Review by Andy Martin for A Case of Penetration by Bob Solari Magic
5 out of 5
One of Bob’s Masterpieces
I have been looking for this item for years and am pleased to finally track one down. This is one of those rarer items but out by the amazing Bob Solari. It works the same way as the Match Box Penetration from Morlas but of course uses a much bigger piece of brass to fit a deck of cards.
I think the routine is better with this and there is a great line that makes me smile just before you reveal the brass block: "There is a little piece of something blocking the hole in the card case." Then you proceed to dump out this huge block of brass. Classic Solari!
Highly Recommended for close-up performers and card performers who want something a bit off beat.
Review by Andy Martin for Super Deluxe Bow-Tie Mystery by Harries
5 out of 5
Another Great Harries Effect
Harries of Sweden are one of the last good manufacturers of parlor and stage magic, and this item is one of their best. Nicely made and colorful.
An empty collar is shown in an otherwise empty box and the lid is placed on top and left in full view. Five bow-ties are shown in a larger display case and the lid is placed on top also. A silk is apparently freely chosen from the clear bag and that chosen color bow-tie disappears from the display case and appears pinned to the collar in the previously shown empty box.
For repeat performances there is a different color tie that can be used. It comes with all silks and ties, and everything that is needed to perform this right out of the box. It really is a lovely outfit and very easy to perform this miracle right in front of their eyes.
Review by Andy Martin for Pirate's Nest of Boxes by Mikame Craft
5 out of 5
Superb nest of boxes from Mikame
This is one of the best items that Mikame Craft put out – the matching chests look amazing and the method is easy to do.
You can start with the largest box on your table in full view and borrow a watch or ring or similar item, placing it in the hanky provided. Then the item vanishes from the hanky and you show the large box all around and open it up. Inside is a smaller box which you take out and place down on the table. You open this up and a third box is found which is given to the spectator. This box is padlocked and they are given the key and when the spectator opens up the box they find their item inside.
It is all very smooth in operation and the vanish is achieved using a Devil’s Hanky (which is supplied).
Review by Andy Martin for E2, Extractor 2 (DVD and Gimmick) by Rob Bromley, Peter Nardi
5 out of 5
Beautiful in its execution.
Wow, talk about an amazing utility device. This is by far my favorite card find of the decade. A bit like when you first come across a card box or a himber wallet, you start thinking of all these wonderful ideas.
I use Extractor for the cleanest signed card to wallet and I have never felt comfortable doing this before. It is lightning fast and defies explanation. I close my walk around performance with it now, and I’m immediately ready to go again.
Rob Bromley truly is a genius with cards.
You will find plenty of uses for this – buy two because these are made up by hand and who knows when they will stop making them. And how will you ever fool them again without the amazing Extractor?
The new version is certainly easier to replace than the original and has the added benefit of allowing the cards to be pulled out from the deck. But if you have the original then you don’t need to get this one, unless of course you can’t live without the best!
Highly Recommended for all magicians who want to amaze their audience!
Review by Craig Brooks for Steel Penetration by El Duco's Magic
5 out of 5
Clever Penetration from El Duco
I had not seen this effect from El Duco before and was pleasantly surprised. – it looks great, is well made, and works well too.
The penetration is something off the beaten path. The penetrator is a ball bearing, and while this uses a familiar method, it is devilishly cloaked among the unique items. A tube with a rod is shown, and the ball bearing will drop clear through the tube. The wand is inserted through the hole in the tube where it fills the space inside. When the bearing is dropped into the tube, despite the presence of the wand, it still passes through the tube. This can be repeated and the handling is clever and deceptive because of the items used. At the end, thanks to and additional item provided, the wand, tube, and bearing can be handed for examination (or do this prior to the beginning of the effect). This is boxed and comes with all of the props in near mint condition, and with the original instructions.
Review by Andy Martin for The G.M. Dice Box (2nd Run) by Bob Gunther, John Mendoza
5 out of 5
A Beautiful Box with a Great Routine
This is a beautiful Dice Box (note – not Die Box) from Bob Gunther and John Mendoza (the GM in the title) and not only is it a really pretty box the routine actually makes sense. There are two dice used in this routine because there are two compartments – which of course makes perfect sense.
The wood work and inlay is beautiful too, with a good thunk from the weight as it slides from side to side. There are only 72 of these in existence and this comes from the second batch which is purported to be even better than the first.
Highly Recommended for Collectors and Performers everywhere!
Review by Andy Martin for Hand of Cleopatra (Original) by Tony Lackner
5 out of 5
Ah Original and Quality Magic!
Harold Voit has marketed some great magic. This item and one of my other favorites, the Wandering Mummies, are both beautifully made, effective, and clever – a collector’s dream.
This particular piece, made by the German Master Craftsman Tony Lackner, is really a utility item, in that you can control what the hand points to – and it can be different each spin. But when you dress it up like this, the performance and story aspects really increase and you can perform some very impressive, and scary, magic. Perfect for bizarre performances, or any Alan Warner collector who is inspired by his Egyptian themes.
My latest routine uses the 22 Major Arcana from a mini tarot deck. The spectator shuffles all of the cards and then selects any six face down. They then use the hand to select one of these six. After looking at the card and remembering it, they mix up these six cards face down so that no one knows where the chosen or any of the other cards are. The cards are not marked on the back either and are placed around the pyramid. The spectator now spins the hand and eventually it mysteriously stops at one card. You turn over each of the other five cards and finally show the chosen card is there one. It is a very freaky effect to the spectator!
By using the Tarot cards it also offers great potential to do a mini fortune reading as they select the six cards and the final one.
Highly Recommended, but be wary of recent remakes and rip-offs.
Review by Andy Martin for Flash Dice (T-72) by Tenyo
5 out of 5
One of the Tenyo Classics!
As a young teenager I used to perform this effect all the time. It was my go to effect at the time. It takes a knack but no real skill. I mastered it easily as a boy and if it takes a bit of practice to master that doesn’t mean it needs any special skills. If you follow the routine it becomes more and more unbelievable for the spectators.
Review by Andy Martin for Perfect Clairvoyance (Perfektes Hellsehwunder) by Magiro
5 out of 5
Wonderful Utility Device
So you have to admire Magiro’s mind – many of his items are really clever, and this utility device is no different. It looks like a simple envelope stand but it can be used to create some amazing predictions.
The most basic prediction allows them to select any one of five cards (no force) and you simply pick-up the envelope, and rip it open and there is their card. No double envelopes or double faced cards either. And before you open the envelope you can show it on both sides too – nothing is hidden in your hands or behind the envelope, the chosen card really is inside the envelope.
But what is even more impressive is they can choose 1-5 cards and you can still end up with the multiple cards in the envelope, so this takes it way beyond just 1 in 5. It can be used for playing cards, ESP cards, business cards and billets too.
Something a little different – no electronics and nothing to run out – and works every time.
Review by Andy Martin for Versa-Plus by Ken Brooke, Roy Johnson
5 out of 5
Peak Ken Brooke Entertainment!
So I’ve had this trick for about three years and it wasn’t until this weekend that I actually performed it to lay people. And boy were the reactions great!
This is one of those items that does not appeal to magicians as much as to some of them it seems obvious. But performed correctly it is a real surprise and not once did anyone ask to look at the cards.
It is easy to do and you get a good supply of cards with the routine. Ken Brooke knew all about how to entertain the people, and this is surely one of his most overlooked classics.
Because everything is done in their hands the impact is intensified. This is a perfect walk around trick – you do use up a card each time, but just have a plastic wallet with ready to go sets and you can work all evening without issues.
Highly Recommended for close-up and walk-around performers everywhere!
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