Year: 2023

This is a very clever vanish of a block invented by Jimmy King and first sold by U.F. Grant and then later by Mak Magic. Although it looks similar to the See-Thru Block Vanish it works completely differently and it is a very convincing vanish that I think you will enjoy ?

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The first version of this remarkable illusion was invented by Okito c. 1904 (Dr Albo Vol 1, pg 103).  Among others, variations have also been built by Thayer, National Magic Company, Henry Bohlen and Town House Magic (Deluxe Visible Block Penetration c. 1946), Richard Gerlitz, Mel Babcock, Magic Wagon, Mikame Craft, and Nielsen Magic.  It is performed by Dr. Albo in the Ultimate Okito.

However, not all Visible Block Penetrations use the same Okito method.  The key tell tale sign in performance is “slow-motion”: can the penetration be done slowly and visibly?  If it can then it is most likely based on the same method.  If it is visible but almost instant it is probably not using the same method.

The version featured here was designed and built by Bud West and sold by Abbott’s and does not use the Okito method. However the performance of the effect is different from other similar effects such as the Harries Super De Luxe Penetration and if you are familiar with those versions it is important to study the effect and read the instructions because at first it seems a little awkward. But once you understand the different approach it becomes easy to perform and is a very convincing illusion.

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These boxes were designed by Roy Roth for his cabaret act and they are very compact.  The loading mechanism is very similar to Himber’s Her Majesty’s Box (c. 1945) which has also been used by Viking Mfg. and Davenport’s.

These work well but the quality is not as fine as Himber’s original or the later versions.  But it is quite amazing how small the boxes are.  However, don’t confuse this with Roy Roth’s other Nest of Boxes and his Prediction Chest/Nest of Boxes which are have also been called Nest of Boxes in R.A.R. magic adverts and catalogs.  This is the first version I have seen of this style.

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This is a remade version of Viking’s  Jack and Jill Jumbo which is an updated version of the Steve Dusheck and Jim Hill effect: Cases of Metamorphosis c. 1984.  All of these effects are versions of Al Baker’s Cherchez la Femme.

This is a nicely made version, though heavier and not as fine as the Viking version.  The addition of the separate stand allows you to show the cards in the stand before you begin so that you can show the cards and the frame cleanly to begin with. The holes to see the jumbo card through the frame could be a little larger.

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Since 2019 the Mystery Blox as been my version of choice. But sadly I have gone back to John Kennedy’s Mystery Box II due to reliability issues.

I was practicing with the Mystery Blox this holiday season and the gimmick came apart unexpectedly.  I replaced it which was relatively smooth. However, my Mystery Blox has never been the same.  I tried it on some friends and it went drastically wrong twice.  I even tried a brand new box from PropDog and had the same issues. 

It is true if you really work it in you should be fine, however the more you work it in the less life the gimmick has, so now you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you work it in too little it can fail you, and if you work it in too much it will also fail you by breaking on you when you least expect it.

So as much as I love this box and idea it certainly can be more unpredictable than the original Mystery Box and as a result I have now switched back to as my go to set: https://www.martinsmagic.com/allmagic/cards/mystery-box-ii-by-john-kennedy/ .  I just don’t have the time or inclination to deal with issues that can arise with this box.

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Clifton Mitchell is a true perfectionist. He doesn’t take on many projects but when he does you can be sure the finished product will be gold 🙂

This item, which is Clift’s version of the Mikame Craft effect Mystery Key Holder that was invented by Satoshi Toyoda, is a real delight. It is one of the very few items (out of thousands) that has ended up in my Gig-Rig ready for action anytime in the future.

Although the idea behind the original Mikame Craft version is a stroke of genius the version they sold has a number of limitations.  Clift has addressed all of those issues and then some.  Most importantly he made the key look like a common place item, rather than an obvious magician’s prop, and created an interesting and amusing line of patter to go along with it.

More than any other effect I am looking forward to trying this out over the holidays, and I’m quite confident it will drive them wild.  Thank-you Clift for letting me have one of these as I know you have a lot of demand for your products, I love it 🙂

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