Andy Martin

The Plug Box is one of my favorite brass devices.  This one from Davenports is a smaller size to the Terry Roses one and is in fact designed differently as you will see from my video. This one is easier to use and you don’t have to steal anything away, which is a nice plus. Having the top unscrew is also a great touch as it allows you to perform a three phase routine where one coin changes to another and then finally to something else.

This box is designed for about 23.5mm sized coins but not USA half dollars or even quarters. You also have to be careful of the thickness of the items you choose, but many foreign coins work fine. I chose a German 1 DM piece (which is perfect), an English threepence piece, and some gold sprinkles as the finale.

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Blasted was by created by Bob Swadling and sold by Harry Stanley c. 1964. And it quickly became a hit around the world! Originally it was called The Swadling Swindle but it’s name changed to Blasted when it was marketed in the USA.

What I really like about this is if you perform it described in the instructions there are zero sleights.  It looks very effective and you just follow my video and you’ll wow them all. No funny moves at all – watch closely and be amazed 🙂

This version is larger than the standard one released by both Bob and Tannen’s so I am not sure who released it.  I have included the Tannen’s instructions.  I like this one because of the green felt on the tray avoids the slight risk of the coin jumping too high and exposing the gimmick, which doesn’t happen very often but it can happen.

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What a beautiful set of coin cups these are from Inzani-Henley made in Italy out of quality leather. They look amazing 🙂

Also included are two sets of four foreign coins (of different sizes), made from nickel-plated copper so that they can be attracted by the cups without special shims as is often required.

Ken Brookes included routines are detailed and although the moves are not knuckle busting they will take you some time to understand and practice the moves (so no Speed Demos from me this time …).

If you can find a copy of Doug Brewer’s The Modern Coin Cup you’ll find plenty of ideas for these cups.

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This is a well made effect from Tricks Co. that is easy to do and very visual.

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This effect uses the exact same method and a very similar gimmick to Richard Himber’s Solid Gold Gimmick marketed by Richard Himber c. 1957.

Although there is no credit to Himber (which is always sad to see) Dr. Schwartz’s version does work very well and if you are one of the many who does not own the original Himber version (since there were only 100 created) this will work perfectly well in it’s place.

There is a lot to like about this method and effect.  It is easy to do and looks very good from the spectator’s view.  The mechanism is quiet and although you certainly cannot be surrounded the angles are great from the front.  The fact that you can hand the deck to be shuffled at the beginning and handed out at the end really is a great advantage.  There are also no electronics to recharge.

Although I’m still a Devano type of guy I could see this being a useful if you really want a clean, hands off close-up rising cards.

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Fifth times a charm? Not for me 🙁

So here is yet another version of the T.A. Waters’ amazing Box Office which has been recreated so many times it is hard to keep up.

Magic Wagon themselves have now produced five different versions of this effect. For this version they have changed the internal mechanism quite drastically. As a result you no longer require a paper clip attached to the predictions, and the prediction is seen roughly in the center of the box.

However, for me, these are only things magicians even think about, and I prefer the simpler classic mechanism.  I found this new method a little more finicky and the change does not seem like progress.  The box looks amazing and it will look great in your collection.  But if I was going to perform this effect I would use Mind Paintings II or preferably my custom version here which I feel are both superior to this version.

Magic Wagon’s other versions of Box Office:

• Mental Safari
• Mental Safari Deluxe
• Mind Paintings
• Mind Paintings II
• Egyptian Prediction Chest

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I first purchased this beautiful close-up performance area in 2002 and loved it. Unfortunately, I was forced to sell it a year later 🙁

Luckily in 2021 I was able to purchase it back from the same person who bought it from me. The good news is it was exactly the same complete with my original initials “ARM” neatly stamped on the rear, and it looks perfect in the Porcupine 🙂

I will not replace my standard Gig Rig table but I’m sure there will be a time when it will be just what I’m looking for.

When you see this baby, your heart melts. It is bigger than you would expect, and provides a perfect working surface for performing. It also has plenty of room inside to store cards, coins, and everything magical. Even above the mirror there is space for cards and other small items. Also the door that folds down has felt on it to layout cards.

Arlen Studios advertise themselves as Magic Handcrafted by Magicians for Magicians. Well this was clearly thought out by a magician. Very strongly recommended.

Wonderful finish, very solid. This box is not overpriced at all. I wish the photos could do justice to it.

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This is one of the best items that Mikame Craft ever made. Heavier and more substantial than many of their other wooden items and beautifully made in natural Japanese Oak.  It is also more practical than the striking Criterion  Demo Table from Collectors’ Workshop, and looks as good or better.

The “demonstration table” is not designed for table hopping like their MC Hopping Table though at first glance it looks similar. This is designed to sit in once place on your table for formal close-up and/or dealer demonstrations.  It has storage for lots of close-up items beneath it, and coin and card sneaks on the backside. It also has a larger shiner to get glimpses of cards.

It really looks beautiful 🙂

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This is a beautifully made teak prediction box from Magic Wagon.  The prediction method is well hidden and quite devious.  However, I’m not sure predicting a card is what I would use this box for – there are already so many ways to predict chosen cards already.  A better usage would be to predict something much less expected.

One example would be to load up the box with letters or shapes or icons and have a spectator choose (say) 3 different symbols. Then use that as your prediction. That would be a lot stronger and not really any harder to perform.  It might take some research online to find the correct shapes or symbols but I think the effort would be worth it to turn this into the miracle it could be.

Just a shame to have such a big and beautiful box to reveal a chosen or thought of card 🙁

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A great version of Magiro’s Spirit Dice from Anthony Yap and Retro Rocketeers. What I particularly like about it is Anthony has made it look and work better than the original without going over the top.

Magic Wagon, who are no stranger to reproducing Magiro’s items, often go a little too far and ruin the effect.  So their version of Spirit Dice, called Devil’s Dice is a great looking item which does work well, but now you have this big box which certainly takes away from the simplicity of the original idea.  I know collector’s like their wooden boxes, who doesn’t, but it should not be at the cost of the actual effect.

What I believe that Anthony has done is create something that is still more interesting to collector’s but is not so ornate it detracts from the actual effect itself.  This version is simple and clean with bold dice and works and looks perfect.

Great job Anthony 🙂

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