N.M.C. Instruction Sheets (Vols: 1-3) by Jim Sherman, National Magic Company

I’ve often appreciated the extra effort that Jim Sherman’s National Magic Company put into their instruction sheets, the N.M.C. Presentation Routines, as they were called.  They are consistently formatted, with tips, ideas, and details, and much better than many magic dealers and manufacturers.

So imagine my surprise when I found these three volumes of well over 300 N.M.C. effects fully described with their full, original, instruction sheets. Unlike Glenn Gravatt’s impressive Thayer Quality Magic Instruction Sheets  these volumes are not traditionally printed books, they are instead created from the actual instruction sheets and bound.  I have no idea how many of these were sold or even whether they were created by keen enthusiasts I’m just pleased they were done. 

The three volumes cover over 300 effects created and/or sold by N.M.C. c. 1928-1950 (N.M.C. was sold c. 1963 and I’m not sure how many new effects were added during the 50’s and 60’s, but this seems like a pretty complete file.)

There is a lot of magic in these bad boys 🙂

Details: A three volume compilation of instruction sheets issued by Jim Sherman’s National Magic Company of Chicago, c. 1930’s-1940’s.

Volume 1 Contents:

NOVEL SPONGE TRICK
THE BARS OF EGYPT
THE PRODUCTION WAND
THE BEWITCHED SAFETY PINS
THE COLOR CUBES
HINDU PRAYER CHAIN
THE MYSTIC RING
THE NEW PP TRICK
1ARRY AND 1ARRIET
THE FINGER THROUGH HAT
ORIGINAL KOLAR TAG TRICK
CHINESE PAPER TEARING
THE CHINESE PRAYER VASE
THE MYSTIC BOTTLES
UP-SA-DAISY GLASS
THE JUMPING SPOON
THE FLOATING DISC
THE THREE SHELL GAME
BELL OF INDIA
WATER ELITE
BALL THROUGH BOX
MOARI DEVIL STICKS
FRESH FISH
IDEAL HANDKERCHIEF TUBE
ESCAPO OR BALL ECAPO
THE VANISHING WATCH TRICK
THE MASTER MEMORY TRICK
THE OKITO COIN BOX
WILLMAN COIN TRICK
COINS FROM THE AIR
AUTOMATIC COIN DROPPER
NICKELS AND DIMES
SMALL PLUG BOX
BLOCK AND COIN MYSTERY
THE DETECTIVE SCENT
FIVE TO ONE
PSYCHO BOX MYSTERY
ETHO CARD CASE
THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER
JACK AND THE CARD STALK
FLY-TO-CARD
THE PERFECTION CARD FRAME
MYSTERY ACES
CUTTING A. CARD IN TWO
CARD IN EGG
THE MAGICIAN ’S DREAM
THE TUNG PIN SOO CARD VANISH
THE « MENE-TEKEL ” MYSTERY
ELECTRIC PACK’OF GARDS
CARD BOX
SIX CARD REPEAT
VANISHING CARD IN GLASS OF WATER
CARD TO MATCH BOX
NEWEST RISING CARDS ( LYONS )
THE MELTING PIPS
RISING AND TURNING CARD
THE CHANGING SEVEN
THE BURGLARrS ESCAPE
” C C C ” DECK
CRYSTAL BALL AND CARD
THE SPHINX CARD TRICK
THE CINCH CARD TRICK
THE ONE-TWO CUT STRING TRICK
KOLAR ’S STRING AND STRAW TRICK
THE CHALLENGE ROPE CUT
THE ROPE MIRACLE
THE WONDERFUL CIGARETTE AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICK
THE IMMORTAL CIGARETTE
LIT CIGARETTE DROPPER
THE EXTRA FINGER
BREAKAWAY WAND
PALMING LIQUID
DIMINISHING BILLIARD BALLS
THE MARVELOUS FLOWER PRODUCTION
PERFECTION WATER BOWL PRODUCTION
PERFECTION RAZOR BLADE MYSTERY
THE FLYING RING
THE SIBERIAN TRANSPORT CHAIN
THE MAGICAL WATER GLASS
THE GLOVES TO BOUQUET

Volume 2 Contents:

THE BANG GUN
ELASTIC PENCIL
CARD TO PAPER MATCHES
KUTT-IT
KUTT-IT FLUID
ZIPPER BANANNA
THE MAGIC FUNNEL
THE BRASS NUT
FOOLED AND FOOLED AGAIN
THE RING AND ROPE TRICK
SPOOKY LITE
AFGHAN BANDS
MAGNETIC WAND
FOURTH DIMENSION STICK OR DEVIL WAND
VANISHING WAND
UP TO-DATE SILK WAND
WONDERFUL BOX OF NUMBERS
BLOCK AND COIN MYSTERY
KENARD’S NU-KOIN MYSTERY
PERFECTION BILL TUBE OR BAKELITE BILL TUBE
THE MYSTERIOUS CUPS AND BALLS
THE MIRACLE CUPS AND BALLS
MYSTIC COCKTAIL CUP
PATRIOTIC GLASSES
THE BRAN GLASS
ROCKET TUBE
TAP IT
THE FINGER GUILLOTINE
THE CHAPPIE ROPE TRICK
SHATTERING FLASK
GLASS PENETRATION
LIVE GOLDFISH FROM THE AIR
THE SPIRIT SLATE TRICK
CIGARETTE TO CIGAR
DISAPPEARING CIGARETTE TRICK
CIGARETTE VANISHER
LIT CIGARETTE FROM POCKET
CIGARETTES FROM THE AIR
CHANGING COURT CARD
EVER CHANGING CARD
ONE HAND CARD RISE
THE X-RAY DECK
THE CARD MYSTERY
PRODUCTION OF BOUQUET
SQUARE CIRCLE
THE JAP HANDKERCHIEF BOX
THE SILKO BOX
THE ELITE OF THE MILK
THE DELUXE FANTASTIC PARASOL
GLASS OF WATER THRU THE HAT
TRANSPO BLOCKS
WINE AND WATER
PERFECTION DOVE BOTTLE
NATIONAL DOVE BOTTLE
THE HANDKERCHIEF BALL
THE 20th CENTURY HANDKERCHIEF TRICK
IMPROVED HANDKERCHIEF CASETTE
COLOR CHANGING HANDKERCHIEF
THE MARVELOUS FLOWER PRODUCTION ( FLOWER CLASP )
THE FAMOUS EGG BAG
THE FAMOUS CHINESE STICKS
KARSON ’S RICE TRICK
SOLID THRU SOLID
SOLID THRU SOLID IMPROVED
THE SLIDING DIE BOX
THE GENII TUBE
THE SPIRIT BELL
DOVE PAN
DOUBLE DOVE PAN
NATIONAL CARDS AND GLASS ILLUSION
THE BUDDHA TUBES
AUSTRIAN THUMB CUFF
THE VANISHING BIRD CAGE ( ALL METAL TYPE )
THE VANISHING BIRD CAGE ( FLEXIBLE TYPE )
IMITATION CANARY
WRIST TIE

Volume 3. Contents:

M6 tri-block mystery
M7 BLOCK-GO
M8 PERFECTION AERIAL FISHING
M11 ANTI-GRAVITY GLASSES
M13 STEEL BALL THROUGH BRASS BOLT
M24 BLOX-O
M28 KLINGTO
M29 THE BREAKAWAY FAN
M3O MULTIPLYING BALLS (Includes M31-32-33-35-42-43 á 44)
M39 THE TERRIBLE TRIO or UNHOLY THREE
M40 BLUFF WATCH
M62 OBEDIENT BLOCK
M65 CIGARETTE FROM FIRE
M66 THE CIGARETTE DROPPER
M74 THE NEW CANARY PAN
M77 THE PILLARS AND CUT STRING
M79 THE COLOR CHANGING KNIFE
M79A NU-COLOR CHANGING KNIFE (Additional routine)
M84 THE NEW RISING CIGARETTE
M85 THE CIGARETTE DROPPER (Tube)
M89 NATIONAL CIGARETTE CATCHER
M93 CIGARETTE TO WAND
M94 THE GHOST CIGARETTE
Ml00 CHINESE LINKING RINGS
Ml 11 COLOR DISCS
Ml 16 FOO WATER CAN (Includes Ml 17)
Ml22 THE DIVINATION BOTTLE
M129 SPECIAL CHANGING BAG ROUTINE (includes M130 & 131)
Ml35 THE MYSTERIOUS DICE BOX
M137 THE ELLIS RING
M143 THE FAMOUS FAN AND EGG TRICK
Ml46 THE PERFECTION HANDKERCHIEF
M147A EGG AND HANDKERCHIEF
Ml49 THE FLOATING MATCH
Ml59 THE GWYNNE FLIP-OVER BOX
M1Ó0 GLASS OF WATER FROM HANDKERCHIEF
M165 HINDU CONES
Ml66 HINDU BEADS
M167 HINDU LOTA BOWL
Ml72 THE GOOFY PADDLES
M173 HARLEQUIN CIGARETTE HOLDER
Ml74 THE HAUNTED MATCH BOX
M175 HANDCUFF ESCAPE
Ml77 THE FAMOUS KELLAR STRING TRICK
Ml84 THE STEEL SPOOL MYSTERY
M189 THE MYSTERY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
M192 THE MAGIC NAIL
M196 NIMBLE THIMBLE
M201 THE FAMOUS MAIL BAG ESCAPE
M217 PRODUCTION ARTICLES (Includes M231-232-233-236-255-259-311 & 3″A;
M218 THE SAFETY PIN TRICK
M230A CHAIN HANDCUFFS
M239 CUTTING A CIGARETTE IN TWO
M244 MYSTERIOUS STAMP ALBUM
M246 MIRACLE NUMBER DICE
M254A THE FANTASTIC BALLS
M255 THE VANISHING GLASS OF LIQUID
M26l SNAKE DRAWER BOX
M274 COMEDY PASSE PASSE BOTTLES AND GLASSES
M275 THE PASSE PASSE BOTTLES
M280 THE WITCH CIGARETTES
M281 NATIONAL FLOWER WAND
M284 COMEDY CIGAR
M290 THE IMP BOTTLE
M293 “WORDO”
M301 BANK NITE
M302 LINKO
M304 THE MYSTERY MAN
M306 MILK BOTTLE TRICK
M307 THE TUMBLE BUG
M308 THE SPOOKY CANE
M309 SHOE LACE TRICK
M311 HUNG BLOX
M318 THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB
M319 THE MIRROR GLASS
M321 THE ORIENTAL BEAD MYSTERY
M322 KRAKING KRYSTAL
M324 ROLLING A CIGARETTE BY MAGIC
M328 THE SALT TUBE
M330 BILLIARD BALL DROPPER
M351 LUMINOUS PAINT
M357 CALYPSO MAGAZINE TRICKS:(Nd. 1,2 & 3.)
M358 DUN-A-TRIX
M361 INDESTRUCTO RIBBON
M372 RICE BOWLS
M389 SECRET “X” GIMMICK
M403 THE INVISIBLE HEN
M412 THE TRICKY TUMBLER
M415 THE ESCAPING VAMPIRE
M421 ATOMIC CANDLE
M517 RI-RO-RI
M520 MINIATURE SPIRIT SLATES
M525 PERFECTION CANE TO TABLE
M545 THE MYSTIC BALLS AND TUMBLER
M547 COCA-COLA PRODUCTION
M55O THE PIPES OF HILO
M554 CIGARETTE OR LIGHTED MATCH LEVITATION
M562 BOTOLLIO
M57O THE MYSTIC WATER CUPS
M572 STRETCHING A ROPE
M584 DAYLITE SPIRIT SEANCE
M701 THE TRANSPOSO DECK
M702 THE “STEAL” DECK
M703 THE MAGICIAN ’S DREAM (Methods A,B & C.)
M704 E.V. DIMINISHING PACK
M707 THE FAMOUS CARD READER
M709 THE BRAIN WAVE DECK
M711 ROUTINE OF PREDICTION
M712 THE MIRACLE PREDICTION (Paul Curry)
14717 IMPROVED PIRATE PACK
M727 SUBWAY CARD
M730 THE RUNAWAY CARD
M734 “SOMEBODY LIED” (Gerald Kauffman)
14745 IT’S A PIPl’l
M748 THE ABSCONDING QUEEN
14749 THE SOMERSAULT CARDS
M753 THE TELEVISION CARD FRAME
M755 MOVING PIP CARD
M764 IMPROBABILITY
M766 THE FAMOUS SAND FRAME
M769 THE CARD WITHOUT A MIDDLE
M772B MENTO CARD BOX
14776 VAL EVAN’S “RISING CARDS”
M779B THE CARD IN THE BALLOON (Hathaway)
M788A NEW STABBING TRICK (George L.Boston) with additional effect(Blackstone)
M789 SHACKELTON’S CARD AND RIBBON TRICK
M791 FIND THE LADY
M796 THE SLIDING GLUE TRICK
14799 NITE CLUB CARD RISE. (Albernice)
M800 THE VANISHING COIN TRICK
M803 MAGIC COIN VASE
14805 REVELATION COIN BOX
M810 d A;. MYSTIC COIN WELL or DEVIL’S BANK
M812 PENNY THROUGH MATCH
14817 THE PERFECT VANISHING TUBE
M824 DOWN’S COIN WAND
14832 RATTLE BOX
14835 VANISHING DIME
14852 THE SILVER BOXES AND BALL OF WOOL
14868 BACK HAND PRODUCER
14875 THE MARVELOUS COIN AND BOTTLE TRICK
14882 THE VANISHING PURSE AND COINS
M883 THE DOLulR BILL IN LEMON
M9O3 BLENDO
M904 & A; PERFECTION CANDLE TUBE
M907 THE MYSTIC TUBE
14908 THE SIX SILKS FROM NOWHERE
M908A BARE HAND SILK PRODUCTION
M910 DEMON WONDER BOX
14911 AN ADDITIONAL ROUTINE OF THE PERFECTION HANDKERCHIEF BOX
M911A THE JAP HANDKERCHIEF BOX
M912 SILK DYING TUBE
14919 THE TELEVISION SILKS
M924 & A; THE SERPENT HANDKERCHIEF
M925 IMPROVED 30th CENTURY SILK
M932 VANISHING HANDKERCHIEF WAND
14935 THE SYMPATHETIC SILKS
14950 THE SILK CABBY
M951 THE BREAKAWAY PRODUCTION BOX
14953 THE SILK WORM
M960 PRODUCTO
M963 HIMBER’S FLAG AND SILKS
M7001 CARD TO ROSE
M7002 SATAN’S COLOR CHANGE
M7004 THE VANISHING CARD
M7OO5 THE TORN AND RESTORED CARD
M7OO7 RISING AND CHANGING CARD
M7008 THE EXPANDING ACE
M7011 KRINOG RISING CARD (NU WAY RISING CARD)
M7O12 THE MAGNETIC DECK
M7O13 BAKERISE (Al Baker Card Rising Box)
M7O19 THE PEEK DECK
M7O34 THE SPIRIT PHOTO TRICK
M7O39 THE FIFTH DIMENSION FRAME
M7O58 THE LONG CARD (Johnny Paul’s routine)

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