Year: 2021

The Cork Penetration was invented by Eddy Taytelbaum and there have been many versions over the years including these ones  (though I’m missing the wonderful version released by the talented Frenchman François Danis).  As is often the case Eddy’s version is still the gold standard but this is a very nice set from the talented Michael Baker. 

Most versions have a hole in the card but it is not always the case and Michael’s uses a complete card.  I also added a card with a hole just in case you wanted to perform it the more standard way.

This looks great in your collection and works perfectly too.

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Michael Baker is always working on something new or refining his existing line.   He now has produced this wonderful item in three sizes: Regular, Giant, and now this one, Mini.  A version was also created exclusively for Stevens Magic here.  

Vampire Block Escape is related to the popular Vampire Block but it does not use a chain or cord.  It uses a slightly different mechanism but looks great, works smoothly and is convincing to the spectator.

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This effect was invented by Harlan Tarbell and built by Ireland Magic c. 1941.  It was first described in book form in Vol. 4 of The Tarbell Course c. 1945.  This adorable version follows Harlan’s description closely and is made perfectly by Michael Baker.  The Ireland Magic version was made in metal and Michal Baker’s is made from wood (the last two images show the Ireland version). 

It is a wonderful effect that is not seen very often.  Once neat thing about the design is you can store the cards and other items for you show inside the house for transportation if you so desire, making this effect practical and magical 🙂

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The third item in Thomas’ Egyptian Series is a clean prediction with colorful looking props.  There are no funny moves and the spectator can turn over the card and open the prediction themselves.  Reset is quick and this is always ready to go.  The only downside is that it can not be repeated to the same audience but with Thomas producing so many neat items these days that won’t be a problem 🙂

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The fourth item in Thomas’ Egyptian Series is a very perplexing penetration with exotic looking props.  When I watched the video and received the item I could not figure out how this bad boy worked until I watched Thomas’ explanation video. The penetration is very clean and has a quick reset too – this will fool most people not in the know.  Even if you think you know how it works you are unlikely to be fully able to explain how it is actually accomplished.

This is one of the cleanest and surprising penetrations I have seen in a while.  A very nice job Thomas 🙂

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If you like the street con type of effects you’ll love this effect.  This is the first release that Meir released c. 2019 and includes the wooden base and the DVD.  It is easy to perform and you’ll have lots of fun with this bad boy!

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Slate of mind was created by U.F.Grant c. 1949, and it was later improved by Aldini. Grant was influenced by Dr. Jaks’ Supersonic Card Prediction.

This is Richard Osterlind’s high end version, it is not as pretty as Carl Williams’ paddle version but it is still one of the best looking and smoothest versions produced.

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This neat item was designed and produced by, Magical Concepts Plus, Wood Dale, Illinois c. 1990.  It is a hand-crafted, walnut and maple case that houses various magical effects. It also came originally with an instruction video.  I received no instructions or video when I obtained this.  It appears to come with the following items:

1. Custom Walnut version of Ed Massey’s Ribbon Fantastique (I’ll include instructions for a previous version).
2. A wonderful version of Heath’s Mystic Tappit but with a clever ruse which means you don’t need to remember any colors.  (I’ll write up instructions for this – it is an amazing and simple to perform item that is always ready to go and works perfectly!)
3. Pair of normal dice
4. Deck of regular playing cards

I don’t know if there was anything else – it feels pretty snug so I’m not sure if they could fit much more in the box. 

On the front of the box it has the Latin phrase: “Omne Quod Videt Non Est” – searching online did not give a meaningful translation, but I’m guessing it says something along the lines of: “Everything is not what it seems” (though I could be wildly wrong here!).

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The Conway Cigarette Case is based upon the effect The Card and Cigarette Case by American Close-up Magician Bert Allerton in his book The Close-up Magician  c. 1958. However, Bert Allerton’s idea used an ungimmicked Cigarette Case. Pat Conway created the perfect gaff to make the case still look normal, but also much easier and more convincing to perform. 

Ken Brooke purchased the rights to Pat’s approach and produced this beautiful and innocent looking Cigarette Case.  The early versions sold by Ken required an elastic band to be used but Fred Lowe suggested a modification which removed the need.  This is the final version after all the improvements and suggestions and it is perfect and easily one of the best items produced by Ken Brooke 🙂

I’ve always wanted to get one of these but had no clue how cool it was until I received it.  It does not work like any other card box you have seen and there are no flaps … yet you can do pretty much anything any other card box can do, but in a much more natural and clean way 🙂

I’ve included the full Card in Chewing Gum instructions from Roy Johnson’s amazing book The Roy Johnson Experience and along with some extra tweaks that are included with the instructions for the Conway you will have the perfect routine you’ll use in every show.

The only problem I had is that I don’t smoke and the last thing I wanted to do was buy some real cigarettes to perform this.  Luckily Amazon came to the rescue and I was able to get a pack of herbal cigarettes that are tobacco and nicotine free and look and work perfectly.

Included:

• The amazing Conway Cigarette Case in like new condition.
• Six pages of tips and instructions.
• The full six page routine for Card in Chewing Gum from Roy’s book.
• A pack of herbal cigarettes which look perfect (of course you can use real cigarettes too!).

This is really an amazing and innocent looking switching device for cards, billets, cash, business cards and anything else that will fit inside the case that you will find many uses for.

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You can always rely on the amazing Eddy Taytelbaum to produce a beautiful version of a standard effect.  Here he takes on the Coin Slide and in this version Eddy has created one with no moving parts. In fact the slide can be examined if desired 🙂

It is a simple effect, but Eddy still manages to create a work of art from it.  The secret to appreciating Eddy’s items is not just to look a them, but to hold them and use them.  You’ll find most of the time that they work as beautifully and flawlessly as they look.  This little slide is no exception.

Thayer’s Mystic Coin Slide c. 1921 appears to have been the first version of this type of effect, followed by Carl Brema’s Coin Slide or Magic Mint c. 1925. The term “coin slide” should not be confused with the gimmick used to load a coin into the center of a ball of wool (or in nest of box routines) which was used much earlier.

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