Andy Martin

The original version of this effect known as Bending Glass (or Flexible Glass) was invented by British Magician Oswald Rae c. 1945, and was released by Max Andrews. A later improvement replaced the glass with a mirror which is what Wellington Enterprises are showing here. But they did not stop there.

This improved version of the Flexible Glass effect was initially designed for Doug Henning who made it a feature in his fifth TV Special in 1979. Doug came up with the idea of replacing the usual paper with a knitted bag to cover the frame. Wellington also improved the design of the mirror by employing a deceptive design for the frame. Though several have copied this idea, many have not fully understood the logic behind Wellington’s design.

Also the bag covering the frame is not larger than the frame and the unique frame method allows it to appear that the frame is being folded nearly in half. The bag may appear to be too small, but it will easily stretch over the frame. When inserting the knitting needle through the covered frame, it can be pushed through at an angle which makes the whole illusion even more effective.

This Flexible Glass is easily the most effective I have seen and there were very few built so they are hard to come by. I was sorely tempted to keep this bad boy 🙂

_EF A framed mirror is placed within a cloth bag and a large knitting needle is pushed through the bag and mirror. As a finale, the mirror is folded in half! The mirror is then removed from the bag and shown to be completely restored.

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A truly wonderful book and tribute to the incredibly talented and inventive craftsman Clarence Miller. DVD included with demonstrations and discussions by Clarence himself of some of his amazing creations. It was a big help in filling in details of Clarence’s work for my History Project.

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Not since the late 1960’s and Erhard Liebenow’s award winning  Tricks With Chips, has there been so much excitement surrounding a clever close-up chip set with gimmicks and fabulous routine performed flawlessly by the 3D Magic Works resident Videographer Madison Hagler,  as you see with 3D Magic Works’  latest miracle: Chip Shot. 

Talk about jamming in everything but the kitchen sink, Kent has really surpassed himself this time.  And at $79 smackers what a great value.  This outfit has it all and although it comes with two routines and you have Madison’s amazing routine on YouTube if you have even  a little bit of creativity in you, I know you’ll come up with more.

Chip Shot – what a perfect effect to spend the Summer creating your own little miracles and keeping the kids entertained! Highly Recommended for jaded close-up magicians everywhere!

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The Rising Cards is a beautiful effect that has intrigued both magicians and lay people for centuries.  There is no finer book on this subject than Claude Klingsor’s amazing book: The Big Book of Rising Cards. This book has been really useful as I work on my History Project 🙂  I could drone on about how great this book is but there is little point because Chris Wasshuber makes such a strong case here, and why he was so impressed with the book he felt compelled to purchase the English language rights, have it translated and offer it to the world.

Not only was I fascinated and impressed with stunning 3D diagrams and detailed historical analysis of countless methods to achieve this effect, but I also found Chapters 2 (“The Rising Cards & the Audience”) and 3   (“Definition and Classification”) very refreshing as the author looks very frankly at the effect from the magician’s and the spectator’s point of view.  So often in magic, magicians and particularly “Collectors” look at magic through Rosy Colored Glasses and ignore the obvious issues with so many magic props.  For example on page 20 it says:

The conjurer thinks the use of these suspicious devices can be justified by claiming that the pack needs to be isolated. He actually does not fool anyone. For as soon as the audience sees a device of an unusual and suspicious shape such as a houlette, a lyre, or a card box, its members think  that if a mechanical device is required, it is rigged.

which really resonated with me.

This book is written by someone who clearly loves magic, but is not fooled by many of the trappings we often fall into (myself included).  I wish I could be as honest as Mr. Klingsor – that would be refreshing!

You should buy this book, it is historically detailed and interesting but you will be even more delighted to see the most intricate methods and explanations exploded using 3D Computer Aided Software by Fabrice Delauré  that will change your view on what constitutes a good explanation of a magic effect.  I have never seen anything quite like it!

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I love these streamers! Jam a couple in your Dove Pan and it looks amazing!

Throw streamers are an instant classic among magicians — they’re easy to conceal and make a stunning visual impact! five coiled streamers are packed into one flat disc, unfurling into a cascade of dazzling color with just a flick of the wrist. hand-rolled and cut by cresey.com staff, our throw streamers are well known for their consistent high quality.

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I love my Viking Pro-Table! I’ve been using mine for almost 20 years and it looks as good as new. Very solid construction, the perfect size for any of my various children and stage acts, and if you add the accessories you are ready for every situation.

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I personally will stick with Paul Curry’s version over Mr. Zimmerman’s version.  There are other versions including Harry Loryane’s Out of this Universe that I might use, but the problem I have with this version is the move occurs as the two packets are placed together after the spectator has dealt them – well talk about the worst time to do a move that is when the spectator’s are looking most closely. I first read about Out of This World in Paul Clive’s excellent book Card Tricks Without Skill and it has served me very well over decades, without the need for any tricky moves at the worst time.

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This is how “they” get you! I’ve been purchasing a few of Carl Williams pieces recently and just when you think you are above all of the addictions of classic magic effects, you realize you’re right back where you started and can’t stop yourself. This is another stunning beauty meticulously re-created by Carl to duplicate the original Okito masterpiece. And what a clever and perplexing illusion it is. Spend a little time working with this and you will have a true baffler for both magicians and lay people. And amazingly the whole unit can be minutely examined. I guess I’ll be tracking down more of Carl’s work because he is so good 🙂

Originally called “Berg’s Wand-O-Ring,” this effect was devised by Joe Berg and built by Okito, when it won the award at a contest by the Society of American Magicians Assembly No. 3 in 1947.

Effect: The apparatus is a small cabinet which has no lid, but has a removable front panel and two slots in the side so a wand can be lowered in. There is also a hole in the center of the front panel and another in the back. Three differently colored washer-like rings are introduced, and one of them is freely chosen. The box can be inspected by the audience if necessary; then the wand is lowered into it and the front panel slid into place. Next the chosen ring is lowered into the cabinet and held there while a length of ribbon is threaded through the hole in the rear, through the ring, and out through the hole in the front. For a moment the ring is lifted from the cabinet to show it has been threaded on the ribbon, and then it is replaced inside.

Suddenly the ribbon is pulled taut, the wand is lifted out of the cabinet and the chosen ring is seen to be threaded on it instead of on the ribbon. The ribbon is removed and everything given for critical examination.

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My favorite Anverdi item is his very clever and perplexing Key Box c. 1982 from almost forty years ago!  Until recently I thought it was at the top of the food chain for effects that became known as The Seven Keys to Baldpate by Annemann and invented by Joseph Kolar c. 1927.  That is until I saw this rare beauty, Keyrumba c. 1990, from the amazing Carl Williams.  And what a stunning beauty it is. 

It is a beautiful prop for sure.   The effect is well known but Keyrumba is about as clean as you can get and operates by a hidden remote control so there is no need for the extra box used by Anverdi’s Key Box.  Keyrumba comes with eight identical keys and you can use as many or as few as you want for the routine – any one will open the box or not, 100% under your control.

The props supplied are of the highest quality, as expected from the late master craftsman Carl Williams. The chest is perfectly crafted. The inlaid woodwork is beautiful. The set offered is complete with the chest, all the keys, remote, necessary setting tool, and a photocopy of the original instructions and extra tips.

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P&L created two versions of this aptly named Perfect Card Box: the Standard Model c. 1921 and the Thin Model c. 1932. They are both still pretty “thin” because the Standard is only 9/16″ thick and to be honest I prefer the Standard. To me this is easily the prettiest, most practical, most convincing, and one of the hardest to figure out of all card boxes I have seen.  I prefer it to both Brema/Viking ones I have here and here, and the Joe Porper one too.  When I received it, even though I have worked with over 40 different card boxes and I had the instructions in front of me, it still took me about thirty minutes to figure out how to open the flap.  Once you have the knack it is easy, but that first ah-ha moment took me a while – which is the true test of the Perfect Card Box 🙂

Pictured is the Standard Model and it will vanish/change at least thirteen Poker sized cards. That is an amazing load and all in 9/16″ of solid silver.  I am really amazed by this stunning card box!  Although I’ve read that P&L only hallmarked the Thin Model with their famous P&L Logo that is not true because this is the Standard Model and the P&L Logo is clear as day.  This was made with what P&L call Solid Cupro Silver – this is probably what we call Sterling Silver today (since Sterling Silver is silver with about 7.5% copper added for strength), and it shines up beautifully with a bit of elbow grease and polish.

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