Tricky Tray Jr. by Ken Allen

A Tricky Tray was invented by Oswald Rae and described in his book The More You Watch (c. 1938). However, although it is a switching tray it is not the same as  Ken Allen’s prop called Tricky Tray that was released 16 years later (C. 1954) and sold in two versions: the standard Tricky Tray (7″ x 12″) and the Tricky Tray Jr. (5.5″ x 7″).

Oswald Rae’s tray is significantly more complex than Ken Allen’s and for most circumstances I would use Ken’s.  You can do similar effects with both, though Ken’s is more flexible and because it is so thin and plain it really does seem free from trickery.

Ken sold both of his trays with six pages of detailed instructions that features some really good ideas over and above the popular Bank Night effect.

Includes:

• Tricky Tray Jr.
• 5 Envelopes with Bingo Cards.
• Tricky Tray Magic notes.
• Felt Carrying case.

Effect: Tricky Tray and Tricky Tray Jr. are utility switching devices for many effects.  The following effects are detailed in the instructions (though you might need to purchase some additional items to perform the effects).

Bank Night:
The magician shows a tray on which are five envelopes. He calls for the assistance of four people from the audience. The audience is now told that you are going to play a guessing game which involves five people and a ten dollar bill. The person that wins the game receives the ten dollar bill.

“The game is very simple”, says the magician. “There are no questions or problems to work out”. One of the envelopes on this tray contains a ten dollar bill. Each of the four people on the stage are allowed to take one envelope, and then change among themselves and the tray as many times as they wish as long as they leave one envelope on the tray for the magician. “When I start to count, you may remove the envelopes from the tray and switch among yourselves and the tray as many times as you wish. When I hit the count of seven (count slowly) you are to stop and hold the envelopes each of you have high in the air in your right hand”. The magician starts counting and when he stops at seven, he removes the remaining envelope from the tray and holds it in his hand. The spectators open their envelopes and they are found to contain nothing. Magician opens his envelope and takes out the ten dollar bill.

Prediction Effect:
The magician points to an envelope that has been in full view of all during the show. He tells the audience that before the show, he wrote on the paper inside the envelope–a color, a date, and a word. The audience is now asked to call out any color, any date and any word, The magician writes this down on a large piece of paper or blackboard so it can be rechecked later.

An assistant comes out with the tray, puts the envelope on the tray and walks towards the magician. The magician takes the envelope off the tray, tears it open, takes out the paper and gives it to a member of the audience to check with the blackboard. The writing on the paper checks with the writings on the blackboard that the audience just called out.

Serial Number Prediction (Bob Fillman):
Four or five bills are collected from members of the audience. The spectator are told to fold the bills in half and then in half again, so the serial number is folded on the inside of the bill. In this manner the magician is prevented from seeing the number on the bills put on the tray. Spectator collects the five bills and then mixes them on the tray. Four bills are removed from the tray and handed back to the spectators.

The magician takes the one bill that is left, and hands it to a member of the audience, (still in its folded condition) Spectator is told to open that bill and concentrate on the serial number. Carry across the point that all the bills were borrowed, none of the bills were opened while you were looking on, and the spectators left the bill of their choice on the tray. Magician now reads the spectators mind and names the serial number of the bill.

Coin Tray Effect:
(Only Tricky Tray Jr.)  Four coins are on top of the tray. Spectator opens his hand and the coins are poured into his hand which is closed immediately, (or the coins may be dumped into a glass which the spectator holds over his head) Three more coins are shown and dropped into a small paper bag. The bag is shaken to prove the coins are really there. The bag is blown up and broken. The bag is now screwed up and put aside. The spectator opens his hand and counts the seven coins onto the tray.

7 Keys to Baldpate Effect (Jack Condon):
(Only Tricky Tray Jr.) A tray held by the magician has on it a closed lock, a number of keys, some drug envelopes and a key tied to a ribbon.

All the keys with the exception of the one with the ribbon are given to a spectator along with the closed, lock. The spectator is requested, to try each of the keys in the lock to find, which key will open it. None of the keys that the spectator holds will open the lock. Each key is now sealed in a small drug envelope and kept in the possession of the spectator. Now the key with the ribbon is given to the spectator with the request that he try that key in the lock.

The key fits and the lock opens. Magician cuts the ribbon from the key and that key is now sealed in an envelope. The lock is locked thru the lapel (coat) on one of the spectators. This spectator mixeB all the envelopes on the tray. All the envelopes are removed by the spectator with the exception of one. The envelopes are removed one at a time, and the spectator may change his mind while he is doing this. The magician removes the last envelope, opens it and the key he removes from that envelope opens the lock.

Impression Board:
When the tray is prepared as described, it can be used as an impression board such that when a spectator draws or writes something on the paper an impression will be recorded on the face of the black tray, to reveal in any manner you see fit.

In Unity:
Spectator is handed a piece of white cardboard and a black crayon. Magician stands in front of the spectator with a piece of paper on the tray. Spectator begins to draw a figure on the cardboard. At the same time performer standing in front of the spectator begins to draw also. It is impossible to see what the spectator is drawing since the magician is in front of him. However you have trouble and show what you have done to the audience and the spectator, both of whom agree it is wrong, (do not turn around towards spectator during this time) If by some quirk of fate you are correct, now is the time to stop. If you are wrong, you tear off the sheet and begin again. Then you decide that it is rather hard to concentrate in front of such a large group, so with the audience concentrating spectator shows his picture, You tell the audience to concentrate on the drawing. Then as they watch, line by line you complete your drawing. Then and only then do you turn around and see that both drawings are exactly alike.

Changing a $5 into a $10:
Show an envelope empty. Put a $5.00 bill into the envelope (or let the spectator do this) Envelope is placed on the tray. This is done right under their noses, and is good clean magic.

Tray is black Plexiglas, and may be used as a tray during the show. May be shown on both sides.

The ideas are described in the notes “Tricky Tray Magic” and a felt carrying case are supplied when you purchase either tray.

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