Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 03 – The Magic Eye by Thomas Pohle

Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 03 - The Magic Eye by Thomas Pohle
Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 03 – The Magic Eye by Thomas Pohle
5 out of 5

The Magic Eye is probably my favorite of the Bling items – the method is really quite amazing and certainly unique.  Even if you think you might have seen something like this before, I guarantee you will be surprised and very happy with the method. Although you might be thinking of Ed Mellon’s Quantimental – you will be wrong, this is so much cleaner and better. The method is not only unique it is very practical and nigh on fool proof. If a spectator changes his mind and moves the chips around or doesn’t place a chip down and slips it in his pocket, it won’t matter you’ll be able to tell.

It is incredibly easy to do and automatic in operation. There is no reset and you can show everything all around. This is really a wonderful piece of magic with zero electronics and nothing added or taken away.

Really amazing Thomas 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 04 – George Loses His Head by Thomas Pohle

Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 04 - George Loses His Head by Thomas Pohle
Review by Andy Martin for Bling Series 04 – George Loses His Head by Thomas Pohle
5 out of 5

This is another clever and very easy to perform illusion from Thomas. It works perfectly with no reset and nothing added or taken away. It really is a fooler.

These four items are amazing Thomas – I don’t know how you keep coming up with cool magic forty years later. Great job Thomas 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Hinged Open Back Drawer Box by Owen Magic Supreme

Review by Andy Martin for Hinged Open Back Drawer Box by Owen Magic Supreme
Review by Andy Martin for Hinged Open Back Drawer Box by Owen Magic Supreme
5 out of 5

The earliest version of this type of drawer box I could find with the end of the box hinged was one by Thayer mentioned in Dr. Albo’s Vol. XI – Laboratories of Legerdemain (pg. 85) with a date c. 1910. The first catalog listing I could find was in Thayer’s Catalog 9 Volume 2 c. 1943. There it was called Thayer’s Ultra De Luxe Drawer Box. However, this box is not quite the same as the drawer itself does not lock. An Owen’s version was also pictured in Dr. Albo’s Classic Magic With Apparatus Vol. II.

This is a very pretty, interesting, and quite rare Drawer Box from Owen Magic Supreme that works perfectly.  It has the added feature of the hinged open back so after the production the drawer may be placed aside, and the arm shoved completely through the box and wave to the audience at the other end.

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Review by Andy Martin for Mini Cyclops Box by Martin Breese, Magic Wagon

Review by Andy Martin for Mini Cyclops Box by Martin Breese, Magic Wagon
Review by Andy Martin for Mini Cyclops Box by Martin Breese, Magic Wagon
5 out of 5

This is the re-released version of Martin Breese’s Cyclops Box in a smaller size built to perfection by the Magic Wagon team.  The one thing that Magic Wagon can be relied upon is if you give them a project to build they will always create a mechanically perfect version of your vision. 

There is no doubt the Mini Cyclops Box is an improvement on Martin’s original box.  You can now control when the mechanism is used which means the box can easily be given to the spectator to handle and hold.  The mechanism is very clean and you will love how this version works.

This is a beautiful box that rarely comes up for sale and it is a great utility item that you’ll find lots of uses for and love to play with it 🙂

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Review by Jon Wilson for The Butterfly Box by Okito-Williams

Review by Jon Wilson for The Butterfly Box by Okito-Williams
Review by Jon Wilson for The Butterfly Box by Okito-Williams
5 out of 5

I have never seen this performed before tonight. Andy – I thought your performance [and not so quick,] was great actually. I was just speaking to a another collector of magic the other night that has this trick and I have heard of it a bit before, but never seen it performed. I actually think your timing is awesome to give the trick a little bit more showmanship than you think. I thought the performance you gave was better than the first video, to tell you the truth. Wow! What a great trick!

From Andy Martin: Thanks so much Jon – glad you liked it. I really tried to do justice to this great piece, adding the music and even putting on my Tux for the first time in ten years 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Switch Board by Martin Andersen, IDEAA Lab

Review by Andy Martin for Switch Board by Martin Andersen, IDEAA Lab
Review by Andy Martin for Switch Board by Martin Andersen, IDEAA Lab
5 out of 5

This is easily the most advanced switch board available in terms of production, quality, extensibility, and function.  There is no doubt that Martin Andersen and the IDEAA Lab have done an amazing job and put their heart and soul into this project.

All the reviews I have seen about this rave about it and it really does deliver and then some.  It is a great product and would look right at home with products released by Apple.

However, as a collector and performer I can’t help wishing for something a little simpler like the original Illumin-Ace by Paul Bernhardt or Wellington’s beautiful Mini Magic Switchboard, or even the more recent Chips by Paul Picha.  The real problem when you create an effect that is clearly a modern electronic item is that most spectators have already seen lots of amazing and magical things with iPhones and Smart devices of all kinds, so the bar is set really high when it comes to creating real magic.  It doesn’t mean it can’t entertain, for sure it can, but to really convince the spectators you are performing magic (or at least doing something more than anyone else could with the same device) just takes a little more effort.

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Review by Andy Martin for Tablet of Knowledge (1 of 24) by Damir Djanis

Review by Andy Martin for Tablet of Knowledge (1 of 24) by Damir Djanis
Review by Andy Martin for Tablet of Knowledge (1 of 24) by Damir Djanis
5 out of 5

This is the second in a line of unique collectibles manufactured by Damir Djanis of Croatia. Damir has definitely upped the ante with this release and is really demonstrating his wood crafting talents.

The props looks wonderful and they can be minutely examined – there is nothing to find.  The method works very well and with just one read of the instructions you’ll quickly get the hang of things.  The instructions and routine, written by George Robinson Jr., include an interesting story-based routine which you might enjoy.

Notice: This does not work the same way as Magic Wagon’s Magic Gemstone and Hieroglyphic Spells  – you can clearly show the tablet fully flush in the bottom of the box and even have the spectator close the lid if you desire.

History Notice: The creative genius who began the modern Mummy craze in Micro Magic, Karl Edler,  created an effect called “The Tablet of Knowledge” (Die Täfelchen der Erkenntnis) c. 1941 but Karl’s effect was a mentalism effect with 10 numbered tiles and bears no resemblance to Damir’s penetration effect described on this page, just in case you history buffs were wondering.

As with Damir’s previous release these are made in a limited edition of 24 units so there is no doubt these will become more collectible over time.  My advice to you is go get one now 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for The Haenchen Production Box (Table-Top) by Haenchen

Review by Andy Martin for The Haenchen Production Box (Table-Top) by Haenchen
Review by Andy Martin for The Haenchen Production Box (Table-Top) by Haenchen
5 out of 5

This is a sophisticated and impressive production box that is similar to a Square Circle but has a better sequence of displays to convince the audience it is empty. Solidly made and a real treat for collectors since items from Fred Haenchen are harder to come by these days and they are in high demand due to their unique ideas and quality craftsmanship.

This production box was created in four different sizes.  The smallest version without a stand is shown here.  Then this version is the Table-Top  version with it’s own stand.  Then there was  Haenchen’s Mammoth Production Box that was free standing on its own stand, and the final size was Haenchen’s Illusion Production Box which was big enough to produce a girl. You can read more about this box in Volume 6 of Dr. Albo.

This Table-Top version is easier to use than the smaller version as the flaps are controlled by one external ring.  The load is slightly bigger too.  This is a very convincing production item and works great with David Ginn’s Color Explosion Blendo so I include one in the box as a starter production item 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Teach A Card Trick by Wayne Dobson, Colin Rose

Review by Andy Martin for Teach A Card Trick by Wayne Dobson, Colin Rose
Review by Andy Martin for Teach A Card Trick by Wayne Dobson, Colin Rose
5 out of 5

This is a great example of how a well crafted routine can remove almost any sort of  sleights or tricky moves.  Wayne Dobson has created a very clean  and entertaining routine here. The basic effect was inspired by American Magician Karrell Fox’s routine “Magical Assets” in his book Clever Like A Fox. 

The card box looks similar to some other card boxes, but there are some key differences:

  1. The flap falls from the bottom, not the top.  This means it can be opened cleanly with the deck of cards in the box and the box can be handled very freely.
  2. It holds a full Poker deck  inside its case – many card boxes don’t – which seems strange for something called a card box.
  3. The lid opens completely flat – this doesn’t seem like a big deal but the number of times I’ve had card boxes that wobble from side to side because the lid does not fully open is amazing.

The set-up is very simple and Wayne’s routines relies on subtleties rather than moves making it possible to focus almost completely on the routine itself.

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