Reviews

Tricks With Chips is a series of tricks by Erhard Liebenow of Germany. It was published by Werry (Werner Geissler) in his Die Magische Welt magazine and the copyright was then purchased by Supreme Magic Company c. 1969 and sold by them here.  However, this booklet was published in Germany by Erhard Liebenow in English. There is no date on this publication (of course!).

Differences between the two:

• Supreme version has 6 effects, 15 chips, 3 shells, 1 chip cup, 1 jumbo card (see note below about the editing performed by Ken de Courcy)
• Deluxe version has 13 effects, 21 chips, 4 shells,  1 cup, 1 jumbo card, 2 black foils, a chip cap

Routines:

1. Phantom Chips
2. Chip Transpo *
3. Rouge et Noir *
4. Flying Saucers *
5. Chameleon Chips *
6. Hanky Chips *
7. Giant Chip (Giant chip required which is described but not included)
8. Chip to Coin (Giant chip required but not included)
9. Rotating Chip
10. Come and Go Chips
11. Amazing Chip
12. Seven Up
13. International Coin Cocktail (needs extra cup and coins that are not included).

The Supreme version effects are marked with *.  The Supreme version includes one effect not included with the Deluxe called Chips Through Card.  There are a few items required in this deluxe version that some of the routines require such as (thread, silk, magicians wax, some international coins, 1 extra cup) that are not included.  But these are readily available with the possible exception of the extra cup (required for just for one routine).

Notice:The Supreme version is edited, illustrated, and re-routined by Ken de Courcy and there is no doubt that it flows better from routine to routine. If you wanted to perform a full set, then the Supreme booklet would certainly be easier to learn from.

The secret with these chips is you have to go through each routine in your hands and to see what works for you.  Some require more skill than others. Given that Erhard won awards with his routine using these chips it is reasonable to think that some sleights and skill are in fact required.  The Supreme description makes you think these routines are all easy to do.  And although I believe it is true that most of the moves are fairly easy, learning the routines, selling the routines and performing them with confidence is an entirely different thing.

Even if there are no complex sleights you won’t just sit down and be able to perform an award winning routine 🙁

However, you might be able to sit down and pull out 2 or 3 effects that work for you so give yourself and afternoon and see what you can come up with, I’m sure you’ll find something 🙂

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Per Clausen has created dozens of chip effects and the chips used in Matchmaker are basically the same as the chips used for Psycho-Chips II but delivered in two square boxes instead of one long one. Even the routine is essentially the same.  I’ve found no other details about this effect anywhere in my extensive database 🙁

But it is a great effect and with Per Clausen’s beautiful brass chips you can’t go wrong.  It pretty much works itself and you’ll be the perfect matchmaker every time.

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What a great little effect Roydon’s Little Fooler is 🙂

It is easy to do and really quite perplexing.

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The Plug Box is one of my favorite brass devices.  This one from Davenports is a smaller size to the Terry Roses one and is in fact designed differently as you will see from my video. This one is easier to use and you don’t have to steal anything away, which is a nice plus. Having the top unscrew is also a great touch as it allows you to perform a three phase routine where one coin changes to another and then finally to something else.

This box is designed for about 23.5mm sized coins but not USA half dollars or even quarters. You also have to be careful of the thickness of the items you choose, but many foreign coins work fine. I chose a German 1 DM piece (which is perfect), an English threepence piece, and some gold sprinkles as the finale.

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Blasted was by created by Bob Swadling and sold by Harry Stanley c. 1964. And it quickly became a hit around the world! Originally it was called The Swadling Swindle but it’s name changed to Blasted when it was marketed in the USA.

What I really like about this is if you perform it described in the instructions there are zero sleights.  It looks very effective and you just follow my video and you’ll wow them all. No funny moves at all – watch closely and be amazed 🙂

This version is larger than the standard one released by both Bob and Tannen’s so I am not sure who released it.  I have included the Tannen’s instructions.  I like this one because of the green felt on the tray avoids the slight risk of the coin jumping too high and exposing the gimmick, which doesn’t happen very often but it can happen.

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What a beautiful set of coin cups these are from Inzani-Henley made in Italy out of quality leather. They look amazing 🙂

Also included are two sets of four foreign coins (of different sizes), made from nickel-plated copper so that they can be attracted by the cups without special shims as is often required.

Ken Brookes included routines are detailed and although the moves are not knuckle busting they will take you some time to understand and practice the moves (so no Speed Demos from me this time …).

If you can find a copy of Doug Brewer’s The Modern Coin Cup you’ll find plenty of ideas for these cups.

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This is a well made effect from Tricks Co. that is easy to do and very visual.

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This effect uses the exact same method and a very similar gimmick to Richard Himber’s Solid Gold Gimmick marketed by Richard Himber c. 1957.

Although there is no credit to Himber (which is always sad to see) Dr. Schwartz’s version does work very well and if you are one of the many who does not own the original Himber version (since there were only 100 created) this will work perfectly well in it’s place.

There is a lot to like about this method and effect.  It is easy to do and looks very good from the spectator’s view.  The mechanism is quiet and although you certainly cannot be surrounded the angles are great from the front.  The fact that you can hand the deck to be shuffled at the beginning and handed out at the end really is a great advantage.  There are also no electronics to recharge.

Although I’m still a Devano type of guy I could see this being a useful if you really want a clean, hands off close-up rising cards.

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