Month: January 2019

Michael Baker creates some beautiful magic, but you have to love his mini effects. I’ll be the first to admit his larger die boxes such as the Oriental See-Through Block Box and the Oriental Twin Die Boxes are going to take your breath away even more, but this little guy is awfully cute!

This is Michael Baker’s first effect from the Magic Crafters Meeting 2018 held in Wichita, Kansas, featuring some of the finest craftsmen today including, Gimpy, George Ledo, Louie Gaynor and Michael Baker. Michael really stepped up on this product which will feature limited production. The collection will be limited to only 20 pieces. If your a fan of die boxes and beautiful apparatus this is going to be hard to resist. It has both functionality and a beautiful look, it would be a shame to not have it prominent visually available.

This unique limited production product crafted by Michael Baker, can ONLY be purchased from Stevens Magic Emporium. The piece is exquisite and exceptionally detailed as one would expect from Michael. The box features velvet lined interior, and of course the necessary sliding gimmick, two top-doors, and two double-front doors.

Dimensions: 5 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide by 2 3/4″ tall.

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There is no doubt that Anverdi was decades ahead of his time. This Spirit Bell was not only the first of its type but it was the one to own for about 40 years before some seriously amazing bells came out with equally amazing modern technology. It may not be so difficult to figure out for modern day audiences but it is still an amazing piece of magic and history. It was almost 40 years before Nick Wenger’s Sprit Bell came out to really unseat Anverdi from his throne along with Tim Wisseman and of course Cesaral.

This bell came out almost 50 years ago and it still works perfectly today. What I’d be interested in seeing is in another 50 years how many of these bells will still actually work? I’m sure Anverdi’s will, but what about the others?

Magician controls ringing of bell by remote control. Bell can answer questions, tell the spots on a card, etc. The bell rings loud and clear. A trick you and your audiences will enjoy!

Anverdi’s Sprit Bell works perfectly but do it at a slow steady pace. Don’t go Ding, Ding, Ding one right after the other, allow a second before each ring. This comes with a wonderful routine by my good friend George Robinson of Viking Mfg.

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Horizontal Card Rise: This is a lovely effect which is as baffling as it is entertaining. The original idea comes from Karl Germain (1878-1959) using a large goblet to hold the cards. Eric Lewis also created a version called Comedy Come-back Card c. 1947 which is still available from his son Martin Lewis. The original CW version was created by Nick Ruggiero and is effectively a mechanical version of the Germain idea. It is one of the most popular and enduring Collectors’ Workshop effects.

George Robinson, the owner of Collectors’ Workshop for almost 20 years, has taken Nick’s version and made it 100% hands free by adding a small matchbook size remote and a sophisticated base. The base now looks clean from all angles and to make the magic happen you simple push a button. The mechanism is quiet (from a few feet you can’t hear a thing as the video demonstrates), very reliable, and is easy to turn on and off. It is a delight to watch and operate.

The performer has two cards selected and replaced in the deck – there is no question the cards are placed in the center of the deck and well and truly lost. The deck is placed in a custom houlette which is then placed on a small wooden base and covered with a glass dome. The cards are shown with the faces toward the audience, completely isolated and impossible to touch. The whole affair is now covered with a silk hank.

The performer explains that, with proper concentration, the selected card can be made to travel horizontally through the deck and appear at its face. The first spectator is asked to concentrate on his card. The silk is snapped away from the dome: The selected card has moved horizontally to the front of the deck!

Now, the performer raises the stakes dramatically. Removing the cards from the houlette, he encircles the entire deck with an elastic band. The cards are set in the houlette and again the dome replaced and covered by the handkerchief. The second spectator concentrates: instantly, the silk is removed to show that the second chosen card has journeyed to the front of the deck even under these seemingly impossible conditions.

NOTE: No strings, wires, magnets; no difficult sleights; simply press a button. Comes complete with dome, base, custom houlette and regulation Poker Bicycle Cards. Detailed instructions.

Notice: Use your own handkerchief.

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The Ink to Water (or Ink Goblet as we have here) was invented by Hofzinser c. 1845 and it is a beautiful illusion where a glass of black ink turns into a glass of clear water with goldfish merrily swimming in the water. The famed Austrian magic shop Zauber-Klingl created their version along with others almost 100 years ago and the best versions where created with real glass and gleaming chrome.

When Vienna Magic c. 1991 (owned by Stefan Simek at the time) set out to produce their version of the Ink Goblet (Tinten Pokal) they created a precision made prop that was a 100% replica of the Klingl version – they spared no expense and created a marvel. This is Olde Worlde Craftsmanship for sure just like the Vieneese crfatsmen of old who created the early versions. Real glass and shiny chrome that we are not used to seeing in this world of plastic and iPhones. No electronics or anything to be replaced and the vanish of the ink is instant. There is a slight woosh when the magic happens but typically you would cover this with a blank firing pistol or wand.

Comes with some weighted plastic fish so they are seen floating in the water, but of course you could use real goldfish if you wanted (and they gave their permission of course).

This is a real beauty that you would love to see in your collection and show to your friends.

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The Dutch Micro Master Eddy Taytelbaum never fails to please when you handle his magic. Pretty much every time Eddy turns his attention to an effect, whether he is the original inventor or not, he builds the definitive version. Just look at his famous Mummy, Chink-A-Chink, Elevator Dice, and many others.

Eddy’s magic not only looks beautiful, it works flawlessly. Bomba Atomica is another example of his perfection. It is weighted just right and just makes you want to do justice to the effort he put in to create it. Easy to do and it will look amazing in your collection too.

The magician exhibits a round solid block with a hole in the central portion, a wand or rod which will fit comfortably through this hole and a tube to cover the block with a corresponding hole in its closed end. The block is dropped into the tube and the two holes are lined up and the magician places the rod through the corresponding holes between the cover and the block within. Yet at the magician’s command, the block drops out of the tube into his hand, completely disengaging itself from the rod which passes through the end of the tube.

The reverse effect may be done. The rod can be placed through the end of the tube and tie block dropped in from the top and immediately becomes impinged on the rod. The only way to remove the block is by removing the rod.

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The original version of this effect was invented by the genius Robert Harbin c.1946 as Dippy Magnet. The Dutch Micro Magic master, Eddy Taytelbaum, created a stunning version which earned him third place at the 1961 FISM Close-Up/Card Competition. This beautiful version was built by Carl Williams in the Okito-Williams style, and there were only 21 manufactured by Carl.

A deck of Aviator cards is introduced to the audience and is shuffled and cut several times. The cards are fanned and a spectator is asked to select and withdraw one card. After showing this card to several other spectators in the audience, the card is placed on top of five or six indifferent cards that have been randomly selected by the performer. The audience does not know the identity of the indifferent cards while the performer does not know the identity of the selected card. The remainder of the card deck is returned to its case. A spectator is asked to shuffle the selected card into the small packet of cards provided by the performer. The small packet is then returned to the performer after which it is placed face down to one side on the table.

An oriental decorated pillbox is shown to the spectators and its lid removed. Attached to the inside of the lid is a thin gold chain. On the other end of the chain is a gold Chinese figure. The performer places the cards one at a time in a row on the table while placing the pillbox bottom section to one side.

A spectator is asked to hold the lid with the Chinese figure suspended over the cards one at a time. All at once one card is attracted to the base of the Chinese figure.
The remaining cards are picked up and set to one side. The card selected by the Chinese figure is placed face down on the table toward the audience. The performer replaces the Chinese figure back into the pillbox and the lid is replaced.

The spectator who selected the card is asked to name his card aloud. After the card is named the performer turns the card over that was selected by the Sum Ting Wong and it matches the one called out by the spectator. AH of the apparatus, and the five or six cards used, may be examined by the audience.

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I’ve always loved the Mental Epic effect created by Hen Fetcsh c. 1954. Most boards are pretty large and the mini ones I have seen have not been that impressive. However, this one from Dave Powell is perfect. It is small enough for formal close-up but can still be seen in a parlor situation too. And it works perfectly. It has a silent self locking mechanism that works like a dream.

Chalkboard Measures 8½” x 6½”, complete with Victorian Display Stand, Burlap Bag, Box of Chalk and Chalk Sharpener Included. Custom made Brass Knobs, Covers & Clips. Special gaffed Bicycle Deck included.

A small chalkboard, divided into six sections is shown sitting on an elegant stand which also rests a piece of chalk. The magician lifts it off the stand and writes a predication onto the first section and covers it with a small flap. He then asks an audience member to shout out any number. He then writes this number in the section below. Next, the magician writes another prediction in the top center section and again covers it. He now asks someone to name any color and writes it in bottom section. Last, magician writes a playing card in final top section and covers it. He then riffles through a deck of cards and asks the spectator to remember one. The name of that card is written in the final square.

The magician reiterates what just happened, 3 separate predictions and 3 separate thoughts. He then hands the chalkboard to the spectator who removes the flaps himself revealing that all three predictions match perfectly.

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This effect from Magic Wagon has taken over 30 years to perfect. It began as the amazing Ring Tower c. 1986, the brainchild of Wolfgang Grosskopf while he was working at Vienna Magic. In 1992 Tenyo released their Crystal Cleaver. This Tenyo item was a big success for Tenyo and became much better known than The Ring Tower so often this effect is credited to Tenyo instead of Vienna Magic (luckily when Magic Wagon created the Ultimate Sword they credit the correct source as Vienna Magic). In 2007 The Trickery and Magic Wagon got together and produced the immediate pre-runner to this item called Sword of the Ring. Sword of the Ring was a big success and it was almost perfect. Unfortunately, the tower unit could not be examined and you could not see right through to the back.

In 2018 these issues were resolved and the Ultimate Sword Through Ring was created. And boy what a beauty it is. Perfection attained.

The performer displays a beautiful wooden cabinet. The front and back doors are then opened allowing a clear view right through. A ring is now borrowed from a spectator and placed onto the cushion of the ring pedestal. Next, the pedestal along with the spectator’s ring is openly placed into the cabinet and both doors are then closed. The performer now picks up a miniature brass sword and shows it to be perfectly solid. The brass sword is then inserted through a slot at the top of the cabinet and both ends of the sword can be seen either side of the cabinet.

With absolutely no hesitation, the performer pushes the sword straight down to the bottom of the cabinet. When both doors are again opened, the brass sword is found to have magically penetrated right through the spectator’s ring! The sword can then be removed through the slots at the front of the cabinet showing the borrowed ring to be unharmed and allowing it to slide down the sword and fall off into the spectator’s awaiting hand!

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Stewart James’ Sefalaljia was a ground breaking five phase routine when it appeared in issue 69 of The Jinx December 2, 1939. It was a truly magical effect and has inspired so many imitators and rip offs over years including probably the most famous one: the Astro-Ball Cabinet by Milson-Worth.   The Legacy Box continues in this vain and unlike the very popular Astro-Ball Cabinet, which is a direct copy of just one phase of Stewart James’ routine, the Legacy Box has multiple unique phases and each phases builds on the previous one.  It is clearly inspired by James’ creation but David and Owen’s have created their own unique methods and approach and I’m confident that Stewart James would wholeheartedly approve.

When I watched the video on David’s site I was very intrigued by the effect – I really didn’t know how all of the different actions inside the box were happening. So I decided to plop down the cash and get one. This was a bit of a leap of faith, but I really like the Regal mind and love Owen’s construction so was pretty confident it would be fine.

When I received the box I first examined the whole thing and couldn’t see anything – I had to watch the video to see the secret. When the secret was divulged I was very happy. Not only is this box built to perfection, the method is also perfect. It cannot be performed surrounded but otherwise what you see in the demo is what you get. I don’t want to give any more away with respect to the secrecy that David has been trying to maintain for this high end item, but I could not be happier with this beautiful effect.

The box looks as clean as a whistle from all angles when it is first introduced but each time the door closes magical things happen. Firstly, the dice are rolled, then a pencil lands inside the glass, and finally a finger ring travels from one side of the cabinet to the other into the glass.  If you like Sefalaljia type effects you’ll go crazy for The Legacy Box.

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