Performer shows three ropes. If you wish they may all be examined. One is short, the second is longer and the third is very long. Taking all the ends together the performer ‘stretches’ the ropes until they are all the same length and then displays them separately one at a time. Just as easily and magically the performer then causes all the ropes to return to their original unequal lengths.
Very easy to do, this is one of those rare Rope Tricks with nothing to ever replace.
Review by Andy Martin for White Bikes by Paul Richards
5 out of 5
From a time when Paul Richards’ was the infamous Packet Trick King of Olde Buffalo Town c. 1997 this is one of Paul’s most successful sellers with over 25,000 units sold. And what a beauty it is.
What seems like a simple prediction turns into something more – much more. Three magical moments occur, each getting progressively more impossible. Cleverly constructed to lead the audience down the garden path; then hit them squarely between the eyes with a shovel! WHITE BIKES is a very easy effect to perform and always leaves the audience astonished. It uses no rough and smooth, no knuckle busting moves, no deck switch, and it can be a different selection each time you perform!
The enclosed instructional DVD also includes a fantastic “no count” bonus handling as well as additional ideas and insights to get the most out of this incredible routine.
Comes complete with Bicycle gaffed deck and detailed instructional DVD.
Many purists are going to stick with the non-gimmicked card version. But what I love about Jon Allen’s version is that it is easy to do and you clearly show the two kings in your hands even after you have supposedly placed the fives on the table. Then Bam! they switch places – hard to be that clean with normal cards. This is pretty much my goto item if I want to show just one trick to someone. Clean, easy and very visual!
Review by Andy Martin for No-Palm Wallet – Original by Jerry O'Connell
5 out of 5
The Finest Quality Magic Wallet? Jerry O’Connell’s wonderful wallets go back at least as far as the 1980’s, and maybe even the 1970’s. Many of his wallets are still made today by Propdog in the UK. I will say that although the new line of Jerry O’Connell wallets are very well made, I do prefer the original ones that Jerry made himself. The leather seems better and they appear thinner overall.
If you have read my reviews over the years you’ll notice I have an affection towards magic wallets. What can I say I am just intrigued by all the styles. However, what has become clear to me is that there isn’t any one wallet that will do all things you need. I have given up saying “This is my new favorite wallet”, because invariably it changes with my next wallet. What I have decided is that if you like wallets there are a number of very fine wallets on the market that each do something unique. There are also many bad wallets on the market.
This may not be my favorite wallet, but it is certainly the one I use the most and, when it comes to craftsmanship and quality it is hard to beat the beautiful work of Jerry O’Connell. I use his No-Palm Wallet in conjunction with Doc Dixon’s incredible Carpe Cajones and just this year I also use it for Del Ray’s wonderful Computer Deck. Now for this effect, the O’Connell wallet is just perfect. No other wallet I own does the job better, and certainly no wallet is made better.
Review by Andy Martin for Wild Card by Frank Garcia, Peter Kane
5 out of 5
I know that many British magicians and authors like to say that Wild Card was created by Peter Kane but this is simply not true. It is true that when Wild Card was first released by Lou Tannen there was no mention of Peter Kane’s inspiration which ruffled a lot of feathers and that is pretty much what caused bad blood between the two ever since. But Frank Garcia clearly states the source on the very first page of his book Wild Card Miracles (c. 1977):
WILD CARD was originally inspired by an idea called ‘Watch the Ace’ by Peter Kane and described for him by Gus Southall in Hugard’s Magic monthly (April 1962). The effect was called to my attention by Bill Simon.
I like the account as detailed on Magicpediaconcerning Wild Card:
Bill Simon read the Kane effect and showed it to Lou Tannen one day at Tannen’s Magic Shop shortly after it appeared. Lou asked Frank Garcia to work out a handling of the effect so Tannen could place it on the market–and this is how “Wild Card” was born. The Garcia handling is very different from Peter Kane’s. Had Lou Tannen put “Based on Peter Kane’s ‘Watch the Ace'” on the instruction sheet, Garcia would have received the credit he deserved for his superior variation. Instead, the Garcia marketed handling carried no credit and Garcia was accused of stealing Peter Kane’s trick. In fact, Garcia used only Kane’s idea of doing the routine with double-faced cards.
Having read Peter Kane’s original Watch The Ace description in Hugard’s Magic Monthly I know for a fact that I would never have performed this effect. But the way it is explained by Frank Garcia made it much more palatable for a hobbyist with my skill set. In fact the version that I learned and still perform today was called One over the Eight and was in Harry Baron’s book Card Tricks for Beginners. Harry’s version is very similar to Routine #2 (pg. 17) described in Wild Card Miracles, though attributed to Dave Lederman.
Either way I thank Peter Kane for inspiring Frank Garcia to create such a beautiful card effect which is probably my all time favorite packet trick.
Review by Andy Martin for Visible Coins in Glass by Jack Hughes
5 out of 5
Jack Hughes, the legendary British Inventor, Craftsman, and Dealer who invented many staples in magic that we take for granted today (including: TV Card Frame (1936), Attaboy (early 1930s), Clatter Box (1963) and many more. He also invented this beauty (or an earlier version of it at least) Coins in Glass (before Copenetro) even though when Bob Kline introduced his version of Coins in Glass called Copenetro (with the same method) almost 10 years later in 1947, he claimed he had invented it and that Jack Hughes was the pirate. I think history speaks for itself here and there is little doubt in my mind that Jack Hughes was the originator of the Visible Coins to Glass effect that many people attribute to Bob Kline. You can read more here.
I used to perform this version of the effect all the time as a teenager and into my 20’s – it was always easy to set, reliable in operation, and a great crowd pleaser.
Review by Andy Martin for First Class (#5 of 30) by 3D Magic Works
5 out of 5
Released in 2018, this is the first Limited Edition release from the amazing Kent Bergmann’s 3D Magic Works and what a beauty it is. Kent has barely been in business for two years, and already there is no other magic manufacturer that gets close to the Digital Printed marvels that he produces. Aimed squarely at the Magic Collector there are only 30 numbered sets of First Class and each set includes genuine USPS Limited Edition “Art of Magic” postage stamps to add to the exclusivity.
First Class is the most expensive effect Kent has produced to date, but when you look at the individual pieces it represents amazing value for what you receive. Many people believe with Digital Printing you just press a button and out pops the finished article. This could not be further from the truth and Kent details some of the process here. Digital Printing certainly makes it easier to reproduce the same pieces accurately and consistently, but it takes real attention to detail to produce such wonderful effects as these.
With First Class the spectator picks any of five beautiful “Art of Magic” stamps and places the chosen one into the Outgoing Mailbox. After emptying the five Incoming Mailboxes of their white envelopes, they are clearly empty and closed up. Then the stamp disappears from the Outgoing box and appears in the correct Incoming box, and just in case the spectators were wondering what appears in the other boxes they all now have uniquely colored envelopes themselves.
This first Limited Edition sold out within a couple of days, and based on the quality and value of this set keep an eye open on Kent’s site because I’m sure the next miracle will be snapped up even quicker next time!
Review by Andy Martin for Bulletproof by Collectors' Workshop
5 out of 5
In 1936 legendary British Inventor, Craftsman, and Dealer, Jack Hughes, invented what became known as the Television or TV Card Frame (or sometimes Television Glass Frame) where a chosen card appears trapped between two plates of glass set in a houlette. I don’t think there is much doubt as to what version of this classic effect beats them all? Yes it is Bulletproof from the original owners of Collectors’ Workshop, Rich Bloch and Nick Ruggiero, c. 1992.
“I Heard He Did A Great Card Trick” “I Couldn’t Tell – – I Was in the Eighth Row” It’s amazing. Otherwise reasonable performers persist in doing card tricks on stage – with standard size cards! True, the first three or four rows are stunned into submission. The rest of the audience has to take it on faith. CW decided to respond, and in so doing, we created what we think will be regarded as the most exciting stage, platform or parlor effect of the decade.
Performer opens a jumbo deck of cards. Spectator freely selects a card and signs his name across the face. The card is immediately torn into pieces and deposited in a small, cloth bag. Performer then displays two pieces of clear lucite. Explaining that he is about to recreate the famous Chung Ling Soo Bullet Catch, the performer bands the two plates together with elastics. These, he announces, are the Bullet Shields. The two transparent plates are placed upright in a thin, unprepared, wood frame, and the frame is mounted on a thin, unprepared transparent lucite tray. All pieces may be examined (for those of you into silly stage waits). The tray is now placed on an unprepared table or, if you wish, held by the spectator. Displaying a pistol, the performer explains that most bullets are designed to destroy. “This bullet, however, has been specially designed to restore. Let me show you what I mean.” Handing the gun* to a spectator, the performer holds the small bag in front of the plastic shield, advising the spectator to fire when ready. The spectator does so and, with a “Bang”, the following things happen:
The small bag drops open, and a bullet drops out onto the tray. Instantly, the signed jumbo card appears between the two lucite “shields”. The shields may then be removed and handed to the spectator who opens them, retrieves the card and verifies the signature.
It’s an inexplicable effect, well conceived and brilliantly executed by the craftspeople at Collector’s Workshop. And, you can see it all over the theater.
This is the one to beat!
This is by far the most convincing and effective of all the TV Card Frame effects. Uses jumbo cards, a beautiful wooden frame, that has no possible room to conceal a whole jumbo card, combined with an entertaining routine.
Review by Andy Martin for Crystal Card Catch by Owen Magic Supreme
5 out of 5
In 1936 legendary British Inventor, Craftsman, and Dealer, Jack Hughes, invented what became known as the Television or TV Card Frame (or sometimes Television Glass Frame) where a chosen card appears trapped between two plates of glass set in a houlette.
This version from Owen’s was first released c. 1958 and it is one of the best examples of the Classic Card Frame designed by Jack Hughes. A vanished card or picture appears visibly and instantaneously between two glass plates mounted in a handsome, naturally finished wood frame of Owen’s original design. They also have a version for Jumbo cards. It looks beautiful, shoots the card up high and works perfectly every time.
Review by Andy Martin for The Bogey by Ray Piatt, Larry Becker
5 out of 5
The finest magnetic, Pocket Secretary switching device ever created! This wonderful device was created c. 2000 by New Jersey Inventor and Craftsman Ray Piatt and routined by Mentalist of the Year (1981) and prolific inventor Larry Becker.
Imagine being able to predict the sum total of three, 3-digit numbers merely thought of by three members of the audience. How about having five spectators think of 3-digit numbers. Then have three more spectators freely choose three of those numbers and then freely rearrange their 3-digit number … and STILL be able to accurately predict IN ADVANCE what the final sum total will be. Imagine being able to duplicate an object that a volunteer is drawing while you stand back-to-back. Or be able to reveal one word out of 30,000 randomly selected by a spectator from an 800 page dictionary.
You can easily accomplish all of the above and more … using the revolutionary and ingenious Bogey. There has never been a pocket secretary that works like the Bogey. A magnetic switching device that can be repeatedly opened and closed and handled freely by the audience, until you want to invisibly (or visibly) change whatever the spectators have written to whatever you want the result to be.
The Bogey is beautifully crafted of the finest leather, delicately padded to provide a luxurious, expensive feel. And just as important, it’s only 5/16” thin and sized not only to fit in your inside jacket pocket, but even in your shirt pocket. You wouldn’t expect anything less from Ray Piatt and Larry Becker. The Bogey comes complete with a 40 minute instructional video by Larry Becker (NTSC VHS format only), and a marking pen that enables you to wipe the writing surface clean with a damp Kleenex.
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