Hydro Die Deluxe (Entmaterialisierung) by Magiro

This is still one of the very best Magiro items, and in fact one of the most amazing close-up illusions period. This is the larger, deluxe version of the smaller 1984 version. The original German name for this effect was: Entmaterialisierung (Dematerialization or De-Materializer) and I’m not sure when it became known as Hydro Die, but that is pretty much the name that has stuck over the years.

What makes this version so effective is because it is so stripped down – unlike later versions by Magic Wagon and Richard Gerlitz – there is nowhere for the die to hide. It just vanishes into thin air! Beautiful effect and getting hard to find these days.

Effect: All of the pieces can be examined, then the die is placed at the bottom of the clear perspex tube which is sealed at one end and this is placed on top of a thin base. The tube is then filled with water, or as sometimes is used in the patter some special acidic dissolving liquid. Everyone can see the die at the bottom of the clear tube. Now this tube is covered with an opaque cover which has a separate lid, and before the lid is placed on top to seal the die away from all, the spectator can look right down from the top to see the die still there. Even after the top has been placed on the cover, the cover is lifted one more time to show the die is still there.

Now the performer just holds the tube at the very top, nowhere near the die and lifts it away from the base and waves it in front of the spectator and asks them to blow. Then in an instant the cover is lifted and the die has gone. The water is still in the tube. Each piece of apparatus is now shown on all sides and there is nothing to find – the die has disappeared!

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