It was a great pleasure to talk to you by Email recently. I was participating in my first magic auction and your advice was greatly appreciated. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you do in the world of magic. Your sites are so beautifully presented and so fascinating. I always recommend them to anyone interested in the subject. Very best wishes from the UK and may you Live Long and Conjure!
Review by Horst Paffen for Egyptian Paddle by Harry Keyl, Keyl's Magic
4 out of 5
I bought this trick in February 2021 on ebay.de. The trick was accompanied only by a copy of an advertising paper from Keyl’s Magic, from a time before the Euro and when typewriters were still used. Since I like to look in at Martin’s Magic, I then found my trick as “Egyptian Paddle”. Andy did suspect Harry Keyl as the manufacturer, which I was then able to confirm by email with a photocopy of the advertising sheet. Since the sequence of a paddle trick can be easily reproduced from the prop, I wrote a routine for it, which Andy has in bumpy English translation from me.
About Harry Keyl and Keyl’s Magic is unfortunately almost nothing to find on the Internet, although there is a H. Keyl in Zwolle (Netherlands) with the address of “Magic-Harry”.
Andy then sent me the instructions for Harry Keyl’s “Turtle Race”. I will make a trick out of it with three rabbits and a hedgehog and playing cards as race track and train cards. In Germany there is a fairy tale of “Hare and Hedgehog”, where the hedgehog tricks the hare instead of a tortoise. Because the hedgehog man and his wife looked completely the same.
Review by Andy Martin for Turtle Race by Harry Keyl, Keyl's Magic
5 out of 5
Another beauty from the Dutch magic dealer and craftsman Harry Keyl. This is a wonderful piece of micro-magic that packs neatly inside itself for storage – that’s right the racetrack turns into a case to carry it all! It looks very similar to the work of the Dutch master Eddy Taytelbaum and this is the first one I have seen.
These were also sold by Supreme Magic Company and it was one of Edwin’s favorite effects and he would often carry the neat set in his pocket ready for the perfect opportunity to perform this adorable miracle 🙂
Review by Andy Martin for Egyptian Paddle by Harry Keyl, Keyl's Magic
5 out of 5
This effect was created by the Dutch magic dealer and craftsman Harry Keyl for his magic shop Keyl’s Magic in Holland. Mr. Keyl made some wonderful magic in perspex including his fabulous Turtle Race which was also sold by Supreme Magic Company.
Keyl’s Magic is often confused with items from his fellow Dutchman: Eddy Taytelbaum. However, although Keyl’s items are very well made they don’t have quite the same color or detail of Taytelbaum.
Review by Andy Martin for Flight of Gold (Flyaway Discs) by Alan Warner
5 out of 5
This effect was renamed Flyaway Discs in December 1972 as Alan realized it clashed with the name of an effect called “Flight of Gold” released by Roy Roth of R.A.R. Magic (c. 1970).
Flight of Gold is a rare effect from the very first year Alan began his Mini-Magic business in 1972. It appears that Alan sold this for just about a year ending in late 1973 because it was never advertised again and did not appear in any of Alan’s Catalogs.
It was not made in teak or brightly colored as his other items in his fledgling Mini-Magic line and is the only effect that I can think of that featured gimmicks made from metal. Nearly all of his other effects have been primarily created from wood which was either left natural or painted in bright colors.
It is a clever item that is easy to do and although there are a couple of moves I would not call them sleights and everything is routined smoothly to keep the heat off the action. I chose to add a couple of extra items instead of the pen that is suggested in the original instructions as you can see in the video.
I’ve only ever seen one other of these before which is featured in George Guerra’s collection so if you are an Alan Warner collector you are in luck.
Review by Andy Martin for Voodoo Doll by R.A.R. Magic
5 out of 5
Wow what a great little effect from Roy Roth and his company R.A.R. Magic this item is. It could be played for laughs or in the right hands this would really freak them out. The little doll is made of a Play-Doh like material and although the figure that is pre-made is perfectly fine, it comes with eight other strips of colors to create a different effigy if you wish. There is nothing gimmicked about the effigy or the coffin for that matter so you could use pretty much any modelling clay if you desired.
The method used to sever the limb or head is quite unique and very effective. In fact, once the severance has occurred everything can be minutely examined. I have added a better looking sword instead of the plastic one that comes with this. I also created some bicycle card versions of the stick man cards because they are easier to work with, but the original set work fine too.
This is one you won’t see very often – this is in fact the first time I’ve seen it. I have not been able to find any ads for it in the old Abracadabra’s of the time, so I’m guessing there are not many of them out there. It is a great idea.
Review by Andy Martin for Commercial Matrix by Bob Swadling
5 out of 5
This is a wonderful no sleight version of the popular matrix effect from the British master craftsman, inventor, and performer Bob Swadling. It is a perfect effect to slip in after you have done some sleight of hand because it makes people (particularly magicians) think you are a true artist! The gimmicks are made really well and the routine is very clean and effective.
This uses half dollars which is much harder to find and is perfect 🙂
Review by Andy Martin for Vest Pocket Slate (x 4) by Ken Brooke, Stanley Thomas, George Blake, Roy Johnson
5 out of 5
What a great set of slates these are! There are four slates here and each slate has three different flaps:
A standard flap.
A flap with the corner cut away.
A flap with a red bicycle back on the other side.
They are well made and strong but still very thin and fit neatly in the shirt or jacket pocket and can be used for all manner of effects. The included instructions has six pages with routines from Ken Brooke, Roy Johnson, George Blake, and Pete Biro. But I’m sure you’ll find other uses for them too. A real utility find!
Review by Damir Djanis for Psychic Sword by Collectors' Workshop
5 out of 5
This is a beautiful and simply designed trick with cards and a box. Everything is done at the highest level, and the Japanese sword is especially beautiful. Of course the cards and the box cannot be given out for examination but this does not diminish the value of the effect.
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