World of Magic – Vol. 3 by Jack Hughes, Derek Lever

The legendary British Inventor, Craftsman, and Dealer, Jack Hughes, invented many staples in magic that we take for granted today (including: TV Card Frame (1936), Coins in Glass (before Copenetro) (1939), Attaboy (early 1930s), Clatter Box (1951) and many more.

I grew up in the UK dreaming of owning some Jack Hughes effects. It was clear that the House of Hughes was producing some of the best magic around. I was able to buy a few of his items, but for the most part his effects were too expensive for my pocket.

Thirty years on, it is a wonderful pleasure to look through these impressive volumes to relive so much of Jack’s magic. These books are beautifully produced and give very detailed instructions on how to build nearly all of the House of Hughes magic.

Details: (Derek Lever) Another seven years have passed since the publication of Volume Two in 1992. I have not been idle during that time, but have spent many months compiling this third and final volume of the “Jack Hughes World of Magic”. It was obviously very important that I ensured that virtually everything Jack manufactured would be included in all three volumes and I was reluctant to go to press with Volume Three until I was sure that most items had been covered.

I have again, as in Volume Two, reproduced much of Jack’s original advertising matter, but as a consequence the quality of the print and drawings will not be very good due to the age of the material. Some of the items are not Jack’s originations, but are effects which he manufactured and sold having purchased the sole rights. Where possible we have credited the originator, although in many cases Jack improved the original concept substantially. As a result of much research, I have also included a number of “one off” items and apparatus which had never actually been advertised in the Jack Hughes Catalogue.

It has given me enormous pleasure to write the three volumes of the “Jack Hughes World of Magic”. I believe they are a fine tribute to a master craftsman who devoted his entire life to the creation of magical apparatus. Everyone who met Jack loved him. My early dealings with him began when I was in the Royal Air Force doing two years National Service in Germany. My pay was about £2.00 per week and I was saving up to get married! I wrote to Jack, told him about my situation and asked him to reserve a Dagger Chest for me and I would send the money as soon as I could save it. Two weeks later a large parcel arrived containing a Dagger Chest. A note from Jack said that he too had served in the Armed Forces and he knew how tough it was financially, so just send the money when I could! What a kind and generous man. I eventually saved the money and sent it to him and dealt with him for many years after I turned professional.

I consider myself very fortunate to have spent many hours with Jack when he moved to Blackpool and I will never forget his reaction when I took the first copy of Volume One to his home. He both laughed and cried as he thumbed through the pages, reliving the moment that each piece of apparatus had been created. As he reached the end of the book, he said, ‘Derek, you’ve done me proud, I never expected to see my work presented in such a beautiful book’. It was Christmas 1981 and a few weeks later Jack passed away. I hope I have ensured that his MAGIC WILL LIVE ON FOR EVER!

Purchasing this book entitles the reader to make ONE COPY of the apparatus detailed for THEIR OWN USE. Dealers are reminded that manufacturing rights to ALL JACK HUGHES APPARATUS are held by the publisher, Derek Lever at Taurus Magic Supply Company

Contents of Volume 3:

INTRODUCTION 8
THE CHINESE RISING CARDS 9
THE WRIST SPIKER ILLUSION 11
NEEDLE THRU’ BODY 13
DOVES TO POODLE 15
THE SWORD MAIDEN ILLUSION 17
VISIBLY SAWING THRU’ A PERSON 20
THE GIRL THROUGH GLASS ILLUSION 24
THE BUZZ SAW ILLUSION 27
THE CARD TARGET 31
EDWIN’S SPONGE BALL ROUTINE ‘Roger the, Lodger’ 33
BEADO 36
KNIFE THRU’ GIRL ILLUSION 37
THE MIDDLE FOR DIDDLE ILLUSION 40
THE MODERN CABINET ILLUSION 43
THE VANISHING CAGE AND GIRL ILLUSION 44
SLICING A SLAVE ILLUSION 47
CABARET GIRL VANISH 50
THE STRIPTEASE ILLUSION 52
THE GIRL’S GONE ILLUSION 54
THE REVOLVING BROOMSTICK SUSPENSION 57
THE GIRL ‘N GATE ILLUSION 62
ROBERT HARBIN’S AD INFINITUM 64
CHAIR TO SUITCASE 67
THE SPIRIT BELL 70
RIBBONS TO DOVES 72
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS 74
COMEDY UMBRELLA 77
THE JUMPING STOOL 78
KWIK PAPER CUT 79
THE MIGNON ILLUSION 81
THE COMEDY LEGS TABLE 85
THE BARRICADED BARRELS ILLUSION 88
THE STOCK ESCAPE 90
THE HEAD TWISTER 92
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION CAGE 95
CIG-A-LOON 98
PETTICOAT LANE 100
PEG BOX 101
THE JACK HUGHES’ PEG BOX 103
NO – SMOKING 105
MICKEY’S TROUSERS 107
SLEEPY SLIM 111
COLORAMA 113
WHERE HAS THE DUCK GONE? 115
JACK HUGHES’ FLY-A-WAY BIRDS 118
WINE AND WOMEN 122
COMEDY CARD WAND 124
TEAR-APART VANISH 127
VAKIL’S INDIAN ROPE TRICK 129
DOUBLE BOX PRODUCTION 133
THE PADDLE OF FOO 134
SPONGE BALL TO RABBIT 136
TRANS-THOUGHT 138
COSTUME TRUNK ILLUSION 139
IMPOSSIBLE DOVE VANISH 141
THE GROWTH OF FLOWERS ILLUSION 143
THE GOLLIWOG BALL 145
‘DOUBLE STUNNER’ PREDICTION 148
JACK HUGHES! … MAN TO THE MOON 151
THE ASSISTANT’S REVENGE 155
M’LADYS HAT 157
CORONATION CROWN 158
MINNIE MISCHIEF 162
TOPSY TURVY CLOWN 165
CLATTER TABLE 168
ULTIMATE DIVIDE 170
FORGETFUL JOEY THE CLOWN 173
HOP SCOTCH BOTTLES 176
KERB DRILL 178
Mr. P 186
A BRAND NEW RISING CARD 188
MENTOULETTE by LEN BELCHER 190
MAGIC MOMENT 192
FLAMES THROUGH GLASS 196
TORN AND RESTORED CARD 200
HOLIDAYS ABROAD 201

Simply beautiful!

• Publisher: Taurus Magic Supply
• Pages: 195
• Location: Lancashire, England
• Edited by: Derek Lever
• Dimensions: 8″x12″
• Date: 1999
• Binding: hardbound

Text Source: Derek Lever – Introduction

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