Year: 2020

Here we have another beautiful recreation by Carl Williams of the Okito Mystery Paddle that was originally created by Okito c. 1955.  This version by Carl Williams was released c. 2000 in a limited edition of less than 30.

The instructions say this is an adaption of a well-known slate trick marketed by Annemann, which I was unable to find a reference to. But as far as I know it is an adaptation of U.F. Grant’s Slate of Mind.  Apart from looking significantly nicer I like the fact you start with a full deck and have six cards “randomly” chosen from the deck with neither the audience or the performer knowing what they are.  That gives the impression that one card out of a whole deck was in fact predicted.

If you ever wanted to perform any form of Slate of Mind, Okito’s Mystery Paddle would be the best way to do it: it looks beautiful and is more convincing.

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Here is another work of art from Michael Baker and only three of these were ever made.  As is often the case with Michael’s creations he spared no expense or time in the creation of this remarkable miracle.  Every panel has a different picture and the colors are rich and intoxicating.

The method is as clever as the props are beautiful and there is a lot going on to create the perfect illusion of an impossible transposition from the large cabinet to the small.  Even though right up to the last second you can show the orb is inside the large cabinet, it magically transports itself to the smaller cabinet.

I’m looking forward to seeing the Speed Demo for this bad boy, and I hope you are too 🙂

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This item from Magic Wagon is inspired by two of my favorite effects: Tony Lackner’s Hand of Cleopatra and John Good’s/Collectors’ Workshop’s Clock of San Marco’s Square. Right up front I would say I would not replace either with Arrow of Truth … 🙁

However, I am referring to the traditional uses of Cleopatra and San Marco’s.  Luckily, thanks to the clever guys at Magic Wagon this box can reveal two items, not one.  And the always thinking John M. Talbot shows how this feature can be used for more than a nice copy of two classic effects.  John has created five effects that are included with the instructions:

• Elementary My Dear Watson – this is closest to how I perform Cleopatra, with an extra twist thanks to the ability for the two reveals.
• Sally Picks a Card – this is my favorite and John really shows you how to squeeze a great surprise, which is a little scary, from an otherwise innocent two reveal system.
• Point The Way – John makes use of some interesting Steampunk cards and a real compass.
• Dead or Alive – The Room goes dark and a scream is heard in the distance 🙂  Need I say anymore,  John knows how to have some fun!
• Win or Lose – another novel use of this box as an old gambling device.

I don’t know under what circumstances John gets involved with Magic Wagon’s effects, but I do know when he does the item is significantly better thanks to his clever routines and out of the box thinking.  I hope the partnership continues because some Magic Wagon items that start out as nice boxes literally transform into real miracles  when he gets involved.

Great job Magic Wagon, and please stick around John 🙂

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This is easily one of the very best items created by the original Collectors’ Workshop Founders and Dream Team of Rich Block and Nick Ruggiero. This has it all:

• Startling Vanish and Reappearance of a real Alarm Clock
• Incredibly reliable remote control
• Hilarious Situation Comedy built into the Routine
• Easy to perform and easy to set up
• Intriguing Props and Sounds
• Packs neatly into a custom ATA case for storage

Most importantly, unlike some of the more complex items such as P.T. Barnum’s Delight, this is incredibly reliable and works right out of the box.  You have to read the detailed instructions but it all sets-up logically and in my testing it has not failed once.  It is very solid, you set it up and follow the directions and you have comedy gold at the push of a button and one of the most amazing visual vanishes of a clock you will ever find!

Time Odyssey is hard to find these days and it has not been reproduced by George Robinson, who purchased  Collectors’ Workshop twenty years ago, due to the complexity of the manufacturing required. One of the many reasons Collectors’ Workshop have been so revered by Collectors and Performers over the years is due to amazing effects like Time Odyssey 🙂

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This is Magic Wagon’s miniaturized version of  World’s Greatest Prediction Chest by Arturo, Roydon, Bob Mason and a wonderful job they have done too!

John M. Talbot wrote the instructions for Magic Wagon, and that is always a good thing because John will often taken an idea and flip it on its head to create a whole new approach which is better than the original ideas for the unit.  In this case John describes four main ideas:

1. Formal Future Show/Event – this is the primary routine that was created for the original Prediction Chest and The Telegraph Chest works perfectly in this mode.  I personally feel that the original bigger chest in the plastic display box is more suited to this type of presentation but that is just personal preference, you can certainly use The Telegraph Chest for this.  In fact if you picked up a plastic chest (from Amazon for example) you could quickly reproduce almost the same set-up.
2. Formal Same Day Show/Event – this is a similar routine to 1. but I think it is more suited to the size of the box.
3. Casual Home Performance – this would be perfect for any large family meal or get together
4. Non-Prediction Presentation featuring Houdini – this is my personal favorite because it views this prediction chest as something quite different and John has created a routine that involves Harry Houdini with multiple magical moments happening and an engaging story line.  This is why Magic Wagon ask John to get involved because he has devised a use for the box that you would not normally consider and you’ll love it 🙂

For those that like clever props, you’ll love this, and if you want to really amaze them you’ll love this, and if you like tinkering and combining different props together you’ll love this too.  Something for everyone and John M. Talbot has done plenty to help you along the way.

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This wonderful item was created by Warren Stephens c. 1969 and sold by Abbott’s until c. 1997 and what an unusual item it is! I don’t believe they have been available for over twenty years. This version has been refurbished and works perfectly. It has a new clear and thick plastic sheet which is more solid than the original and it looks amazing (The final image shows a photo of the original Di-Mini-Fish for comparison).

It comes with a very funny patter story that is still funny today 🙂

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This is a revised version of the Davenport’s/Demon Telepathic Colours sold by Davenport’s and Hamleys c. 1953, and later sold by MBC Magic Studio (Ron MacMillan’s first store) c. 1962 and International Unique Magic (Ron’s MacMillan’s later store) c. 1985.  Magic Wagon uses the same method but they  have increased the number of colors that can be divined from four to six and of course added their own high quality box production.  The colors on the insert are quite stunning and can easily be seen from quite a distance.

The method distinguishes itself from similar effects because there are no sliding panels or tubes to look through.  However, because of the six colors it does rely on a fraction more memory work which you will know if you’ve reached fifty gets harder and harder to jam into the old noggin 🙂   There is a tiny gimmick which can be hidden in plain site or replaced with various other easily available alternatives.

The effect can be easily repeated if required.  A very nice effect from Magic Wagon that you’ll love playing with!

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