5 Stars

This is Willi’s stunning version of Tenyo’s highly sought after Paddle collection. Willi has reproduced each of the paddles in the original set but made them in wood and they are perfectly beautiful 🙂

Also included are the 19 page of instructions written by Phil Goldstein and illustrated by Teruhide Sonoda. This was not an official release from Willi (or even sanctioned by Tenyo), Willi just created a very few sets for friends. So although the original Tenyo versions are rare and in great demand this set is even rarer.

The paddles are housed in a custom designed wooden case and each paddle is perfectly safe and secure in it’s slot.  By pushing lightly down on the end of a paddle the other end raises making it easy to remove the paddles from the box for performance.

These paddles are a Collector’s dream and you can’t help but love Willi for creating such a wonderful set 🙂

I have read through the clearly written and well illustrated instructions multiple times and attempted to perform each of the 11 effects presented and here are a few brief comments.  When you first look at the ten paddles you think what a cute set of bar paddles, but each of the paddles has a very specific purpose and it is quite incredible how amazing some of the routines are thanks to the placement of gems in certain locations.  Although none of the paddles has any sliding parts or items added or removed, if you bother to read through the routines I’m quite sure you will find some effects that appeal to you and are easy to perform.

Brief comments (see some effect details below):

1. Warm-Up: Easy to do and short and sweet. (*)
2. Solo: Easy to do and quite a step up from the warm-up. (*)
3. Duet: More involved but with a little extra practice this is a very baffling and interesting routine. (*)
4. Trio I: This one sounds very interesting and does not seem particularly difficult. I was able to do the basic moves but I am not convinced I could ever make this look good, spectators would want to see more of the paddle.  For those with more talent maybe this would be amazing, but I would need to see it to be convinced. It relies on covering up one of 4 gems in the center of the paddle and I am uanble to do that without screaming: “What is under your thumb!” 🙁
5. Trio II: This is very different from Trio I (using a different paddle) but I like it.  Takes a little more practice but still possible and amazing how much they can get out of a single fixed paddle. (*)
6. Trio III : This is based on Trio I and does not work for me for the same reason.  I am not sure this would look convincing without seeing it.
7. Quartet I: This is too tricky for me to do well.  Done well I’m sure it is amazing but I don’t have the time to put in or possibly the ability to make it look good. 🙁
8. Quartet II: This is certainly easier than Quartet I.  It requires some fluid handing but is not difficult and with some practice you have a great little routine that is different. (*)
9. Sextet: This is the popular Hot Rod effect with an improved force of the red spot. This is not a bad idea but it doesn’t do much for me.
10. Canon: This is another effect that requires quite a lot of motion with the hands being in the right place at the right time.  With effort probably looks good, but not for me.
11. Concerto: This is probably the most involved effect I would (or could) perform and it is quite an amazing sequence of events for sure. (*)

Click here for more information.

According to Dr. Albo in (Albo 11, pg. 85 and The Ultimate Thayer, pg. 166)  this very clever Drawer Box was devised by Floyd Thayer c. 1930 and then later produced by Owen Magic Supreme.  It became known as the Joss House Drawer Box c. 1950 and was featured in Owen Brothers List #3 c. 1951.

The distinct stencil work is very clearly by Carl Owen, and this one is stamped Owen on the bottom. Based on the style of the earlier ones shown  in the Albo books it is most likely that even the ones sold by Thayer Quality Magic were also made by Carl Owen too when he worked there.

As far as Drawer Box evolution is concerned this came after the Hinged Open Back Drawer Box and before the Sesame Drawer Box and in my opinion the Joss House Drawer Box is the more versatile and most amazing production item.

When choosing the two loads to get the most out of this box you want to use silks and more solid items for the first load, to show some volume and then come back with some spring items for the second production as the second load is much smaller than the first.  Loading the second load can be a bit of a challenge too so choosing the spring items has to be done with some care.  I found spring flowers to be perfect.

Although it is close, this is not the prettiest Drawer Box I have seen, that honor goes to Milson-Worth’s stunning Sesame Drawer Box but it is certainly the most convincing one I have seen.

An amazing Double production 🙂

Click here for more information.

This is a great looking and useful toolkit for the hobbyist and professional card worker.  It takes a little bit of practice to get smooth, but it is not difficult.  The key thing to remember is line everything up using the well designed jigs and change your blades regularly.

This unit has a lot of flexibility and although for full decks of short cards I prefer this type of Card Trimmer, if your budget is tight or you want one tool to do a wide variety of  cards The Nibbler is your solution.

The thing I was most impressed with was the corner short tool on the trimmed cards – I was creating some short cards for an effect and after I had used the corner short tool, I could not tell the card had been trimmed.  It looks perfect 🙂

Click here for more information.

This may look like  a simple mini drawer box, but you would be wrong.  This is truly amazing precision quality.  The mechanism works perfectly and the inside of the draw is actually a metal insert which make the tolerances seem impossible and also means the gimmick it is pretty much undetectable.

Though I’ve seen a lot of neat and clever Mini Drawer Boxes, I’ve never seen one quite as unassuming but still amazing as this bad boy.  I shouldn’t have been surprised, after it is a Milson-Worth item.  Milson-Worth has always created some of the most amazing parlor and close-up items available.

The problem with a utility device like this that is so well made you want to create a routine worthy of the prop. Below I have included my routine which I tried to really maximize to do justice to the work put into this beauty.  The big stumbling point for me was coming up with a card effect that has some meat and was a little more than just producing or vanishing a deck of cards.  I’m pretty happy with my final routine which hopefully will show up as a video in the Porcupine soon.

Click here for more information.

This is my most recent and main demo table for my Speed Demos in the Porcupine.  Although I currently don’t get close to using all the features, I’m sure over time many of them will come in handy.  It is very solid and beautifully made from oak with an antique cherry finish.  It is the perfect size for most of the props I demonstrate.

It is complemented perfectly by three custom close-up mats from Patt’s Mats, though my favorite is the Burgundy one.

Click here for more information.

It is hard to believe this wallet was released in 1996 and I’m first actually holding one up close in 2023 🙁

The best switching device I have seen is The Devil’s Mail Box but if you are on a budget and only need to switch poker sized items the Eclipse wallet would get you through.  It also comes in jumbo size so you’re covered for larger switches too.

It is a really perfect switch wallet and looks very clean.

Click here for more information.

This is Hanson Chien’s version of Bob Swadling’s Blasted. Hanson has done an impressive job here.  He took Bob’s amazing method and removed a number of the restrictions to created a really innovative approach. You don’t need any special coins and it will work with more than one coin or small object at a time.

As with many methods there are times you might prefer to use Blasted – in fact for me I will still do that, but there are clearly some things you could never do with Blasted, but you can do easily and cleanly with Roller Coaster.

This is just the second item I have seen from Hanson Chien and I must say how impressed I am with not only the quality of his items, but also the research he puts in to track down the original creators.  Great job Hanson 🙂

Click here for more information.

It is always a treat when I open up a package from the great German craftsman Willi Wessel. I received a few items from Willi in January and have been slowly trying to get to them.  This is a Mini Version of an old effect Willi found in a magic magazine. Willi came up with an improved handling for his version.

When I watched the custom video Willi sent me I was completely surprised when the die jumped!  I didn’t see it coming.  I particularly like how fair and  deliberate everything Willi does is, no signs of trickery – just great magic.

Click here for more information.