Review by Andy Martin for Mechanical Block Off Cord by Resor
5 out of 5
Although I love the classic Block Cord effect there is no doubt that some magicians and collectors are just looking for the cool gimmicks. Well this bad boy delivers for sure! It looks like a basic 3″ cube with cord but does not require any moves or sleights to remove the cord. It just comes off precisely when you want it to. Although there is nothing added or taken away and the action is 100% automatic, I’m not quite sure what is going on inside the block – it is a bit like the parting of the Red Sea, one minute there is an opening the next there is not!
The spectator can look fairly closely at the block too and under normal inspection they’ll see nothing. However, if they try the effect themselves they too could inadvertently pull the cord through (although they’ed have to know which angle to pull from). I personally would only let them handle it briefly and would probably perform the penetration under a silk just to add to the mystery, but you certainly could do it out in the open if you desired.
Review by Joe Long for Micro Curious Cubes by Thomas Pohle
5 out of 5
I always thought Eric Lewis’ Curious Cubes, made popular by Milson Worth, was an overlooked fooler. When you consider that any face card can be named and the blocks inside the cabinet magically form that card. A few years ago I found a rare version which was sold in Germany and it was a great improvement over the original. The ingenious design allowed you to instantly repeat the effect with a different card. There was also briefly a small version made for closeup that is now extremely rare. The two I’ve had in the past have sold for $500+.
We based this new release on that rare piece of apparatus, but Thomas has improved the mechanics to make the working a breeze. The routine is a baffler. The beautiful little cabinet (about the size of a deck of cards!) is opened to display twelve small blocks which have images of pips or blank white sides. The blocks are dumped out and the cabinet is clearly empty. A deck of cards is displayed and shown to be completely mixed. It’s ribbon spread on the table and the first spectator is asked to simply touch any one which is removed from the spread and shown to them. That is card number one. The performer states that someone might think he manipulated the spectator into choosing that first card, so to make the process even more fair, a second spectator is told to simply name any face card. They do so and that is card number two.
The performer again displays the empty cabinet and the twelve small blocks which he claims have curious properties. The blocks are placed back into the cabinet in a random order—which is evident as they’re seen to be stacked inside with some pips sideways, upside down, etc. The back door of the cabinet is closed. The random stack of blocks is still visible as the front door is closed. Now–the performer tell the audience to witness the amazing properties of the curious cubes. When the door of the cabinet is reopened, the spectators will be amazed to see that the blocks inside have now magically re- assembled to display the value of a playing card. Spectator number one is asked to reveal their selection for the very first time. It matches the image on the blocks!
It’s a baffling revelation … but it gets even better. The cabinet is now turned around and the second door opened to reveal the other side of the blocks which are in a mixed up random order. The door is closed and immediately reopened and the blocks are seen to have once again rearranged magically to form the image of the second spectator’s freely named card!! The blocks are once again pushed from the cabinet which is shown freely. It’s an ingenious routine.
The craftsmanship on the little cabinet (which is only about 4″ x 3″ x 1″), blocks and fakes is perfect. Thomas has improved the mechanics to make operation very simple. It happens automatically. It’s a brilliant design. The look of the cabinet is absolutely stunning. The rich wine color laminate with black/gold trim has the four playing card suits “etched” in white into the front and back doors. It’s a beautiful piece of micro magic that you will perform and fool with. This will be a very limited release because of the precision work involved.
Review by Andy Martin for Light Heavy Performance Mat by Gimpy's Magic
5 out of 5
All modern versions of the light and heavy chest can be improved using Gimpy’s Wonderful Performance Mat – these work really well and not only makes any chest more reliable they also make it seem more impossible because the mat can be moved around even when the chest is “heavy”.
Even without the mat, the instructional video that Gimpy provides with this mat is excellent and filled with useful tips for getting the most out of your chest.
If you have any version of the Bill Tresslar style of chest it will work much better with one of Gimpy’s Performance Mats! Highly Recommended.
These guys are also small enough to be used in a formal close-up or small parlor situation with the biggest box rolling in at: 5 3/8″ x 5 3/8″ x 3 1/2″.
Very pretty and functional, you’ll love these beauties!
Review by Georg Walter for 1-2-3 Blocks or China Computer by Thomas Pohle
5 out of 5
The inventor was the German Paul Corduan (17. Februar 1894 – 4. Januar 1961). His stage name was “Doc Corten”. First sold by the German dealer Heinz Jacobi under the name “Corduan-Verwandlungswürfel” (translation: Corduan Change Dice).
Review by Andy Martin for Hippity Hop Rabbits by Collectors' Workshop
5 out of 5
These little beauties from Collectors’ Workshop are still the cutest Hip Hop variation I have seen. Designed by Les Smith of Owen’s Magic about thirty years ago, there still has been nothing quite as cute as these little guys. The covers and bases are solid walnut and the gimmicks are well built and function perfectly. Very hard to come by these days and you’ll love them to display in your collection or to show the grand-kids 🙂
Review by Andy Martin for Runes of Nefertiti by Magic Wagon
5 out of 5
This is a beautiful effect inspired by Ed Mellon’s Quantimental with a method that has been significantly improved:
Reducing the noise
Increasing the visibility
Allow free showing of the stand on both sides
With the performer’s back is turned, four spectators each remove one plaque from the stand and hide it on their person. After showing how solid and opaque the stand is the performer immediately can name which symbol was selected by which spectator. And no electronics are used and nothing is added or taken away.
This is another perfect item from Magic Wagon and one that you’ll love to own!
Review by Andy Martin for Mystery Box by Joe Porper
5 out of 5
So I missed this when it first came out in 2005, but typical of Joe’s work it is very precise and works perfectly. The price is quite high, but you do get what you pay for – there is some serious engineering employed in each box. It comes with 4×9″ silks and a large number of tiny sponge balls, and with care it works with 12″ silks and even 18″ diagonal cut silks. So the loads can certainly look impressive. What is particularly cool is how empty and innocent it looks, and because there is a special locking mechanism for each load chamber (of which there are four), it could even be handled by the spectator with little fear of them seeing anything.
If you are a lover of quality apparatus this is certainly for you. I don’t know how many of them were built but I rarely see them come up so there can’t be many. And it works so well!
I think for just the sheer boldness of design this version wins 🙂 Really beautiful and the first one I have seen up close. Very easy to do and very effective and realistic looking gimmick – where does the deck go?!
Review by Andy Martin for The Mystic Vault by Magic Wagon
5 out of 5
I’m a few months behind my Magic Wagon items so am trying to catch up! This beautiful effect is based on my favorite Anverdi item: The Key Box. But the genius of those cats at Magic Wagon is this bad boy has zero electronics and it really looks as clean as a whistle.
The wise man would save $1200 and the battery hassle and stick with this version. Of course most magic guys are not that wise when it comes to their favorite props.
But if you were looking for something almost as cool as Anverdi’s Key Box, your search is over and try to find one of these. You won’t be disappointed.
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