Month: March 2019

At the end of last year Kent Bergmann released his first Limited Edition item First Class and what an amazing beauty it was. Easily the most involved 3D Magic effect I have ever seen. It required so many pieces that Kent just released a custom case that would hold all of the pieces neatly in place. The original First Class featuring 30 units sold out within a few days, and everyone but one of the purchasers opted for this case too. I feel sorry for the one person who didn’t – I’m pretty sure he will regret that decision over time 🙁

This is not a magic trick in itself, but the way it fits all of the pieces so well, in a relatively small box is quite magical. There are very few dealers around that spend this much time and take this sort of care for simply the presentation and storage of an effect, particularly when you look at how much work is involved in creating these cases. Kent is here to stay and he is producing some amazing magic, but he is already retiring some products so make sure you get over there now before all the best items have gone!

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The Pom-Pom Prayer Stick was invented by Louis Histed and published in his book The Magic of Louis S. Histed c. 1947 as the effect Papyrus (pg 55). The effect was made famous and very popular by the great Ali Bongo (William Oliver Wallace: 1829-2009). You can read more details about the origins here. It is really a beautiful effect full of comedy and mystery.

This version is beautifully produced with precision engineering and has been my goto version for about twenty years. You have a length of tube with a piece of cord passing thru each end. Different colored, bug fluffy Pom Poms are attached to each end of the cord. The pieces of cord are pulled back and forth thru the rod to prove the cords are unconnected. but just to confuse the audience, the magician pulls one cord out to double its original length, making the cord on the other end go up. From then on, whichever end the performer pulls it will become a long cord on its own, giving the impression that there are at least six cords.

With limitless and comic variation, the magician repeatedly pulls on the ends until the audience becomes completely bewildered. Then the great climax – unexpectedly you make both cords long, then pull the tube apart to show there is no connection between the cords (this amazes the audience and they show it!) Slip the two halves back together again, and to show the audience that you have a miracle in your hands, resume pulling the cords as before, and take a well deserved bow. This is always gets a great reaction, yet it is self contained and easy to do.

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This effect was originally created by magician and inventor Rebru of Holland c. 1990. It was rebuilt by Joe Long and Paul Lembo as part of their Limited Edition Magic series c. 2015 and this inspired the new Dutch Craftsman Frans Reijnier, from Holland Magic Studio, to build his own version. In fact, Frans created three versions: Mini, Standard, and Jumbo. This is the 2″ mini version and not only is it as cute as a button, it works perfectly and looks amazing.

You show a small golden solid block with a hole drilled through it, a solid magic wand and an empty frame which you can show by opening the back and front doors. You then take the magic wand and place it in the middle of the frame and close the doors. You then take the golden block and place it in the frame until it rests on the wand. Then you push down on the block and it PENETRATES THE WAND. How is that possible? Then you open the front of the frame and lift the block from the frame, the magic wand is now through the hole in the block. Of course you can take out the wand and show everything to be solid and fair.

Very well made from wood and metal, includes everything you need including a link to an online instructional video. Very limited supply. Keep an eye on Holland Magic Studio, because if the first few items are anything to go on Frans is going to be a power house before you know it.

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What impresses me about this box is that there are no moving parts, no electronics, no magnets, nothing to add to take away, no reset, and yet you are ready to go right away – arrive at the event, pull out your box, take our your tarot cards and other things you store in the box and straight away you can start to read their minds.  What a lovely idea, and will last a lifetime – even if you leave it on your shelf for years before using it!

This is a vintage-looking box in which the mentalist carries the tools of his trade: playing cards, tarot cards, etc. A participant writes something down on a blank card and inserts it face down into the slot of the closed box. The mentalist then accesses the spectators thoughts without touching the box! An ingenious, hand-crafted wooden box about 18 x 14 x 10 cm. Comes with a velour bag which may or may not be used during the performance.  This is the original Mind’s Eye Box which has been discontinued and not the later more decorative versions. Ideal for close-up but could be used for parlor or stage.

Inspired by Magnuson’s Devil Device box, as featured in Theodore Annemann’s book Practical Mental Magic (Effects) and also described in The Jinx #89 But unlike the Devil Device there are no moving parts, or the need to touch the box after the spectator had placed their written details inside.  It also doesn’t have some of the angle issues that the original Devil Device had.

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