Review by Andy Martin for The Hand by Mick Hanzlik

Review by Andy Martin for The Hand by Mick Hanzlik
Review by Andy Martin for The Hand by Mick Hanzlik
5 out of 5

This wonderful item is from the British lock expert Mick Hanzlik and what a unique item it is.  I don’t believe Mick had these custom manufactured (particularly based on the original price), so my best guess is he saw found in a store and immediately saw the potential for a card effect.  What is interesting is you have to handle the deck slightly differently from how you normally do to get the best out of the movement.  So Mick clearly spent some time with it once he found it.  I could be completely wrong, here but it seems like the sort of item you could find around Halloween and Mick was smart enough to see the potential 🙂

Depending on how you spread the cards and where precisely you place the hand down on the cards you can get better results.  In fact, when I was just posing it for photos I had the hand moving more cards than I did in my video.

The effect is not is not hard to do at all, but if you play with it you can maximize the number of cards that are moved.  Something a little different to keep them on their toes 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Reincarnation by El Duco's Magic

Review by Andy Martin for Reincarnation by El Duco's Magic
Review by Andy Martin for Reincarnation by El Duco's Magic
5 out of 5

Reincarnation is one of the most popular and unique items created by El Duco. It is one of those items that seems like it will be harder to perform than it is. A switch is required right in front of the audience after all. However, there is not really any heat on you at the time of move as no one is suspecting anything yet.

Once you do it to real spectators you might be surprised of their reaction and that will diminish how big the move is in your mind until you can do it without guilt or fear 🙂

The reset is very fast and I could see performing this a lot once you got over the first time.  In that regard it reminds me a lot of John Kennedy’s Mystery Box – I put off performing that for years, but after I did it the first time the result was so strong the effect became one of my most popular live items and I still perform it today.

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Review by Andy Martin for Jack and Jill Jumbo by Viking Mfg.

Review by Andy Martin for Jack and Jill Jumbo by Viking Mfg.
Review by Andy Martin for Jack and Jill Jumbo by Viking Mfg.
5 out of 5

This is an updated version of the Steve Dusheck and Jim Hill effect: Cases of Metamorphosis c. 1984.  All of these effects are versions of Al Baker’s Cherchez la Femme.

This is a finely made version by Viking Mfg. for Howie at The Trickery. The Jumbo frames are very substantial and long lasting. The real problem with this effect, is the routine is over too quickly and there is no real meat to it.  This is not true Baker’s original because you have the by play of finding where the queen is. 

To overcome this I suggest you using just a single frame in conjunction with a McCombical Deck to make the routine a little more interesting as I demonstrate in the Speed Demo.

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Review by Andy Martin for Visible Vampire Block (Stage) (1 of 1) by Hocus Pocus

Review by Andy Martin for Visible Vampire Block (Stage) (1 of 1) by Hocus Pocus
Review by Andy Martin for Visible Vampire Block (Stage) (1 of 1) by Hocus Pocus
5 out of 5

The Escaping Vampire (or Vampire Block or Vampire Die or Visible Vampire as this type of block penetration is often known as today) was created by Ben Wallace c. 1945.

This is a one of a kind stage version of the custom Vampire’s built in 2020 especially for Hocus Pocus  by a good friend and craftsmen.  It is more detailed than the regular size and stands almost 17″ high with a 4″ block.  It is quite impressive to behold.  And of course works perfectly.  The tower is sturdy and interesting, the block is heavy and solid with a strong brass chain, and the spike is also hefty and memorable.

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Review by Andy Martin for SS06 – The Wellington Chop Cup (Brass) by Wellington Enterprises

Review by Andy Martin for SS06 - The Wellington Chop Cup (Brass) by Wellington Enterprises
Review by Andy Martin for SS06 – The Wellington Chop Cup (Brass) by Wellington Enterprises
5 out of 5

I am long past the time where I will learn to do either the Cups and Balls or the Chop Cup.  However, if I were to perform the Chop Cup, this beautiful cup offered by Wellington Enterprises would be the one I would choose.  The design, features, and craftsmanship are perfect 🙂

This beautiful cup was released in two versions:

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Review by Andy Martin for SS06 – The Wellington Chop Cup (Aluminum) by Wellington Enterprises

Review by Andy Martin for SS06 - The Wellington Chop Cup (Aluminum) by Wellington Enterprises
Review by Andy Martin for SS06 – The Wellington Chop Cup (Aluminum) by Wellington Enterprises
5 out of 5

I am long past the time where I will learn to do either the Cups and Balls or the Chop Cup.  However, if I were to perform the Chop Cup, this beautiful cup offered by Wellington Enterprises would be the one I would choose.  The design, features, and craftsmanship are perfect 🙂

This beautiful cup was released in two versions:

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Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Diabolus-Kassette) by Uli Kigele, Eckhard Boettcher

Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Diabolus-Kassette) by Uli Kigele, Eckhard Boettcher
Review by Andy Martin for The Devil's Card Box (Diabolus-Kassette) by Uli Kigele, Eckhard Boettcher
5 out of 5

What a striking and unique item Diabolus-Kassette is 🙂

I don’t know much about Uli Kigele but he has written for Eckhard Boettcher and also crafted less than 100 of these boxes.  The box is based upon an Herbert Martin Paufler idea and it is striking, clever and very rich and colorful looking.

When I received the box it came with German instructions which I translated using Google which did an ok job, but you have to spend quite a lot of time figuring out what Google really means when referring to magic effect descriptions.  I worked on the first routine provided, streamlined it, and created what I feel is a wonderful routine that my video hopefully demonstrates.

But 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.

I think this is the sort of item that the two talented Canadian’s, John and Simon, could really go to town with 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for The Melting Bullet by Terry Roses

Review by Andy Martin for The Melting Bullet by Terry Roses
Review by Andy Martin for The Melting Bullet by Terry Roses
5 out of 5

This is the final beautiful brass item from the craftsman Terry Roses. And as with Terry’s other brass collectible line it comes in a beautiful inlaid oak carrying case too. It is the old ball and tube effect first created by Carl Brema c. 1929 as The Atlas Ball and Tube Mystery.  Then c. 1936 Brema created an improved (locking) version. And finally c. 1939 Brema released a giant sized version known as Brema’s Giant Ball and Tube.

This version by Terry Roses is a Giant, semi-locking  ball which perfectly combines the features of all three.  The ball and tube has never looked so good 🙂

You can’t actually give out the tube for a full examination, but because of the semi-locking it can be handled very fairly with nothing to ditch at the end.

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Review by Andy Martin for Illusion Practice Blocks (China Computer) by Thomas Pohle, Eckhard Boettcher

Review by Andy Martin for Illusion Practice Blocks (China Computer) by Thomas Pohle, Eckhard Boettcher
Review by Andy Martin for Illusion Practice Blocks (China Computer) by Thomas Pohle, Eckhard Boettcher
5 out of 5

The inventor of this effect 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).

Thomas Pohle created his first version of this effect when working with Eckhard Boettcher who provided the routines c . 1984. Over the years Thomas has created a number of versions and this is still the style of design I like the best.

The professionally translated instructions (so you can understand them!) feature three routines, and I based my routine on parts of a lesser known routine where you use these blocks as practice blocks for illusions such as the Mis-Made Lady and any Divided Lady effect.

The method is very clever and easy to do but if you don’t read the instructions on how to do it you might do it the wrong way (as I did for years). By referring to the parts of the assistant (head, body and legs) the effect becomes more interesting to the spectator. Now that I’ve spent the time to work on the routine I like it even more – who knew reading the instructions could bring so much enlightenment 🙂

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Review by Andy Martin for Card Duckling (Original) by Collectors' Workshop

Review by Andy Martin for Card Duckling (Original) by Collectors' Workshop
Review by Andy Martin for Card Duckling (Original) by Collectors' Workshop
5 out of 5

This is one of the original Card Ducklings released by Rich Bloch c. 1984. I prefer it to the early ones created by George Robinson with the googly eyes however, I think recent releases from George are closer to the early CW ones.

There have been many versions of the Card Duck over the years. It was invented by Laurie Ireland and marketed by him as Otto, The Automaton Duck.

This duckling looks adorable and works well as long as you maintain the beak and ensure that the cards are not too sticky.  When I opened this the cards were clumping badly and the rubber pads on the beak were completely solid – forty years is a long time to wait between picking a card.  After trying various pieces of rubber and pads with no luck I placed a piece of black felt on the top and double sticky tape on the bottom beak and it started picking up very smoothly.

You do have to make sure his beak travels the full distance and don’t rush things. But after some trial and error my little guy was picking cards like a champ 🙂

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