Review by George Guerra for Silver Odyssey II by Collectors' Workshop

Review by George Guerra for Silver Odyssey II by Collectors' Workshop
Review by George Guerra for Silver Odyssey II by Collectors' Workshop
5 out of 5

Should frame and hang up the mechanics as Art!

The Coins Thru Glass…what can I say about this timeless classic. I have an original Kline Copenetro. I love the nicely turned wood base and it’s simplicity, but always had a soft spot for fancy mechanical marvels. Add to the intricate clever mechanics beautifully finished hardwoods, gleaming brass and copper components, and you have a true work of Art. As the title of my review states, this is the one single piece in my entire collection that could be hanged as Art and just be admired on that merit alone. I guess you just have to see this apparatus to know what I am talking about.

I do own one of the first mechanical version of Silver Odyssey with the oval tray, but the electronic version I just acquired from George Robinson is breathtaking. He has certainly kept, if not surpassed, the strength and quality of the CW line. As Andy did point out in his review, the one issue with this piece is the failure to provide an impressive vanish for the coins. I have been thinking of a Lassen 4 nested 1964 Kennedy gaff with the last vanish using a Devil’s hanky that’s been conveniently draped over the glass for the initial 2-3 coin appearances… will see.

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Review by Andy Martin for Find The Way by Lucas Malagrino, Paulo Guerrini, Henry Evans

Review by Andy Martin for Find The Way by Lucas Malagrino, Paulo Guerrini, Henry Evans
Review by Andy Martin for Find The Way by Lucas Malagrino, Paulo Guerrini, Henry Evans
5 out of 5

Wow! This is amazing!

So there are lots of effects based on the Koornwinder Kar, where the car finds the spectator’s selected card, but there is nothing I have seen like this amazing little car.

Yes the car finds the spectator’s card but how it finds it is so wonderful you’ll be playing with it just for fun! In the standard routine you draw 4 tracks on a piece of paper and place a different card at the end of each track. The tracks can cross or start as one then diverge, but the car always travels to the right track and hence finds the specators card. Everytime!

There are no magnets or hidden shims in the paper and in fact the paper and car can be examined – there is nothing to find. The spectator can even place the car on the track! The basic ability of this car is that it will always follow the track you want it to. You can create complex tracks and lines and the car will follow them. You just need a pen to create the track and you are off – just a normal pen and a normal piece of paper.

It really is an amazing idea – goodbye Koornwinder Kar this is so much better!

Highly Recommended!

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Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Run Cookie Monster Run by Jim Goren, Hank Lee

Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Run Cookie Monster Run by Jim Goren, Hank Lee
Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Run Cookie Monster Run by Jim Goren, Hank Lee
5 out of 5

Could be dangerous to your health

I bought one of these back in 1978. I was booked to do shows at a Pennys opening a Sesame Street Dept. I will never forget the frenzied yelling of the kids. They actually seemed mad about me being so stupid not to see Cookie Monster run back and forth. How many tricks get that kind of reaction?

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Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Clatter Box (Hard Wood Board) by Wonder Magic

Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Clatter Box (Hard Wood Board) by Wonder Magic
Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Clatter Box (Hard Wood Board) by Wonder Magic
3 out of 5

Not Top Shelf, but it works

Always a fun trick when incorporated into a full routine. (David Ginn’s routine in Professional Magic For Children is a goodie.) But this is a real bugger to set up.

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Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Dean's Box by Dean Dill

Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Dean's Box by Dean Dill
Review by William Litzler, a.k.a. Ace Willie for Dean's Box by Dean Dill
4 out of 5

Great for Collectors, but not pratical for regular use

Like the other reviewer, I bought and later sold this one. It is a great trick and top quality production.

But the angles are terrible for even a small stage. Like Houdini’s Elephant Vanish, you have to be in the dead center of the theater to see inside. The rest of the audience has to take your word that something cool happened.

As far as doing it for close-up in a restaurant or walk around, it’s just to much to carry. Plus, the chances of it getting "dinged" are pretty good.

Still, it is a darn good trick. Just don’t buy it if you plan on adding it to your act.

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Review by Andy Martin for Magic Tile Puzzle by Winston Freer, John Rogers

Review by Andy Martin for Magic Tile Puzzle by Winston Freer, John Rogers
Review by Andy Martin for Magic Tile Puzzle by Winston Freer, John Rogers
5 out of 5

Wow! Winston Freer was a Genius!

What an incredible miracle this effect is! Very different in method from anything like it that I have seen.

In a nutshell the effect is this: a puzzle fills a frame and is made up of 10 different sized pieces with 7 x 9 = 63 squares. On 3 successive tries a single tile is removed. Each time the puzzle can be quickly reassembled and each time there are 63 squares. In the end, the puzzle is put back into the frame, and even though 3 squares are missing it still fits the frame precisely the same as when you started.

Now for the good news, nothing is added or taken away, the props and moves look clean, and there are no false compartments or slides. It really is as clean as it looks and reset is as easy as counting from 1 to 10! Learning to actually do the moves will take five minutes or so, however, performing it will take a little longer so that the presentation flows nicely with the amazing effect. The routine that is included is an entertaining story involving the Theory of Relativity and comes with written directions and a DVD. On the DVD John Rogers performs the effect and includes basic instructions and performance tips.

Highly Recommended!

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Review by Andy Martin for Delben Blotter by Viking Mfg.

Review by Andy Martin for Delben Blotter by Viking Mfg.
Review by Andy Martin for Delben Blotter by Viking Mfg.
5 out of 5

Delben Quality Today!

I have always been a fan of Ben Stone’s Delben Blotter. Unfortunately, they have been increasingly difficult to track down, and apart from the awful, unathorized blotter from Magic Makers, they have not been available for years.

With the permission of "Danny’s Trix & Kix" of Spring, TX (the current owners of the Delben line) George Robinson at Viking and Joe Steven’s at Steven’s Magic have collaborated and created a blotter that even Ben Stone would be proud of. George has stayed as close as possible to the original Delben Blotter (as can be seen in the last photo) and has produced a very attractive blotter at a good price.

It is great to see Ben’s work revived in the capable hands of George Robinson, and one can only wonder what other treats Joe and George have in store over the coming year?

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Review by George Guerra for Majic Pillbox No. 24 by Majic Woodturning

Review by George Guerra for Majic Pillbox No. 24 by Majic Woodturning
Review by George Guerra for Majic Pillbox No. 24 by Majic Woodturning
5 out of 5

Great Undiscovered Craftsmanship

This is one absolutely gorgeous woodturned Pillbox and an upcoming stardom for Angelo Iafrate of Majic Brand. 2006 is the first serious year for this experienced woodworker turned magic builder and, if this Pillbox is any indication of his skills, you are looking at the next all wood magic collectible. His work is now serially numbered, mine being #24.

It’s hefty in weight…lots of good exotic wood is used and the finish is so smooth to the touch. Exotic rare woods – Brazilian Rosewood, Macassar Ebony, and Gabon Ebony – make up this piece and all the components fit perfectly with incredible close tolerance. The amazing thing is that there are three unsold Majic Pillboxes on Ron Allesi’s auction site…unbelievable, but, then Angelo is an "unknown". But…this was also true of Richard Gerlitz 5-6 years ago and Alan Warner back in 1972.

This is one of those "looks much better up front and close than any photos can convey" item. For the added personal touch, the simple, but convenient, white storage tube for the Pillbox has a customized label, with even a photo of the Pillbox on it…nice! I will definitely be following this newcomer on the magic collectible scene. Now, if Angelo would expand his skills to other wood based magic apparatus, we would be looking at the next Mel Babcock.

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Review by Andy Martin for Versadex Wallet – New Version by Larry Becker, Lee Earle

Review by Andy Martin for Versadex Wallet - New Version by Larry Becker, Lee Earle
Review by Andy Martin for Versadex Wallet – New Version by Larry Becker, Lee Earle
5 out of 5

The Best Index Wallet?

Larry Becker + Lee Earle have a wonderful line of unique effects and tools for the mentalist. This particular wallet is one of my favorites. It allows you to basically predict up to 13 different predictions: cards, billets, bills, etc. It has so many possibilities, the mind boggles!

It is easier to use than any other index type wallet I have seen and certainly versatile. With 13 outs you can pretty much do anything.

The only issue with the wallet is the size – it is certainly larger than standard wallets, however this is necsssary for the flexibility of the index system. It does not arouse suspicion when used, but it just is unlikely to become your regular everyday wallet. But they don’t advertise it as such either so you should not be expecting that.

Highly Recommended!

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