Review by Andy Martin for Spelling Bee by Louis Paul Productions, Irv Cook

Review by Andy Martin for Spelling Bee by Louis Paul Productions, Irv Cook
Review by Andy Martin for Spelling Bee by Louis Paul Productions, Irv Cook
5 out of 5

There have been many versions of the Spelling Bee effect dating at least as far back as 1891 and Robert Houdin. Denis Behr on his magnificent Conjuring Archive lists quite a few but there are many more references I could find when performing a search. However, I was unable to find a version that uses the same method as  Irv Cook, though there certainly could be.  The method itself is not new but the application in this way could be.  Irv created his version of Spelling Bee in the 1980’s and it was always a great method for the effect.  The problem for me was the routine was over all too quickly. When Louis Paul used his talents to create this beautiful version I knew the routine had to deliver more.

Louis has done an incredible job with his version.  Everything about it is flawless.  In the instructions he mentioned how the word TEACHER could be rewritten as CHEATER which was the inspiration for my routine below.

When you have such a beautiful and expensive prop it is a shame for it to be over too quickly.  Hopefully you will like my routine and upcoming Speed Demo.

Louis you have done a really amazing job here and I’m pleased to add this prop to my Lump In The Throat category 🙂

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Review by Gerard for Scripting Magic – Vol. 1 by Pete McCabe

Review by Gerard for Scripting Magic - Vol. 1 by Pete McCabe
Review by Gerard for Scripting Magic – Vol. 1 by Pete McCabe
5 out of 5

A quick disclaimer. I am about to make claims about what this book could do for you. Reading it is not enough, it is not a magic spell that you can cast, you have to put in the work. That said, Pete McCabe takes you step by step through the process. Anyone can learn how to create better magic. Ok now a brief but sincere review.

This book and once you have read it and reached for volume two will change the way you think about your performances and come up with presentations for your magic. It will make you a better entertainer. This book is packed with so many great signature routines for standard effects by the greats of magic that it makes me wonder how Pete McCabe convinced them all to work with him. That might need to be the next book that Pete McCabe should pen ” how to persuade an artist to part with his life’s work” . I digress. Pete explains how to come up with creative stories and presentation angles, through sharing and analysing what other top performers have enjoyed success with. After reading and trying out some of the suggestions in this volume you will start to look at your own magic performances in a different way. You will be able to find the magic that is you, step away from the holy grail of finding the perfect magic effect, as the staging and presentation of tricks not only make them stronger but more entertaining for your audiences too. The secret that is revealed to you in this book will enable you to pick up almost any trick and find a better way to present it. Learn to take the sting out of your presentations so that people can relax and enjoy the magic more. Yes of course there are explanations of how the tricks work, excepting a couple of readily available dealer items, which is nice but not what this and the other volume are about. And finally perhaps worth mentioning, I have bought extra copies of this book and gifted them to other magicians. Magicians who are now forever in my debt ?

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Review by John Talbot for Cobra Deck by Dr. Schwartz

Review by John Talbot for Cobra Deck by Dr. Schwartz
Review by John Talbot for Cobra Deck by Dr. Schwartz
5 out of 5

I own a number of Dr. Schwartz’s mechanical decks and truly believe this was his best release. The action is slow, smooth and mysterious… exactly what you want in a haunted deck. Timing is under your control. My favorite Haunted Deck and there are many out there. I witnessed the famous street magician Jeff Sheridan use this deck in his street act many years ago and it got a great response.

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Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Original) by Herbert Martin Paufler

Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Original) by Herbert Martin Paufler
Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Original) by Herbert Martin Paufler
5 out of 5

What a amazing idea from the talented German Craftsman and Inventor!

This is the rare original box invented by Herbert Martin Paufler c. 1977 and subsequently published as the article  “Die Augen links – die Augen rechts” (Zauberkunst, February, 1980).  Paufler’s box is finished in natural wood and the unique idea is very clever.  The routine supplied in the original article is fairly brief, but the genius in this item is the method, not the published routine. Once you have the box you could create quite a few routines – the principle is very flexible.

This box was re-released by Eckhard Boettcher c. 1993 and manufactured by Uli Kigele as Diabolus-Kassette with more routines and a very distinctive black and red look. But the method was exactly the same.

I am just scratching the surface of what this box can do.  It is a utility box that permits two specific events. But with some thought you can do even more. The reset is quick and you can show the box cleanly.  You can make things appear, vanish or change and there are no flaps to deal with.

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Review by Andy Martin for Transpo Tray by Colin Rose, Patrick Page

Review by Andy Martin for Transpo Tray by Colin Rose, Patrick Page
Review by Andy Martin for Transpo Tray by Colin Rose, Patrick Page
5 out of 5

This is a stripped down version of Carl Rosini’s Card Transpostion and I really like the simplicity of it.

Perfectly crafted by Colin Rose and routined by Patrick Page.  The tray does all the work for you so you can concentrate on making the whole performance clean and amazing!

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Review by Andy Martin for Random Card Generator by Jeff Prace

Review by Andy Martin for Random Card Generator by Jeff Prace
Review by Andy Martin for Random Card Generator by Jeff Prace
5 out of 5

What a clever idea from Jeff Prace. The basic method, used with coins, is old but what Jeff has created is something, as far as I know, completely new. It is one of those rare instances where the second you see the trick you know you have a winner on your hands.  I immediately purchased three full decks and will get more.  This is the sort of prop you will want to make sure you never run out of ever.

It is perfectly made and looks as innocent as you can make a force.  There is nothing to do but have the spectator tear the cards up and shake their hands.

The only real challenge for this prop is finding an effect that benefits from the perfect force.  I was playing with this and at the same time was taking photos of Milson Worth’s Curious Cubes and thought – that would be perfect.

You are going to absolutely love Random Card Generator – really excellent job Jeff 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Impress = X (Fox Lake) by Johnson Products

Review by Andy Martin for Impress = X (Fox Lake) by Johnson Products
Review by Andy Martin for Impress = X (Fox Lake) by Johnson Products
5 out of 5

Johnson Precision Magic or Johnson Products are well known for their fake coins and brass coin gimmicks. But this was one of their early non-coin effects, that was made equally well as any of their coin work.

This has been long unavailable which is a shame because it really is a wonderful effect. The props are well made and it has a clean simple method that will impress you.

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Review by Andy Martin for Tricky Tray Jr. by Ken Allen

Review by Andy Martin for Tricky Tray Jr. by Ken Allen
Review by Andy Martin for Tricky Tray Jr. by Ken Allen
5 out of 5

A Tricky Tray was invented by Oswald Rae and described in his book The More You Watch (c. 1938). However, although it is a switching tray it is not the same as  Ken Allen’s prop called Tricky Tray that was released 16 years later (C. 1954) and sold in two versions: the standard Tricky Tray (7″ x 12″) and the Tricky Tray Jr. (5.5″ x 7″).

Oswald Rae’s tray is significantly more complex than Ken Allen’s and for most circumstances I would use Ken’s.  You can do similar effects with both, though Ken’s is more flexible and because it is so thin and plain it really does seem free from trickery.

Ken sold both of his trays with six pages of detailed instructions that features some really good ideas over and above the popular Bank Night effect.

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Review by Andy Martin for Daggering by Repro 71, Fred Lowe

Review by Andy Martin for Daggering by Repro 71, Fred Lowe
Review by Andy Martin for Daggering by Repro 71, Fred Lowe
5 out of 5

Daggering was invented by Fred Lowe c. 1964.  This version was released by Repro 71 c. 1975 with no mention of Fred Lowe anywhere.  In addition, as released, Repro 71 did not even include the Dagger itself or even an oriental stick.

I added the “dagger” for completeness.  What you cannot see in the photos, of course, is the gimmick that makes it all work.  Unfortunately, I have not seen an original Fred Lowe gimmick so cannot comment on how close Repro 71’s is.  However, Repro 71 do provide a well constructed gimmick which works perfectly for the effect.  It just would have been nice to have some mention of Fred Lowe 🙁

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Review by Andy Martin for The Enchanted Piggies by Vampire Magic, Jimmy Fingers

Review by Andy Martin for The Enchanted Piggies by Vampire Magic, Jimmy Fingers
Review by Andy Martin for The Enchanted Piggies by Vampire Magic, Jimmy Fingers
5 out of 5

This wonderful kids item was invented by Jimmy Fingers and released by Max Andrews under his Vampire Magic brand. It has a lot going for it with brightly colored wooden props, an interesting patter line, and some great magic where the piggies vanish even though they are apparently tied up for all to see and produced later from a sty that was clearly empty before.

This is the later improved model where both windows are on hinges and open individually which make for a more convincing show that the pigs are locked in place.

You don’t see kids magic like this anymore that is for sure: great props, a fun engaging story coupled with some strong magic 🙂

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