Atomic Ball (Improved) (Early Release) by Nick de Palma

Good old Nick de Palma! This is my third copy of this actual effect from Nick, and it works perfectly. It looks great and is smoother in operation than even the Magic Wagon version.

This is the earliest release created by Nick. It uses copper tubes (instead of the later brass ones) and the box and lock is a little less ornate. However, it really works perfectly and I would choose this over the Magic Wagon version – because the gimmick for the Magic Wagon version was a little strong.  This works cleanly and beautifully.  The reason that Nick’s version was named “Improved” was because of the reappearance of the steel ball.  In the original versions of this effect you had to do a small move but with this one it is 100% automatic and clean.

Notice: some versions of this effect have a die to switch out, but this did not come with one.  I have personally never switched out the die, even when I had one, and I think the effect is stronger because of it.  Leave them gasping instead of inspecting some silly magic props.

This is still one of my favorite close-up effects and I look forward to doing a clean Speed Demo soon.  This version is so easy and clean to perform you can get up real close and still see nothing.

Nick de Palma (who passed away in 2009) was a New Jersey native who manufactured medium priced collectible magic during the 1980’s – 2000’s.  Nick was a friend of Bob Solari’s Dad and he showed young Bobby some magic when he was just four years old which got Bob into magic.  Years later Bob Solari and Nick de Palma would collaborate on many projects and Howie Baltus of The Trickery and good old Hank Lee would also sell many of Nick’s items.  Nick’s most impressive items were Atomic Ball, Killing Time, Wizard of Odd, and Tele-Vision Box. One of his biggest sellers was probably Improved Hypno-Silks and an item he released in 1991 called Perplexing Pencil. Nick did not invent many effects of his own but he had a unique style and would often tweak existing ideas, and although his product wasn’t always consistent, when he was on form he built some great magic.

Effect: This one will fool you even when you know how it’s done! Bring out a small wooden box. Open the box to show two large white dice, two brass rings and a small stainless steel ball. All the items are set into cutouts in the foam lining of the box. Remove everything from the box, show it empty and set it aside.

Place one of the brass rings on the table. Drop one of the dice into the brass ring. Place the second brass ring over the first. Place the steel ball on top of the die. Drop the second die on top of the ball (Of course it will not sit flush because the ball holds it up) A magic pass! The second die suddenly drops down flush with the first!! Remove the die, the ball is gone!!

Ask a spectator to open the box. The ball is back inside!!

Atomic Ball. A killer effect. Completely mechanical, the dice and ball do all the work.

Found something wrong? Help us improve things by clicking here!