Reviews

The Escaping Vampire (or Vampire Block or Vampire Die or Visible Vampire as this type of block penetration is often known as today) was created by Ben Wallace c. 1945.

This is a one of a kind stage version of the custom Vampire’s built in 2020 especially for Hocus Pocus  by a good friend and craftsmen.  It is more detailed than the regular size and stands almost 17″ high with a 4″ block.  It is quite impressive to behold.  And of course works perfectly.  The tower is sturdy and interesting, the block is heavy and solid with a strong brass chain, and the spike is also hefty and memorable.

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I am long past the time where I will learn to do either the Cups and Balls or the Chop Cup.  However, if I were to perform the Chop Cup, this beautiful cup offered by Wellington Enterprises would be the one I would choose.  The design, features, and craftsmanship are perfect 🙂

This beautiful cup was released in two versions:

• The Standard Aluminum cup – 4.6oz
• The Heavyweight Brass cup – 10.6oz

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I am long past the time where I will learn to do either the Cups and Balls or the Chop Cup.  However, if I were to perform the Chop Cup, this beautiful cup offered by Wellington Enterprises would be the one I would choose.  The design, features, and craftsmanship are perfect 🙂

This beautiful cup was released in two versions:

• The Standard Aluminum cup – 4.6oz
• The Heavyweight Brass cup – 10.6oz

Click here for more information.

This is the final beautiful brass item from the craftsman Terry Roses. And as with Terry’s other brass collectible line it comes in a beautiful inlaid oak carrying case too. It is the old ball and tube effect first created by Carl Brema c. 1929 as The Atlas Ball and Tube Mystery.  Then c. 1936 Brema created an improved (locking) version. And finally c. 1939 Brema released a giant sized version known as Brema’s Giant Ball and Tube.

This version by Terry Roses is a Giant, semi-locking  ball which perfectly combines the features of all three.  The ball and tube has never looked so good 🙂

You can’t actually give out the tube for a full examination, but because of the semi-locking it can be handled very fairly with nothing to ditch at the end.

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The inventor of this effect was the German Paul Corduan (17. Februar 1894 – 4. Januar 1961). His stage name was “Doc Corten”. First sold by the German dealer Heinz Jacobi under the name “Corduan-Verwandlungswürfel” (translation: Corduan Change Dice).

Thomas Pohle created his first version of this effect when working with Eckhard Boettcher who provided the routines c . 1984. Over the years Thomas has created a number of versions and this is still the style of design I like the best.

The professionally translated instructions (so you can understand them!) feature three routines, and I based my routine on parts of a lesser known routine where you use these blocks as practice blocks for illusions such as the Mis-Made Lady and any Divided Lady effect.

The method is very clever and easy to do but if you don’t read the instructions on how to do it you might do it the wrong way (as I did for years). By referring to the parts of the assistant (head, body and legs) the effect becomes more interesting to the spectator. Now that I’ve spent the time to work on the routine I like it even more – who knew reading the instructions could bring so much enlightenment 🙂

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This is one of the original Card Ducklings released by Rich Bloch c. 1984. I prefer it to the early ones created by George Robinson with the googly eyes however, I think recent releases from George are closer to the early CW ones.

There have been many versions of the Card Duck over the years. It was invented by Laurie Ireland and marketed by him as Otto, The Automaton Duck.

This duckling looks adorable and works well as long as you maintain the beak and ensure that the cards are not too sticky.  When I opened this the cards were clumping badly and the rubber pads on the beak were completely solid – forty years is a long time to wait between picking a card.  After trying various pieces of rubber and pads with no luck I placed a piece of black felt on the top and double sticky tape on the bottom beak and it started picking up very smoothly.

You do have to make sure his beak travels the full distance and don’t rush things. But after some trial and error my little guy was picking cards like a champ 🙂

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