Arch Arcs by Mike Rose

Mike Rose creates some great small run, custom items and I just picked-up his latest releases.  This one is Arch Arcs which is a wonderful, non-mechanical, close-up version of the Stretch-It Boom-E-Rang released by P&L c. 1934 and later produced by Viking here.

These little arcs are beautifully crafted by expert magic apparatus builder Louis Paul and feel great in your hands. They are made in maple and walnut.  Mike has produced eight pages of very detailed and high quality, photo illustrated instructions to go with his great routine.  These days with online downloads you almost never see such detailed and well produced instructions – they could easily be part of a book Mike is working on (I don’t know but the quality is that good!).

There is a switch required but because you start with the optical illusion the switch is very easy and clean and happens quite naturally either under the cover of the black velvet carry bag or with an alternate handling in your hands.

The routine is surprisingly easy and effective and reset takes an instant and you have nothing to go wrong or recharge.  Which is a welcome change to some of the magic I try these days 🙂

Effect: Two small solid hardwood arcs are shown; one is made of walnut and the other is made of maple. It is demonstrated that the two arcs are of equal length. The magician picks up the maple arc and gives it a slight squeeze. Now when the arcs are compared the maple arc is slightly shorter in length than the walnut arc; the solid wooden arc has magically shrunk in size! The performer gives the walnut arc a similar magical squeeze and when the two arcs are compared it is seen that the walnut arc is now shorter than the maple arc.

The magician can also reverse the process by pulling on the ends of the walnut arc causing it to seemingly stretch. When the two arcs are compared the walnut arc is now longer than the maple arc. These squeezing and stretching actions can be repeated as much as the performer desires. Eventually, the arcs are shown to have returned to their original condition with both being identical in size. The audience can even handle them to prove to themselves that the two arcs have exactly the same proportions.

The magician points out that some people suspect that the wooden arcs do not really change size and that it is merely an optical illusion. To show that the arcs really do change size, the magician gives the walnut arc one final squeeze. The two arcs are stacked one on top of the other and it is seen that the walnut arc truly is smaller than the maple! The audience can once again handle the arcs and prove to themselves that the walnut arc is in fact shorter than the maple arc.

The set comes complete with the three necessary handmade wooden arcs (yes, there are three but the audience is only aware of two). The arcs are made from walnut and maple and have a multi-step hand rubbed furniture quality finish. They feel great in your hands! You also receive a nice drawstring pouch and eight pages of detailed photo illustrated instructions. Made in very limited quantities so don’t delay, get your set today!

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