Most of Mikame’s props are practical for real-world performances, but this one is an exception! The size of the box is just too hard to justify.
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Review by Peter Chiang for Toyota Box by Mikame Craft, Richard Himber
Review by Peter Chiang for The Chest of Nostradamus (Syned Soy Box) by Collectors' Workshop, Syned Soy
This is an ingenious idea, cleverly using a box to achieve this stunning effect! The routine is convincing, and the wooden box is also well-made and sturdy. It does require some memorization, and if needed, the instructions suggest using a cheat sheet to help with this. The only complaint is that it doesn’t come with a stand, so you’ll need to find one that matches both the height and ‘style’ on your own.
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Review by Peter Chiang for Bermuda Cube by Willi Wessel
This is a “colorful” little prop that creates an interesting effect with nowhere to hide. Willi’s instructions are detailed on how to perform it, and while it requires some practice, the feedback you get from it is definitely rewarding! By the way, the wand is a bit fragile, so it’s best to handle it with care.
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Review by Peter Chiang for Block, Bolt, and Coin Pentration by Mel Babcock, Kenard
This cleverly crafted little magic trick has a bit of the coin version of the Cabala effect to it, which also brings along some angle issues. But, as the saying goes, you can’t have the best of both worlds, right?
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Review by Peter Chiang for Enchanted Ring (Improved) by Dave Powell
Well done, Dave! The craftsmanship is excellent—flawless in every way—and everything can be handed over for the spectator to examine. No disrespect, but the inherent flaw in this trick is just too obvious. That strong sense of inconsistency stands out at first glance!
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Review by Jon Wilson for Magician's Changing Chest by Mikame Craft
I really love this little treasure chest created by Mikame magic and first introduced to me by Andy. It is certainly a sweet gem in my collection of magic boxes from the past. I can say that it is certainly beautiful, the secret will never be discovered by a spectator no matter how hard they could try. As Andy said, a spectator can freely handle the box and would not have a clue as to how the secret works. Now, that is my kind of magic chest. I performed this personally at work and the looks were just awe on the faces that were watching. That is the indication to me of a great magic chest. It isn’t small, but, it also isn’t too big if that makes sense. It is enough for you to hold some small magic items likes 2-4 decks or some magic items. I am very happy with it and would recommend this piece of magic if you are interested.
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Review by Peter Chiang for Ultimate Transposition by Tricks Co., Ken Kurita
This small Tenyo-like illusion creates a magical effect through clever use of physics. There are no angle issues or strange noises – everything is so “clean.”
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Review by Andy Martin for Ultimate Transposition by Tricks Co., Ken Kurita
This is a very clever and easy to perform chip transposition created by Ken Kurita that uses a unique method without shells or magnets.
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Review by Peter Chiang for DicEscape by Shigeru Sugawara
This trick uses a completely new and unusual method to achieve the penetration effect, but it suffers from significant angle issues. Whether intentional or not, the prop looks like a fragile and rough ‘craft’ that surprisingly allows it to pass the spectator’s inspection. Its appearance may be weak, but it’s surprisingly strong.
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Review by Peter Chiang for Chip Lift by Erhard Liebenow
Tony Lackner’s Super Chip-Lift creates a routine that tells a modern fable about the ups and downs of a government worker’s career.
The story begins with an election. The people in white suits lose, and the people in red suits win and form a new government.
At that moment, a government worker who has been forgotten for years in a basement file room is suddenly noticed. He complains that no one cared about him – maybe because he was always “on the other side.”
The new government quickly promises him a promotion, but another worker is needed to take his place in the file room. At this point, the red chip rises from under the base and switches places with a white chip inside the tube, as the performer does. The red chip represents this worker.
As the story goes on, the red chip moves up magically, showing how his rank grows because of his loyalty to the party. He becomes a deputy director, then a director, and finally a secretary of state. The red chip reaches the top position.
But then the story takes a turn – another election is held. A small party wins many votes and demands a minister’s seat. Suddenly, the career worker disappears. The red chip disappears as well, and the position is now filled by someone from the green party, with the chip turning green.
At the end of the story, it’s revealed that the hardworking government worker has returned to where he started four years ago – the basement file room. The red chip is back underneath the base.
The performer concludes, “Yes, politics is cruel.”
The effect is similar to Blue Phantom, but it uses a different method. There are no angle issues and no noise. It’s my favorite prop among all my Tony Lackner items.
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