Review by Andy Martin for Crystal Dove Box by Tony Clark
4 out of 5
The Poor Man’s Crystal Money Chest!
Of course I don’t do Dove work, but this box really works out to be pretty good if you can’t afford the Crystal Money Chest from Owens at $2300+!
It loads easy, looks clean, and with just a very slight motion is very convincing. The box itself is not as heavy duty as it looks, but as long as you don’t throw it around too much, it should last a long time and service you well. This of course is the price you pay for saving over two grand!
Review by Andy Martin for P.T. Barnum's Delight by Collectors' Workshop
4 out of 5
Once you get the knack – a sheer dream!
Ok, so I held off reviewing this for about a year – the reason is that although this effect is very well made, I could not get it to work consistently. So whenever I pulled it out, I worked on one more piece, and with the diligent support of George Robinson, I can now finally make this work 100% of the time.
When you spend over $2000 for a balloon table, it should just work – it should not take a knack. The good news is that since George has taken over the Collector’s Workshop line he is slowly but surely fixing the design flaws that show up every now and then in some of these effects. So when the new versions of these are ready, I’m sure they will have all the trimmings to ensure that they work everytime without any hassles.
I would have given this 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that it took me so long before I acquired the knack. But I really love this effect. It starts of pretty similar to many other balloon tables out there: they choose the red balloon, it deflates, the choose the blue balloon it blows away, but finally when they choose the white balloon there chosen card appears as the balloon bursts.
But that is not the end of the effect – so you’ve found the card in the balloon big deal … next you hear a full brass band playing the Star Bangled Banner, then the flags and Applause banner pop up, and finally a burst of air and streamers and confetti shower the place. Now you can take your well earned bow!
So I’ve always been intrigued by this effect, and of course when I received it it was one of those moments that you kick yourself for being so dumb!
But it looks real and this is a nice version of this effect – my daughter was cowering when I pushed the nails through so that is enough for me to be convinced that is looks real. Even if the method is not “clever” it still looks good!
Review by Andy Martin for Tea with Buddha by Arlen Studio
4 out of 5
Very good to see Arlen moving away from the basics!
So I really like the acquired taste of the great props from the craftsmen over at Arlen Studios. However, so far most of their offerings have been different versions of stock effects. This is fine as far as it goes. But we want some new effects please!
And here comes a nice routine from Keith that looks and feels great, it has a well described routine with the effect too. I can’t do full justice to this routine yet as I have not had time to fully explore it – I will continue my review when I do.
But at this point, the props look and feel great and I think we have another winner on our hands!
Review by Andy Martin for Washout by Steve Dusheck, Eddie Gibson
4 out of 5
One of the best gimmicked coin effects
I remember seeing the Eddie Gibson version of this 27 years ago and loved it then and still do today. It’s a simple and visual effect where the half dollar can be clearly seen all the way until it changes into a penny. The washer can be shown on both sides and who would suspect the little penny!
Review by Andy Martin for Self Bending Glass by Ted Lesley
4 out of 5
Quite clever and amazing to watch
I picked this up from my good pre-owned magic man Ron Allesi and it does look quite uncanny: you stare at the glass and without going anywhere near it, it slowly but surely bends. You can then hand out the glass to the audience – it truly is bent!
This is a remote control electronic marvel – there goes those magic words again remote and electronic. The electronics are very quiet and I think this is convincing – haven’t tried it on the old wife yet, but it has some potential.
Like so many electronic tricks it needs some cool routine, but has some real potential.
Review by Andy Martin for Finger Stretcher by Abbott's, Myron Scott
4 out of 5
This is funny!
This is not meant to be a huge illusion, but has great entertainment potential as a bit of filler in almost any act. The finger stretcher is used to see how much magical dexterity you have. If you can go all the way to six inches you are the best!
Some of these old ideas can certainly take you places!
Review by Andy Martin for Stone of the Pharaoh by Paul Picha, Mephisto-Huis
4 out of 5
Four Mummies, Lights, Camera, but not enough Action!
Ok so this is a well made, clever effect using 4 colorful mummies.
The basic premise is: you show the 4 mummies and the pedestal. Whilst your back is turned a specatator removes any one of the mummies and places it into a coffin on the pedestal and covers it up. When you turn around you lift the second cover to expose the crystal. As the spectator stares into the crystal it glows the color of the selected mummy. Then it mysteriously stops. No matter how they try they cannot get it to light again with any of the other mummies.
So all sounds very cool. The box and pedestal are made of wood with some heavy duty coating to give them a stone like look and finish. Making them of exotic woods would have made them look nicer, but they are still attractive as they are. The mummies appear to be made of some sort of chalky like material but painted with a high gloss finish. These are fine, except they are brittle so can easily chip if not handled carefully.
The electronics is self working, and once the first mummy has illuminated the light, without resetting the unit, it is not possible for the spectator to cause the light to come on again. So far so good.
This effect does exactly what it says it will do and there really are no complaints except for: so what. Clearly there is some sort of electronics in the box … its a puzzle that you can’t then get it to light again, but I don’t think people are going to walk away amazed. What this effect needs, like so many “clever” effects is more mystery, more magic, more story, more action!
As a part of a larger routine I think this could be made into something very cool. As a cool, different prop to show off in your den it is cool, but as something that is going to amaze your audience I don’t think so. Maybe I’m getting too jaded in my old age. Don’t get me wrong I like this prop, but what we need is cool electronics and entertainment. Not just cool electronics.
Review by Andy Martin for Can O' Corn by Collectors' Workshop
4 out of 5
A Bill Tube for Any Can
This is one of those effects that if routined the right way can be a real riot. I recently had a conversation with a working pro – whose name eludes me – who had a wonderful routine with this effect.
The gimmick bascially allows you to make a Bill Tube out of almost any can, from which you can make a watch or other small object appear in an apparently sealed can – the only way to get in being to use a can opener.
Nicely made, great value, and huge entertainment potential!
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