob and shake up the keys so that no one knows which key opens the box. Then I tell the spectator they have 6 chances out of 7 to choose the correct key, and if they do they can keep all of the cash. This gets them interested for sure. Each time they chose a key and they try to open the box I ask them to discard the key in the little box so that we know we tried it. They can change their mind as many times as they want and they can try each key as many times as they want – there is no chance that the box will open. But when they finally leave you with one key, they can pick it up and amazingly the box opens.

This is so clean – nothing added or taken away and it just looks as clean as can be. A real miracle!

Highly Recommended for Collectors and Performers everywhere!

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So Thomas has been so busy fulfilling orders he has not had too much time to work on new magic, but after a long wait I have received potentially the pinnacle of Thomas’ career so far – the absolutely stunning and beautiful: Dante’s Magic Clock. This item is going to be very rare due to the amount of work required to build it, but if you can get one pay whatever it costs!

Here is my routine:

You begin by showing the amazing Dante’s Clock – it has two dials that slowly click by with suits and numbers on. They just keep clicking around. At this point no one knows why but the routine is counterpointed by the subtle clicking of the clock as the dials move around. At the base of the clock is a drawer, which you open to display a deck of Steampunk Pirates which look perfect next to the clock. You take the cards out and have them shuffled – they are clearly all different.

You have two cards selected – the first one is not looked at but is instead placed directly into the matching card box face down. The second card is selected and this one is seen by the spectator and then placed clearly into the middle of the deck: let’s say it is the Ten of Clubs.

After these choices have been made, the audience is made aware that the clock has stopped ticking. It was ticking away and then silence. Now the magic really begins:

Firstly the two dials are looked at and they show the Ten of Clubs!
Then the secret card that was chosen first is tipped out of the card box, and it is the perfect mate to the Ten of Clubs, the Ten of Spades
Then the deck is counted and only 51 cards are found – the Ten of Clubs is missing!
Finally, the drawer at the base of the clock which was clearly shown empty just seconds earlier is opened and one card is face down there. The whole drawer is pulled out and the card turned over – it is the missing Ten of Clubs!
The effect ends with the eerie Dante’s clock mysteriously ticking again.
Thomas pulled out all the stops for this beauty. My photos only begin to show how beautiful it is.

Amazing Thomas. Simply Amazing!

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What a wonderful and unique switching device from Dan Baines. The flap on my one was fairly light which works for you and against you. If you want to dislodge it without using the knob you can, but you have to be a little careful when you put it down. I mentioned this to Dan and within a couple of weeks he sent me a whole new flap which was half the weight so I could decide which one I wanted to use. Having both options is great. I must say how impressed I am with Dan Baines and his company Lebanon Circle Prop & Illusion Design – he certainly went out of his way to make me happy.

Apart from looking the part and being a size that can handle regular playing cards, tarot cards, billets, even dollar bills if you fold them in half this unit has the extra feature that once the transformation has taken place the box can be tipped upside down without anything falling out.

It is a very useful utility device and one you will surely find many uses for. Contact Dan today and create your custom designed box just for you!

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