Review by Andy Martin for Passe Passe Bottles by Morrissey Magic
5 out of 5
This Passe Passe Bottles from Canada’s Morrissey Magic is a really nice set. The bottles look great and it comes with three bottles so you can do the extra gag part where the stooge steals away the bottle in the hope to break the trick. The third bottle also has the space for the liquid so you can pour a glass to start with.
Another really nice feature of this set is everything packs into one tube. That is certainly something you don’t see everyday – Herb Morrissey knew he had to ship everything from Canada so wisely made this prop pack down as much as possible 🙂
Review by Andy Martin for Cube Penetration by Sunil Batra
5 out of 5
This is quite a unique block penetration. It certainly has a basis in the classic Vampire Block however there are two benefits:
The tube opens up and is cleanly shown on inside and out.
When locked inside you can see the block from both sides.
However, due to the ability to cleanly open and show the inside of the tube, the mechanism is not quite automatic when impaling the block inside with the sword. A secret motion of the finger is required. It is an easy thing to do and you have 100% cover because you can freely show both sides where the block clearly is. But it is an extra move not required with the Vampire Block.
The quality of construction is first rate and this will be something you will use. The block is hollow but still plenty solid.
Review by Leanna Minnich for The Travelling Hole by Tom Minnich, Paul Diamond
5 out of 5
Best trick of its time, back around 1973-1977! (BEFORE Nomadic Void).
Many Magicians have come up with their own version or more modern take on it. Lest we forget Tom Minnich created it. I appreciate Paul Diamond for the citation to my father, who was recently diagnosed with ALS, and going downhill quickly.
My father sold it at 16 years old, for a nominal fee, decades before royalties were a thing. The unnamed person he sold it to was the real winner in the deal. Congrats!
I am so glad it has persevered through time and molded to fit each day and age it has been presented in. Thank you for keeping his name alive– now and when he is gone.
Review by Andy Martin for Elite Premonition by Magic Wagon
5 out of 5
This is Magic Wagon’s beautiful rendition of one of my favorite Alan Warner Miracles: Mini-Mental. The effect, to the audience, is very similar, but the mechanism employed by Magic Wagon is a little more sophisticated than Alan’s and the execution has been streamlined. I still love Alan’s version, but Magic Wagon’s is easier to use for sure.
Review by Ryan for Elite Premonition by Magic Wagon
5 out of 5
The ways it works is very similar to other effects as you can probably imagine, mini mental (Alan Warner) & ultimate color prediction (Thomas Phole), but this one has the best looking in my opinion – and it works very quiet and smooth.
Review by Andy Martin for Four Wrongs Make A Right by Michael Baker, Jack Hughes
5 out of 5
This effect was created by Jack Hughes c. 1945 and is featured in his wonderful book World of Magic Vol. 2.
Michael has created a very beautiful version that really pops. He has also simplified the routine to its bear essentials. And I know you’ll love it. If you wish to perform the original Jack Hughes routine you would need to add a sign large enough to cover the whole frame (made from paper or something more exotic). After playing with this routine I’m happy to perform it this way, it is easier, cleaner and I’m not sure the laughter potential is any less.
Review by Andy Martin for Atomic Ball (Improved) (Early Release) by Nick de Palma
5 out of 5
Good old Nick de Palma! This is my third copy of this actual effect from Nick, and it works perfectly. It looks great and is smoother in operation than even the Magic Wagon version.
This is the earliest release created by Nick. It uses copper tubes (instead of the later brass ones) and the box and lock is a little less ornate. However, it really works perfectly and I would choose this over the Magic Wagon version – because the gimmick for the Magic Wagon version was a little strong. This works cleanly and beautifully. The reason that Nick’s version was named “Improved” was because of the reappearance of the steel ball. In the original versions of this effect you had to do a small move but with this one it is 100% automatic and clean.
This is still one of my favorite close-up effects and I look forward to doing a clean Speed Demo soon. This version is so easy and clean to perform you can get up real close and still see nothing.
Review by Andy Martin for Houdini's Haunted Padlock (Dr. Faust's Padlock) (1 of 12) by Jim Sommers
5 out of 5
This beautiful looking padlock was created by Jim Sommers c. 1989. Jim was trying to reproduce a reliable version of the prop made famous by Karl Germain and called Dr. Faust’s Padlock. In the Germain routine, the performer hung a large padlock on a wand or rod and went into the audience. The performer handed the wand to a spectator and told the tale of Dr. Faust’s escape from prison. As the story reaches a climax, the lock mysteriously opens.
One of the problems with similar clockwork versions of this padlock is the timing mechanism. The time of release could be easily out by a few seconds depending on how tight you wound them up. To perform the original Germain routine effectively it is important to know precisely when it will open, and even being out by a few seconds can make a difference. Jim created his own custom mechanism that is very reliable. I have just tried it four times in a row and each full cycle took 39 seconds to complete. That is one reliable clockwork mechanism 🙂
Although, the timing and look of this lock are perfect, it is not a lock I would hand to the spectator. It can be handled briefly without suspicion, but the one thing I noticed immediately on receiving it was how light it was compared with the size of the lock. It is 13oz so is not actually light, but compared with what you would expect for a lock of this size, it feels light. There is no reason for the spectator to hold the lock in either the Faust presentation or my presentation below. So this is not an issue for most routines you would use it for.
Also, the key winds up the mechanism which locks the clasp, and with minimal acting ability you could convince the spectators you used the key to lock it. However, I prefer to start with the padlock locked. The key can be present, but I just don’t think it is necessary to “lock” the padlock in their presence.
I think you will really like this padlock and with only 12 created it is something the other guy will not have seen 🙂
Review by Andy Martin for Spear-It (Mental Rope) by Louis Paul Productions, Jack Bridwell
5 out of 5
This is the most beautiful version of Jack Bridwell’s Mental Rope you will ever see. Beautifully created by Louis Paul in Canary and Purple Heart wood, with hand rubbed oil and wax finish. Brass, copper and leather are use for the sword and hardware.
This effect was invented by Jack Bridwell in the late 1970’s (Linking Ring, August 2001, pg 166-168), and featured in Supreme Magic’s Magigram (May 1989, pg 590). However, it was re-invented by Al Glennan c. 2001 and sold exclusively by Davenport’s until 2019 when the USA “rights” were granted to Stevens Magic here. But none of the previous versions by Supreme, Davenport’s, or Stevens Magic get close to the exquisite detail and beauty of Louis Paul’s version. Louis’ version works incredibly smoothly and looks totally stunning.
The effect is very easy to learn and perform but at the same time a real mystery to explain. It has a different outcome every time, there is nothing added or taken away and everything can be examined too.
Review by Andy Martin for The Three Brothers or The Mystery of the Mummy by Francois Danis
5 out of 5
What a lovely box of the magic from the talented French craftsman: François Danis. He has created an updated twist on the Wandering Mummies so popular with craftsmen all around the world!
What Francois had done by combining aspects of three different effects:
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