Andy Martin

You can always rely on the amazing Eddy Taytelbaum to produce a beautiful version of a standard effect.  Here he takes on the Coin Slide and in this version Eddy has created one with no moving parts. In fact the slide can be examined if desired 🙂

It is a simple effect, but Eddy still manages to create a work of art from it.  The secret to appreciating Eddy’s items is not just to look a them, but to hold them and use them.  You’ll find most of the time that they work as beautifully and flawlessly as they look.  This little slide is no exception.

Thayer’s Mystic Coin Slide c. 1921 appears to have been the first version of this type of effect, followed by Carl Brema’s Coin Slide or Magic Mint c. 1925. The term “coin slide” should not be confused with the gimmick used to load a coin into the center of a ball of wool (or in nest of box routines) which was used much earlier.

Click here for more information.

First there was Otto, then Jo-Anne and Gwendolyn, and along with many others I finally have tracked down Jack Hughes’ wonderful Fifi 🙂 

Fifi is bold and beautiful and quite a lot larger than the modern day standard duck: Warren Hamilton’s Jo-Anne, though they both weigh about the same (approximately  1 lb.), and I’ve included a photo at the end for comparison.

Fifi uses a different approach to picking the cards, with no moving parts or stickness, which works surprisingly well – I had a few issues at first until I got the knack of it.  It is easier to grab more than one card, but that is true of all ducks depending on the state of the cards.  Fifi is designed for bridge sized playing cards (which I include) – many items from the UK use bridge sized decks because that was certainly much more common last century (and I expect it still is).

I do think the colors and size make Fifi a little more fun, but as I have mentioned before the Card Duck appeal primarily stems from the interaction of the performer with the duck – it could be a sock puppet and you could get just as much out of it.  But for collectors Fifi will look amazing in your collection 🙂

Click here for more information.

This is really a simple and useful switching stand for Jumbo cards.  It can be used for a clean Four Aces effect or for the transformation to any desired set of a few cards.  According to Verrall Wass (Tomorrow’s Devant, The Sphinx, August 1944, pg. 154) this effect was actually invented by Ned Williams (Robert Harbin) and although Ned is not credited he is mentioned in the ad.  This also was known as Four of a Kind (well at least the instructions that came with it say that, but I have found no other reference to it being called that name).

To perform it requires two decks of Jumbo cards, and with this effect the new style, thinner Jumbo Bicycles work better than the old thicker ones so I have included two brand new decks of current Bicycle Jumbo Cards.

Possible Presentations:

• A demo of this effect is performed by Dr. Albo on Disc 9 of The Ultimate Thayer. However, Dr. Albo uses random indifferent cards rather than the A, 2, 3, 4 of each suit as mentioned in the effect below.   Using A, 2, 3, 4 is a really nice way of performing the Four Aces, and makes it easier to spot the movement of the aces.  In addition with the A, 2, 3, 4 presentation the other three aces actually move to the designated pile rather than being replaced with an indifferent 4th card. So you end up with 3 cards in each pile (2,3,4) and only the aces pile has 4 cards.  Of course you can perform it the more traditional way too – the system is very flexible.
• Another presentation is to mention that whatever number they choose all of the cards at that number will appear at the chosen spot.  They say “3”, and at location “3” are all four 3’s, and then the magician also shows that all the A’s are in location “1”, all the 2’s in location “2”, and all the 4’s in location “4”.
• You could use it to produce multiple chosen (forced) cards,
• Change indifferent cards to Poker hands and you get the winning hand.
• It could be used with jumbo flash cards and other cards that fit in the slots.

In the ad copy it states: “invite the audience to select or designate any one of the four piles” that is Dealer Speak for “Magician’s Choice” 🙂  Or you can simply mishear and say “Pile 2” did you say?

This is a very fine looking prop that looks great, has the flexibility to perform multiple effects, and can be used in small parlors and stage settings.

Click here for more information.

Another beauty from the Dutch magic dealer and craftsman Harry Keyl.  This is a wonderful piece of micro-magic that packs neatly inside itself for storage – that’s right the racetrack turns into a case to carry it all!  It looks very similar to the work of the Dutch master Eddy Taytelbaum and this is the first one I have seen.

These were also sold by Supreme Magic Company and it was one of Edwin’s favorite effects and he would often carry the neat set in his pocket ready for the perfect opportunity to perform this adorable miracle 🙂

Click here for more information.

This effect was created by the Dutch magic dealer and craftsman Harry Keyl for his magic shop Keyl’s Magic in Holland.  Mr. Keyl made some wonderful magic in perspex including his fabulous Turtle Race which was also sold by Supreme Magic Company.

Keyl’s Magic is often confused with items from his fellow Dutchman: Eddy Taytelbaum.  However, although  Keyl’s items are very well made they don’t have quite the same color or detail of Taytelbaum. 

Click here for more information.

This effect was renamed Flyaway Discs in December 1972 as Alan realized it clashed with the name of an effect called “Flight of Gold” released by Roy Roth of R.A.R. Magic (c. 1970).

Flight of Gold is a rare effect from the very first year Alan began his Mini-Magic business in 1972.  It appears that Alan sold this for just about a year ending in late 1973 because it was never advertised again and did not appear in any of Alan’s Catalogs. 

It was not made in teak or brightly colored as his other items in his fledgling Mini-Magic line and is the only effect that I can think of that featured gimmicks made from metal.  Nearly all of his other effects have been primarily created from wood which was either left natural or painted in bright colors.

It is a clever item that is easy to do and although there are a couple of moves I would not call them sleights and everything is routined smoothly to keep the heat off the action. I chose to add a couple of extra items instead of the pen that is suggested in the original instructions as you can see in the video.

I’ve only ever seen one other of these before which is featured in George Guerra’s collection so if you are an Alan Warner collector you are in luck.

Includes:

• Wooden Board with three Silver Discs and Gimmick.
• Gold Disc and Gimmick.
• Orange Silk.
• Gold and Silver loops as shown in the video.
• Bag to protect the apparatus.
• Full instructions.

Click here for more information.

Wow what a great little effect from Roy Roth and his company R.A.R. Magic this item is.  It could be played for laughs or in the right hands this would really freak them out.  The little doll is made of a Play-Doh like material and although the figure that is pre-made is perfectly fine, it comes with eight other strips of colors to create a different effigy if you wish.  There is nothing gimmicked about the effigy or the coffin for that matter so you could use pretty much any modelling clay if you desired.

The method used to sever the limb or head is quite unique and very effective.  In fact, once the severance has occurred everything can be minutely examined.  I have added a better looking sword instead of the plastic one that comes with this.  I also created some bicycle card versions of the stick man cards because they are easier to work with, but the original set work fine too.

This is one you won’t see very often – this is in fact the first time I’ve seen it. I have not been able to find any ads for it in the old Abracadabra’s of the time, so I’m guessing there are not many of them out there.  It is a great idea.

Click here for more information.

This is a wonderful no sleight version of the popular matrix effect from the British master craftsman, inventor, and performer Bob Swadling. It is a perfect effect to slip in after you have done some sleight of hand because it makes people (particularly magicians) think you are a true artist! The gimmicks are made really well and the routine is very clean and effective.

This uses half dollars which is much harder to find and is perfect 🙂

Click here for more information.

What a great set of slates these are! There are four slates here and each slate has three different flaps:

1. A standard flap.
2. A flap with the corner cut away.
3. A flap with a red bicycle back on the other side.

They are well made and strong but still very thin and fit neatly in the shirt or jacket pocket and can be used for all manner of effects.  The included instructions has six pages with routines from Ken Brooke, Roy Johnson, George Blake, and Pete Biro.  But I’m sure you’ll find other uses for them too.  A real utility find!

Click here for more information.

This was invented by János Bartl from Hamburg in Germany c. 1934, and licensed to Davenport’s in April 1934 to sell under the name Demon Wonder Box. It was marketed in the 8th issue of the Demon Telegraph, a house-magazine from Davenport. In the early versions like this one only two sides could be opened. c. 1952 an advanced version like this one came to the market with the name “Silk Wonder Perfect” and you could open all four sides.

This version by Kling is easily the best quality version I have seen.  It is heavily chrome plated and if you hold this you will feel the difference from others you might have owned.  It is not stamped – most of the Klingl items I have are stamped Klingl-Wein but much of their earlier items were not.  The second you receive this you will know it was made for quality.

I’ve included some flags for production but you could easily double the size of the load if you wanted.

Klingl or Zauber-Klingl was an Austrian Magic manufacturer and dealer founded by Rudiga Michael Klingl c. 1869 and they continued until the 1980’s. Their creations are high quality and are keenly sought by collectors today.

Click here for more information.