1 review for Antique Haunted Timber (Telekinetic Timber) by Dave Powell
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Antique Haunted Timber (Telekinetic Timber) by Dave Powell
(c. 2012) (Submit Review) (Submit Update)This is based upon the Robert Harbin effect The Little Tippler that was featured in Abra (Vol. 8, No. 207, January 1950), this was the effect:
“A small painted block of wood is produced and placed precariously on the edge of the table. After some talkie-talkie, the block falls to the floor. The performer—but no one else—can repeat the business indefinitely.”
I was really hoping this would work perfectly flawlessly. I’ve had a few others over the years and in each case when they work, they work great, but just when you think you have it worked out nothing happens. The problem with this type of effect is that it must work 100% of the time otherwise you have nowhere to go with the buildup. Now it is true some people seem very happy with it, so it is probably more to do with technique, but I’m not sure as I have never been able to get these to work consistently. Most of them require a certain amount of warming up to work well and then the time they take can vary quite a lot.
What I really like about the original Harbin version is that it uses a mechanism based on a timer which allows for a much more consistent falling block delay. If you have used any of the “modern” versions you’ll notice they don’t always work the way you would expect.
Effect: The magician displays an old looking block of wood and hands it out for thorough examination. As the solid oak block is being examined the magician explains that this particular piece of wood was removed from a house that was said to be haunted. He leans the block against a bottle and stands back several feet from the bottle. As he concentrates and focuses all of his psychic energy on the block, in about thirty seconds, the block starts to move and falls over away from the bottle!
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Approx. Price: $85.00 (2012) ***
Notice: I am not a dealer and this item is not for sale on this site. It maybe available in the links below or at our sister site: qualitymagic.com, but not from here so please do not ask.© Martin's Magic (unless otherwise stated). All Rights Reserved.
Amazing Corbin –
Slow to move, Was that the wind?
I was very disappointed in this product, and would not recommend it at all.
First off, I should say this looks great. It does look like an old timber, the aging and distressing is perfect. However that’s about it, a great looking piece of wood.
There are two "phases" to it’s movement one has you balance it on a bottle or other object and the second phase has you lean it up against an object at least as tall as it is long. The first major problem is it takes forever to move/topple. Definitely not a tv trick, this is something you have to set up, then tell a long story before it moves. Trying not to give the method away, the temperature affects it as well. if it’s a cold room you could be waiting a lot longer. when it eventually toppled over It left my audiences thinking it was the wind or something knocked the table. When you balance it on top of something you have to balance it very carefully, even with practice it looks like you are just setting it up to fall over when the wind blows. Very unimpressive to the audience.
I used this in close up performances and library shows perhaps 20 times over the winter season 2013. The timber never got a good reaction and was a poor effect in my show. It would be way better if you could determine when it would fall over. Most of the time after my rehearsed story was over I had to add lib until the dang thing toppled. A few times it fell over before my story was done and once the wind actually did knock it over!