Baffo by Thayer Quality Magic

I really like Baffo, sometimes known by it’s longer name “The Baffo Orange and Ring Box“, and was hoping to demonstrate it this weekend.  Sadly, the main gimmick broke and I have been unable to fix it.  The problem with 100 year old props is sometimes when you actually try to use them, they break 🙁

Anyway, this is a very clever idea created by Floyd Thayer and the method is certainly a fooler. Milson-Worth created a similar effect with their Orange Cabinet about sixty years later and although it uses a very different method (which has its good points and its bad) I prefer Baffo in most cases as it is more convincing and can be shown and handled much more cleanly than the Milson-Worth Orange Box (which can only be shown empty from a distance).

What I like about Baffo is their are two parts to the method and neither of them are particularly hard to build and are certainly easy to do yet they allow you to really perform a miracle.  Although Thayer uses a bit of poetic license in the description of features below – the use of the phrase “no revolving panels, traps, cloth flaps” is particularly close to the mark, but the effect described really is possible.

Though if there was truth in advertising you would at least add after: “threaded on the cord, is found the borrowed ring” … “which is removed by the performer, cleaned off and handed back to the spectator for examination” 🙂

Notice: This box does not work.  If you are handy it is certainly possible to fix and you’ll have a beautiful marvel on your hands.

Effect: A real practical illusion for parlor and stage and possessing possibilities for combined use that are delightfully interesting.

A neat box, 5 inches square and with a hinged lid is shown absolutely empty. A piece of heavy cord is handed to a spectator and they place it inside the box which is shown to be otherwise empty. Placing the box on the table in full view, the performer reaches inside and passes each end of the cord through a small hole in each end of the box near the center, the cord remaining thus exposed during the time that follows. The lid of the box remaining also closed.

From a plate of oranges, one is chosen and caused to disappear. A finger ring is borrowed from a lady and also caused to vanish. Taking up the box, still closed, performer hands same to spectator, and which upon being opened is found to contain the orange through the center of which now runs the cord which passes out through the holes in either end of box. The orange is then cut open, and in the center, threaded on the cord, is found the borrowed ring.

Another baffling effect can be performed. A dollar bill is borrowed and spectator asked to note the number of same. Bill is folded and dropped into box through slot in top; box with bill is then placed in full view Plate of lemons shown and one chosen. This is vanished. Box opened by spectator and lemon found inside, and inside lemon is found the bill.

Features:

• Box is shown absolutely empty at start.
• All sides of box are solid.
• There are no revolving panels, traps, cloth flaps or metal compartments.
• Sides, top and bottom are only 3/8 of an inch in thickness.
• No sleight of hand or body work.
• No table servantes required and no assistant.
• Absolutely self-contained.

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