Numer Menta by Martin Gardner, Bob Hummer

This is an intriguing mental mystery, which is as interesting as a game of chess. The apparatus consists of a plastic box, measuring 6″ wide by 4″ in depth. It opens up flat to provide a working surface, 8″ deep, lined with attractive blue sponge rubber.. Also included are seven large poker chips. Six of these are numbered on both sides, the seventh chip is a blue chip depicting a top hat on one side.

Effect: Four different astounding effects are completely explained with four pages of manuscript, a brief description is as. follows:

1. Spectator is asked to mix up the six numbered chips any way he wishes, and place them in two rows in the box. Performer turns his back and spectator is instructed to reverse or turn over any three of the numbered chips. Magician then instructs participant to turn over a few more chips, and then remove any three, covering them with the blue chip and turn over the four chips. Performer announces the sum of these three chips hidden under the blue chip.
2. Performer places three chips in one section of the box. .Spectator places the other three in any sequence on the other half of box. Spectator, by adding the digits of the chips and by subtraction or multiplication, spectator arrives at a number which has been predicted by the mentalist. There is a very good surprise finish to this which really throws ’em.
3. Is one where spectator hides three of his own coins, a penny, a nickel, and a quarter’, each together with one of the chips, in the left hand, in the right hand and under the box, while performer’s back is turned. Performer tells accurately where each coin is and which chip accompanies it and for a surprise finish, he tells the date of one of the coins held by spectator.
4. Performer places a pencil and pad of paper on table and gives spectator five numbered chips, which he places in a horizontal row, in any order he wishes. The total of the five digits is subtracted from the original five digit number. One of these digits is circled by spectators all while performer’s back is turned. Spectator removes the chip, which is the same as the circled number and yet performer turns around and names that chip.

This is all very interesting and intriguing and the price is right.  Instructions by Ed Mishell.

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