4 Stars

This neat item was designed and produced by, Magical Concepts Plus, Wood Dale, Illinois c. 1990.  It is a hand-crafted, walnut and maple case that houses various magical effects. It also came originally with an instruction video.  I received no instructions or video when I obtained this.  It appears to come with the following items:

1. Custom Walnut version of Ed Massey’s Ribbon Fantastique (I’ll include instructions for a previous version).
2. A wonderful version of Heath’s Mystic Tappit but with a clever ruse which means you don’t need to remember any colors.  (I’ll write up instructions for this – it is an amazing and simple to perform item that is always ready to go and works perfectly!)
3. Pair of normal dice
4. Deck of regular playing cards

I don’t know if there was anything else – it feels pretty snug so I’m not sure if they could fit much more in the box. 

On the front of the box it has the Latin phrase: “Omne Quod Videt Non Est” – searching online did not give a meaningful translation, but I’m guessing it says something along the lines of: “Everything is not what it seems” (though I could be wildly wrong here!).

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A single box version of the popular Television-Box effect expertly crafted by Klingl. Instead of concealing the gimmick in the second outer box this uses a tube with which the gimmick can be added to or seamlessly removed.  You use the tube, which can be shown empty, to view the box and can see immediately where each number is situated.  One of the benefits to this approach is that you can be surrounded when you do the work as there is nothing to see.

Klingl or Zauber-Klingl was an Austrian Magic manufacturer and dealer founded by Rudiga Michael Klingl c. 1869 and they continued until the 1980’s. Their creations are high quality and are keenly sought by collectors today.

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This is an early penetration from Thomas Pohle released by the prolific German magic dealer Eckhard Boettcher. It looks effective but is a little more  involved than his later block penetrations such as: China Block Penetration and China Block Surprise. Michael Baker’s later Mandarin Block Escape uses a similar method but with Thomas’ you could have everything examined if you wanted.

This was re-released by Thomas as The Impossible Die and Wand Penetration c. 2019

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Magiarte were a magic dealer and manufacturer in Portugal of a unique line of magic c. 1956-1996.  They were founded by Armindo de Matos and Eduardo Franco.  Their beautiful hand painted props are quite rare today and are perfect for display.

The instructions that came with this item say that the photo album starts off with all six color postcards and then just one vanishes to appear later in the ornate frame.  But a listing on Potter & Potter says the album starts empty and then the six color postcards appear inside the album.  I think the best way to present this would be like this:

• Show the empty stage stand and six color postcard and flags.
• Place the six flags (Portugal, France, Spain, UK, USA, and Brazil) with the back out on the stand
• Show the six color postcards.
• Flip through the empty photo album that has place holders for six countries with flags.
• Have a flag chosen from the stand to select which country wins the contest.
• Vanish the six color postcards (using your favorite method!).
• Show the appearance of postcards inside the photo album.
• But one is missing and instead a large flag is shown in its place.
• Reveal the chosen flag (it is the same flag as appeared in the album).
• Show the chosen color postcard appearing on the stage stand.

This seems to be a better routine with a lot of magic and some beautiful colorful props the likes of which you probably have not seen very often.

This effect certainly could be performed, but it probably has more appeal to the collector. The stage stand where the beauty contest winner appears is a little temperamental and has to be handled with some extra control. The photo album and flag cards are cardboard and paper and they probably would not stand up to too much abuse. Having said that they look very good for a sixty year old prop!

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Magic Wagon had a phenomenal 2020 and created some amazing items.  This is Magic Wagon’s version of U.F. Grant’s Bamboo Chest and Glass. Until I saw Rob’s video (brotherbor on youtube) I was going to write this one off as a bit of a dud, but Rob really brings it home with the extra vanish – that was a stroke of genius!

I still think that by removing the liquid piece and making the vase smaller Magic Wagon have made this less amazing than the original.  But as Rob clearly shows, with a little big of imagination you can still perform this and make it seem quite amazing and entertaining 🙂

It is beautifully made, and if you perform it the way Rob does with the bonus “vanish” I think it can be a fooler.  But if you don’t, I think this is more of a puzzle and not an outright fooler as the original version clearly was (assuming of course it was performed well!).

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Mary Tomich formed the Thaumysta Magic Co. in 1992 and catered for bizarrists and kindred spirits.  The Elfin Chest is almost a big hit – the props looks very interesting and the effect and method are all workable.  But the props are so small they are difficult to use.  The sun revelation etched into the crystal ball is ok, but not as clear as I would like.  If I was to perform this I think I would get some larger cards and maybe get a better image of the sun on the ball. 

A worthy and interesting attempt with an intriguing patter, but just misses the mark.

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The original version of this effect was invented by the genius Robert Harbin c. 1946 as Dippy Magnet. The Dutch Micro Magic master, Eddy Taytelbaum, created a stunning version which earned him third place at the 1961 FISM Close-Up/Card Competition.  Another beautiful version was built by Carl Williams in the Okito-Williams style.

This version by Georges Proust though not as pretty as Carl’s is still very well made and is a lot cheaper and more practical to actually perform.  There are five routines included and some interesting ideas that I’m sure you will find one to use and perform.

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Here is another item offered through Howard Schwarzman’s Limited Editions Magic line created by Magiro.  It was originally released by Eckhard Boettcher as Mentale Zauberstäbchen.  It uses the same method that was used by Viking’s Trans-Mental c. 1988.  However, I spoke to George Robinson and he has never seen Magiro’s version, instead he came up with the idea from an old Brema effect called Coin Divination.  Viking’s version is certainly a more superior product, but they both work well.

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This is Vincenzo Di Fatta version of Mike Shelley’s and Morty Rudnick’s Zig Zag Card Outdone. Even though it came out 21 years later it is not more deceptive.  The plastic manufacture makes it more durable and solid, but it is about twice as thick as the original and it is easier to flash things if you don’t keep the unit straight on.  It is still a great illusion, but I just think the original is better.

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