Michael Baker is always working on something new or refining his existing line. He now has produced this wonderful item in three sizes: Regular, Giant, and now this one, Mini. A version was also created exclusively for Stevens Magic here.
Vampire Block Escape is related to the popular Vampire Block but it does not use a chain or cord. It uses a slightly different mechanism but looks great, works smoothly and is convincing to the spectator.
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The third item in Thomas’ Egyptian Series is a clean prediction with colorful looking props. There are no funny moves and the spectator can turn over the card and open the prediction themselves. Reset is quick and this is always ready to go. The only downside is that it can not be repeated to the same audience but with Thomas producing so many neat items these days that won’t be a problem 🙂
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This neat item was designed and produced by, Magical Concepts Plus, Wood Dale, Illinois c. 1990. It is a hand-crafted, walnut and maple case that houses various magical effects. It also came originally with an instruction video. I received no instructions or video when I obtained this. It appears to come with the following items:
I don’t know if there was anything else – it feels pretty snug so I’m not sure if they could fit much more in the box.
On the front of the box it has the Latin phrase: “Omne Quod Videt Non Est” – searching online did not give a meaningful translation, but I’m guessing it says something along the lines of: “Everything is not what it seems” (though I could be wildly wrong here!).
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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.
Horst M. Paffen
Near Cologne in Germany
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A single box version of the popular Television-Box effect expertly crafted by Klingl. Instead of concealing the gimmick in the second outer box this uses a tube with which the gimmick can be added to or seamlessly removed. You use the tube, which can be shown empty, to view the box and can see immediately where each number is situated. One of the benefits to this approach is that you can be surrounded when you do the work as there is nothing to see.
Klingl or Zauber-Klingl was an Austrian Magic manufacturer and dealer founded by Rudiga Michael Klingl c. 1869 and they continued until the 1980’s. Their creations are high quality and are keenly sought by collectors today.
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This is an early penetration from Thomas Pohle released by the prolific German magic dealer Eckhard Boettcher. It looks effective but is a little more involved than his later block penetrations such as: China Block Penetration and China Block Surprise. Michael Baker’s later Mandarin Block Escape uses a similar method but with Thomas’ you could have everything examined if you wanted.
This was re-released by Thomas as The Impossible Die and Wand Penetration c. 2019
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Magiarte were a magic dealer and manufacturer in Portugal of a unique line of magic c. 1956-1996. They were founded by Armindo de Matos and Eduardo Franco. Their beautiful hand painted props are quite rare today and are perfect for display.
The instructions that came with this item say that the photo album starts off with all six color postcards and then just one vanishes to appear later in the ornate frame. But a listing on Potter & Potter says the album starts empty and then the six color postcards appear inside the album. I think the best way to present this would be like this:
This seems to be a better routine with a lot of magic and some beautiful colorful props the likes of which you probably have not seen very often.
This effect certainly could be performed, but it probably has more appeal to the collector. The stage stand where the beauty contest winner appears is a little temperamental and has to be handled with some extra control. The photo album and flag cards are cardboard and paper and they probably would not stand up to too much abuse. Having said that they look very good for a sixty year old prop!
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Magic Wagon had a phenomenal 2020 and created some amazing items. This is Magic Wagon’s version of U.F. Grant’s Bamboo Chest and Glass. Until I saw Rob’s video (brotherbor on youtube) I was going to write this one off as a bit of a dud, but Rob really brings it home with the extra vanish – that was a stroke of genius!
I still think that by removing the liquid piece and making the vase smaller Magic Wagon have made this less amazing than the original. But as Rob clearly shows, with a little big of imagination you can still perform this and make it seem quite amazing and entertaining 🙂
It is beautifully made, and if you perform it the way Rob does with the bonus “vanish” I think it can be a fooler. But if you don’t, I think this is more of a puzzle and not an outright fooler as the original version clearly was (assuming of course it was performed well!).
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Mary Tomich formed the Thaumysta Magic Co. in 1992 and catered for bizarrists and kindred spirits. The Elfin Chest is almost a big hit – the props looks very interesting and the effect and method are all workable. But the props are so small they are difficult to use. The sun revelation etched into the crystal ball is ok, but not as clear as I would like. If I was to perform this I think I would get some larger cards and maybe get a better image of the sun on the ball.
A worthy and interesting attempt with an intriguing patter, but just misses the mark.
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The original version of this effect was invented by the genius Robert Harbin c. 1946 as Dippy Magnet. The Dutch Micro Magic master, Eddy Taytelbaum, created a stunning version which earned him third place at the 1961 FISM Close-Up/Card Competition. Another beautiful version was built by Carl Williams in the Okito-Williams style.
This version by Georges Proust though not as pretty as Carl’s is still very well made and is a lot cheaper and more practical to actually perform. There are five routines included and some interesting ideas that I’m sure you will find one to use and perform.
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