Sunday, December 11, 2016

Any guess what this stage-size tambourine / drum-head trick is?

I recently bought this at auction for an impossibly low price, despite not really knowing anything about it.  Any ideas?  It's obviously a super-sized tambourine-style production device, but beyond that I know nothing else.  (Who made it?  When?  What are those pieces of metal on the side meant to hold?  Etc.)  I'd appreciate any info you can give me.




Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Thursday, August 4, 2016

I decided to try and assemble the pieces.  What do you think?  Not bad, huh?

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Early Tenyo multiplying pocket watches

Does anyone have information on these Tenyo multiplying pocket watches (with stand)?  I'd love to find a photo of it so I can assemble it correctly.




Sunday, April 24, 2016

Anyone know who made this trick and what it's called?  It's electronic.
**Update: It's called "Stone Of The Pharaohs" by Mephisto Huis

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

I have found even more tricks in need of identifying...


 29.  That bit on the right fits down into the lighter.  I assume that the effect is lifting the flame off of a lighter.  Who put it out though, and what was it called?

30.  I have no idea how to invisibly discern what number the spectator has put on top once the box is closed. **Update: It's Joe Berg's "Die Divination"

 31.  Maybe these aren't magic at all, but I found them in a collection with other magic items.  The largest coin measures more than five inches in diameter, and they are HEAVY!

32.  These Chinese Sticks are made of metal and quite heavy.  Each one is about twelve inches long.

33.  What is this trick called and how is it supposed to go?  (I've figured out how to remove the bolt from the cards, but what is the ribbon for?  A why are so many of the cards signed?)  **Update: It's Charles Gauci's "Houdini Card Mystery"

34.  The lock is gimmicked like Key-R-Rect.  What this trick called though?  **Update: The trick is called "Crook Lock"

35.  This lock is also gimmicked like Key-R-Rect.  The trick must be new because there's still protective plastic covering the clear plastic plates.  **Update: The trick is called "Crook Lock"

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Found a few more items that I need help identifying.  Any idea what these are or who put them out?

20.  There's a secret panel that slides down in the back to let you see where each key is. **Update: It's Bob Solari's "Ultra Sensory Perception"

21.  At first, I thought it was SilKola, but it's not.  The silk is permanently wrapped around a metal bar.

22.  No idea.  **Update: It's "Illumin-Ace" by Paul Bernhardt

23.  Did this come out of a magic set?  It's 4 or 5 inches tall.

24.  I actually have the instructions for this one, but they aren't in English.  **Update: This is Magiro's "Water Wands"

25.  It's some sort of animated matchbox.  It fits perfectly in the stand (made in England) so that it won't start opening too soon. **Update:  It is Pat Conway's "Sym-Pat-Rise"

26.  Is this a gospel magic trick?  Jumbo cards (one with Jesus, maybe the other is the Easter Bunny?) and two black plexiglass sheets.

27.  The white sleeve fits over the paddle.  The opposite side of the paddle is blank, and the opposite side of the sleeve is missing the Ankh.

28.  Wonderful Hot Rods.  Both have dots on all four sides.  One is obviously ungaffed, but the other has some dots half-painted, so you see one color from a particular angle, but a different from another angle.  **Update:  This is Chris Smith's "Dragster"

Monday, April 18, 2016

Can you identify these tricks??

Can you tell me the name or the maker of any of these tricks?  I bought them all as part of a larger magic lot recently and don't have any further information on them.  Any assistance you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

1.   I actually have instructions for this one.  It's called "Cartouche".  Who put it out though? 
**Update: Maybe created by Alan Warner?  It looks a lot like his trick "Enigmatic" 
http://www.ktmagic.com/Auction/APViewItem.asp?ID=6711

 2. There's an inner wall that would allow you to drop something down one of two different interior compartments.

3. These dice are attached to string so you'll always roll a seven.  **Update: Appears to be a copy of Clarence Miller's "Hard Seven"
http://www.martinsmagic.com/allmagic/mentalism/hard-seven-by-clarence-miller/

4. **Update: An early version of Viking's "Chip-Sational"?
https://www.vikingmagic.com/product/esp-chipsational-esp-chips-and-box/

5. Flip the pencils over and they're a different color.  **Update: These have sold on Martinka.  No manufacturer was listed though.
http://www.martinka.com/martinka/auction/APViewItem.asp?ID=11853

6. No idea. **Update: It's "Tele-Vision Box".  Manufacturer unknown.

7. The piece on the left can make coins appear / disappear.  There's a velvet piece that fits into the larger wooden hole, but it's not attached to either ring the way you might expect.

8. It's a multiple outs mental effect, but that's all I know.

9. Identical on the other side, and with a movable inner flap.  Jumbo card size.

10. Can use to add on a few cards.  **Update: It's called "Fatal Attraction - English Card Box" by Viking.
https://www.vikingmagic.com/product/fatal-attraction-english-card-box/

11. There's no shell.  (Maybe the previous owner lost it?)  The red ball fits completely in the lid.
**Update: It's probably a Jam Jar or Marble Vase.  (I still can't figure out how to get the ball to stay in the lid though.)

12. Who put out this very large money printer?

13. Who put out this beautiful three shell game?

14. Very similar to number eight above.  Multiple outs.  **Update: It's called "Ring Of Destiny".  Manufacturer unknown.

15. A beautiful watch box made by who?

16. Another watch box.

17. Any idea who make this?

18.  Is it a spirit lock?  Can't figure out what it's supposed to do.  **Update: This is the "De-Val Master Padlock" by Supreme.

 19. This one really has me stumped.  It's obviously part of a trick, but I'm not sure what.  The only thing I can think of is that it winds a silk or rope.  The spinning motor moves very slowly.
















Monday, April 4, 2016

Herb Zarrow on the Zarrow Shuffle (dvd) -- $20



The Zarrow Shuffle is the ultimate false riffle shuffle. Now Herb Zarrow explains the 
details and secret techniques that make the Zarrow Shuffle undetectable. No matter 
how many riffle shuffles you give the deck, you maintain complete control of all the cards. 
The Zarrow Shuffle is the most deceptive false shuffle ever created and one of the few 
sleights that was instantly adopted not only by top card workers but also by professional
card sharpers. 

Persi Diaconis in his introduction to Dai Vernon's Revelations wrote: "Zarrow's shuffle may 
very well be the single most important practical card move invented since Erdnase. 

This is the first time that Herb Zarrow, the inventor of the shuffle, has revealed these handlings, 
variations and presentations using the shuffle. Most of the material on this tape has never been 
available before, including many fine points and applications that have been held back for more 
than 40 years. Learn from the only authorized video on the subject taught by Herb Zarrow, the 
man who invented it all. 

Shuffle techniques taught: 
The original Complete Deck Control with Riffle Shuffle, speed, cover, resistance, angles, cutting 
sequences, get-readies, jog usage, double hand movement, red/black Zarrow Shuffle sequences, 
three card cover sequences, one and two shuffle sequences, Cut Simulation, Locking The Top 
Card, Two-Shuffle Control, Pre-Cut Double-Shuffle, Two-Shuffles and Cut, Skimming Using The Z, 
Double Cover, Double-Double Shuffle, Red/Black Cull and much more. 

Routines and applications taught: 
Four Ace Shuffle Control, Surprise Stack, Quad Triumph, Cull Stack, Attraction, Red Black Cull
and Zarrow Control, Four Packet Red Black, and Three Phase Poker Routine. In addition to shuffle 
applications the routines also contain unpublished techniques and ideas that can be applied to many 
effects. 

This may be your only opportunity to really master this technique and add a valuable weapon to your 
arsenal of secret sleights.
The Amazing Mr. Rooklyn pitchbook -- $18




1930s vintage magic - Maurice Rooklyn

This auction is for two vintage Mr. Rooklyn pitchbooks from the '30s.  
Each book contains approx. 32 pages.
The pitchbooks teach tricks and talk about Maurice Rooklyn.  
(There are also many photos of him performing large-scale illusions.)