4 Stars

This is a nicer looking version of the Fantasio’s Deck Switcher.  It is not great quality if you get in really close, but from a few feet it looks great and it works perfectly.  The best quality version of this type of switch is still Peter Scarlett’s Pimpernel Card Box but the problem with Peter’s version is that it is too small to fit the card case.  This version handles the card case just right.

Click here for more information.

Sam Dalal’s nice version of the Jack Hughes’ Classic effect Card Go.  This is for jumbo sized cards and looks good and works smoothly.

Click here for more information.

This is a clever trick with fairly cheap chips from Sam Dalal.  What is particularly interesting from a historical perspective is the chips use the same methods that the great Danish Chip Master magician Per Clausen and others such as El Duco use to create some really wonderful effects.  As far as I know Sam Dalal was the first to use this method, and although Per Clausen became famous for his brass chip effects there is no doubt they began with Sam Dalal.

Click here for more information.

In 1999 my wife and I had just become American Citizens (I was born in England and she in Canada) and had a party for our friends to celebrate and I was the main entertainment 🙂

I ended the show with my wife by my side and produced this wonderful American flag from Sam Dalal and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house 🙂

This flag works very smoothly and is amazing quality for the price.

Click here for more information.

The original Buried Treasure effect was invented by Ed Massey c. 1957.  This improved version was built by Arturo (Glenn Babbs) c. 1964 and sold by Abbott’s and  U.F. Grant. This particular item was sold by Abbott’s.

The improved Arturo version is easier to set and the effect is more impressive because the signed coin vanishes and appears inside a third box that is sealed inside a second box which is surrounded by beans, as opposed to just one box as in the original effect.  There have been a number of versions built by various builders including very pretty ones by Mel Babcock and Louis Gaynor. However, one of the features of these original Arturo made boxes is that the large outer red box dismantles further which makes it easier to set-up.

In the Abbott’s advert it talks about tying the outer and inner box with a ribbon – this is certainly possible, but because of the astonishment created by pulling the tiny box out of all of the beans I don’t think it adds anything to the effect and just slows down the pace.  But of course you could use ribbons if you wanted to (and I even include some for you).

This is a truly amazing effect which will amaze your audience and is easy to do 🙂

Click here for more information.

This is a very well made box with a clever method and it is easy to do.  It is best performed with people in front but it certainly does produce the effect that is advertised.  The problem that I have with the effect is that it is not really a penetration, but a transposition.  The block transposes itself onto the rod.  If it was a penetration you would move the rod down onto the block.  That does not happen.

If you look at the first video Rob gets closest to making the effect work, because the block stays in the same place – but to do Rob’s effect you have to use a ribbon instead of a rod.  I think this a method looking for an effect and I think it could have been better but I don’t think Magic Wagon really thought about what the actual effect was 🙁

But full marks for craftsmanship as we have come to expect from Magic Wagon.

Click here for more information.

Another perfectly crafted item from Magic Wagon which looks great and is relatively easy to do if a little fiddley. As far as an effect goes you can tell a lot but by how animated the vidoes are. This is the second effect in a row where Madison has not even bothered to speak … that pretty much tells you what he thinks of it … 🙂

I think the last two items for 2022 were not so great after a very strong year. Maybe it makes more sense to produce one a quarter and focus on quality effects instead of just well made boxes? Just a thought – Magic Wagon produce amazing items but they do need to entertain the audience too, so don’t forget the routines.

Click here for more information.

Another perfectly crafted item from Magic Wagon which looks great and is relatively easy to do if a little fiddley. As far as an effect goes you can tell a lot but by how animated the vidoes are. This is the second effect in a row where Madison has not even bothered to speak … that pretty much tells you what he thinks of it … 🙂

I think the last two items for 2022 were not so great after a very strong year. Maybe it makes more sense to produce one a quarter and focus on quality effects instead of just well made boxes? Just a thought – Magic Wagon produce amazing items but they do need to entertain the audience too, so don’t forget the routines.

Click here for more information.

This is a unique little box from Optical Oddities Mfg. Co. released c. 1987.  I believe Optical Oddities was Dave Pavlov’s company in Las Vegas that was formed c. 1981.

This box is different from anything else I have seen.  The effect on the audience is similar to what can be be achieved by a Lippincott Box but there are no moving or sliding sides.  The two issues I have with this are: it can only accommodate a coin about the size of half dollar nothing thicker or larger and it is difficult to do the move silently.

I personally believe this is more of a trick for magicians and still think Joe Porper’s original Strong Box is the best type of Lippincott Box available.

But an interesting unique method all the same 🙂

Click here for more information.

The Elusive Rabbits or Hippity-Hop Rabbits was invented by The Great Norman (Norman Hazeldene) c. 1947. Norman sold the rights to Harry Stanley when Harry was in partnership with Jack Hughes and Arthur Dowler and they released the first version in early 1947. The effect was a big success.

Davenport’s released their first version c. 1958 when they were located at New Oxford Street.  This version is probably the same design as their first version but the instructions say Charing Cross Underground which is where they moved to c. 1962.

This is a good sized version with a simple clear design and bright colors.  I found the release for the climax a little stiffer than I would like but after adding some lube it became much easier, though this would not be my first choice for this prop.  However, they do work fine and are in great condition for their age and would look perfect in your collection.

Click here for more information.