Reviews

The Best just got Better!

So you already know how much I love this wallet! It is one of my favorites and I still use it today. Well Martin Breese, with the help of Tony Curtis, has remade this wallet to be about as perfect as you could imagine.

The weight has been decreased by about 30% from 3.6oz to 2.6oz, the gimmick is now sewn in, and it is even stronger than before. If you already use this wallet all of these improvements will mean something to you. If you don’t then you are in for a real treat!

The original version is still a fabulous wallet, but if you have a choice of either one, then this is clearly the one to go for.

Thanks Martin for striving and achieving perfection!

Here is my original review which certainly holds true to this day.

Click here for more information.

One of the Best Mikame Pieces!

This is a very clever and beautifully made piece from Mikame Craft. It is more sturdy than some of their other pieces and the production method itself is very convincing.

This is certainly more than a tip over trunk and you can freely show all around and then open up doors on the top, front and sides and there really looks like no place to hide. The load is very generous for the box size and I think you will be delighted with the design and finish of this marvellous piece of magic!

If you are looking for a production box, you would do well to consider this your first choice.

Click here for more information.

Finally François Finds His Groove!

I have slowly but surely been more and more impressed with the young craftsman from France: François Danis. Some of his early works were just good, but this newest version of his Wandering Mummies is fantastic and easily his best work to date. I have had many Mummy sets, but at this point this is my favorite.

This is the first version of his Mummies that uses Mahogany and Samba for the carrying case and walnut for the caskets and the difference shows. The finish on this set matches Mel Babcock at his finest, and is even close to the ultra fine tolerances of Alan Warner. One of the really wonderful things about his work is the unique artwork that is used throughout his creations. He also offers you a number of choices of designs for the finished work, making every piece truly custom.

These Mummies also come with a very well written routine by Ian Buckland. Most Mummy routines are pretty bare bones, but this one blends all the moves together and makes the whole effect become much more of a miracle with an interesting storyline too.

All in all a truly wonderful set that should be in all collections!

There is a new standard that I am starting called The GG Standard for those highly prized items that are suitable for only the finest collections. The standard is named after the collector whom I know only accepts the very best into his collection.

This, my friends, certainly lives up to The GG Standard! It is truly beautiful and unique. Very well done François, and congratulations on making a tired, old Mummy fan get excited about your new Mummy! I look forward to seeing how much further you can grow.

Most Highly Recommended!

Click here for more information.

Wonderful Magical Story Telling with Paddles

When I first received these paddles from the talented young French craftsman François Danis my initial reaction was great quality but they’re all the same! Well first impressions can be very deceiving! Of course when you receive a box of paddles like this you immediately compare them to Chance Wolf’s amazing Paddle Craft Set. These paddles are not the same but they still are wonderful. The materials used are not as good as Chance’s – in fact very few paddles are. However, where François really takes off is that he uses the paddles to tell stories and by so doing makes the magic bigger, bolder, and certainly more memorable than doing some quick moves with a paddle.

As we have come to expect from François the artwork is amazing and the quality of these paddles made in beautiful Walnut is superb. The display box is made from a cheaper oak plywood, but it still looks good. One of the things that is becoming obvious to me is that the choice of wood makes all the difference. If possible pay more to upgrade the woods used. Currently François’s prices are low to average and if they have to go up a bit to pay for better woods, then I think it will be worthwhile. Of course you can never go wrong with Walnut!

In, this set you have stories involving the Curse of Tut Ank Amoun which is a great story telling piece and tells of how the Great Pharaoh was poisoned and always returned to his sarcophagus. It is like a paddle version of the Wandering Mummy trick! There is a story from Greek Mythology about the fate of the heroes with Perse, Ulysse, and Hercules and the role of the dice, which again shows a wonderful slant on how paddles can be used for a complete effect rather than a quick trick. Finally, this set comes with a chalk paddle to draw whatever symbols you fancy upon – or you could do something like the wonderful routine of Jimmy Rogers: I’ll Start Again.

All in all this is a lot more than just a set of nice paddles it is magic storytelling on a stick!

Great Job François, if you had put it all in a walnut box I know this would be in The GG Standard. In fact, I believe because of the unique way you are using these paddles it does deserve a place there anyway. As I play with them more the quality is certainly there and just because they are not Paddle Craft does not mean they are not beautiful and worthy.

Highly Recommend, and amazing value!

Click here for more information.

Easily The Best Drawer Box I have Seen!

Wow, the Magic Wagon guys have done it again! This drawer box would be fantastic if it was just a normal drawer box that looked this good. However, they have added a very clever mechanism that allows the drawer to be totally taken out both before and after the load has been ancomplished!

The mechanism is so well hidden once you produce the item you can pull out the drawer show it all around and show the inside of the cover too. There are no external pins or slides. It really is an incredible piece of woodworking.

If you then factor in the beautiful Teak case and interior and the Teak/Maple top you have a true wonder.

Certainly a beautiful piece of micro engineering.

You have to add this to your collection!

Most highly recommended, and of course this carries The GG Standard, as do all of the Magic Wagon Collector pieces!

Click here for more information.