George Guerra

My Favorite Chop Cup!

I have owned this gorgeous chop cup for a long time, but never put it up on Andy’s site. I am surprised as it’s my favorite chop cup in all my collection. Howard Hale did an incredible job segmenting the various exotic woods that make up this cup. First is a dark red African Padauk that is half of the cup, followed by a narrow band of Zebrawood, and, finally, American Red Oak. Each wood is separated by a total of three beaded bands of Wenge, the last making the lip of the cup. The blend is an incredible display of varying colors and grain patterns.

Howard made an accompanying wand with the same woods in the shape of a large chop stick…very distinctive. Overall, the set is a true beauty to behold and perfect craftsmanship noted throughout. It’s too bad he is no longer in the business of making magic…it was great quality magic that will be definitely missed.

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Turned Magical Art Beyond Comparison

Can a magical apparatus leave you speechless on first sight? Very few are that good. I have always been an admirer of apparatus built from fine exotic woods. There is just something about the color, grain, and feel of wood in an apparatus with magical qualities. Two people come to mind in this category…Mel Babcock and Alan Warner. Now, take a big step towards Art worthy in a collection of any fine art gallery or museum and these vases from Five of Hearts Magic take center stage. The artists behind these unbelievable vases are Colin Rose and Paul Coker.

The Cameroon Collection is a new series to be available later this year with its hallmark being that all its pieces will be turned from the finest African Padauk. This Ball Vase stands 7 inches and is the First Issue Ball Vase in this Collection…a gesture from Sharron Rose, Colin’s wife, after a query I sent her a few weeks ago. She responded by moving forward the plan to add this vase to the Cameroon Collection, which already had released a chop cup and set of cups & balls with matching wand. The vase is so gorgeous and flawless, I have no words to describe my enthusiasm when I first saw it. The base has an Ebony hallmark with a five of hearts playing card engraved on it…beautiful!

As can be seen I have become a avid fan of this company’s products. The pictures, I can assure you, only give you a "glimpse" of the quality craftsmanship that goes into these vases.

Most highly recommended…wood magic just doesn’t get any better.

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This Outhouse is the IN thing!

I have followed Chance’s magic since he opened up shop, but never dived into his Wacky children effects because of the size and lack of interest in children’s magic. Well, I have learned that children’s magic can be quite entertaining to an adult audience. The routine is often a complete show in itself with a comical story to back it up…it always brings a big smile, and a chuckle, just imagining the presentation in your head when you read the instructions.

The new Wacky Micro-magic line is a beauty consisting of tiny, very colorful, entertaining, and well built props. This new Mini Outhouse is, simply, adorable! It captures most, if not all, of its big brother’s features…actually the "hole" seat in the Mini is more consistant with a real outhouse than the flushing toilet in the big model, but that’s such a minor issue.

This is an all wood construction with a "rustic", but very appropriate, look..hey, have you ever seen an outhouse with the looks of a Frank Lloyd Wright design and built 😉 The workmanship is superb and everything functions well. It has been an honor to add these new Wacky Micro-Magic items to my collection. Will definitely look forward to more from this builder…thanks, Chance!

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The Wonders of Egypt – Warner Style

This boxed collection is a fantastic follow-up to the Millennium Collection released for the year 2000. This time the occasion is the celebration of Alan’s 70th birthday. This is definitely his most involved project and most expensive release to date, but what a final product! The craftsmanship is, as usual, impeccable. Alan really outdid himself with conveying an Egyptian theme to the entire Collection. The box itself is gorgeous, especially with what he did with the Horus Falcon on the lid. You can tell he spent a great deal on time on every single piece in that collection.

You need to see this to believe it, so…for more details and images visit my SITE

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What can I say that hasn’t been said or will be said

Note: Due to the high demand of this product there may be a waiting period…this says it quite well and there hasn’t been any broad media advertisement from Dean to date that I am aware. I was speechless when I finally received my Dean’s Triangle. I told someone who asked me about this item, "if I had to sell my collection and keep only a few pieces, Dean’s Triangle would be a keeper".

It’s that good (or great!), but, then, there is Doug Malloy manufacturing the Triangle table, Joe Porper supplying the leather storage case, Jamie Schoolcraft machining the beautiful special gaffs, and, of course, Dean Dill putting all this together into, simply, an amazing magical masterpiece. The quality of the props is undescribeable…you just have to see it in person to appreciate it. The routine is bewildering and not that difficult to master. I have never been this enthusiastic about coin magic, other than U3F.

This is the first Dean effect I have ever owned and what a beginning…I will clearly be watching all his future releases, not to mention, re-evaluate his current stuff.

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Great Mini-magic, Babcock style

It just great that Mel offers some of his magic in various sizes to please one’s taste. Since my interest in the mini-magic of Alan Warner began, I have looked at other builders for these little cuties. I have been fortunate to get three from Mel in mini size with the Mini ABC Blocks being a real treat. Using exotic woods, combined with a reputation for both wood and metal working skills, Mel sure delivers and he, particularly, did a flawless job on all my mini sized pieces.

Mel used a highly grained and beautiful Bocote wood on my ABC Blocks and the workmanship is superb. If you get his "Ultimate ABC", as I did, you also get the matching open box to have the middle block visibly and instantly reappear to complete the routine. The appearance of that "B" block is startling to see. The effect is a classic and you have a choice from his "Giant" with 4 inch blocks to the "Mini" with the 1 1/4 inch blocks…Most Highly Recommended!

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Great Mini-magic, Babcock style

It just great that Mel offers some of his magic in various sizes to please one’s taste. Since my interest in the mini-magic of Alan Warner began, I have looked at other builders for these little cuties. I have been fortunate to get three from Mel in mini size with the Mini ABC Blocks being a real treat. Using exotic woods, combined with a reputation for both wood and metal working skills, Mel sure delivers and he, particularly, did a flawless job on all my mini sized pieces.

Mel used a highly grained and beautiful Bocote wood on my ABC Blocks and the workmanship is superb. If you get his "Ultimate ABC", as I did, you also get the matching open box to have the middle block visibly and instantly reappear to complete the routine. The appearance of that "B" block is startling to see. The effect is a classic and you have a choice from his "Giant" with 4 inch blocks to the "Mini" with the 1 1/4 inch blocks…Most Highly Recommended!

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Schwarzman’s paddle treat…a lucky find!

I love paddles and this one is a prized one. Beautifully crafted and imported by Howard Schwarzman in the late 1980’s (instruction copyright is dated 1988). The seller told me that Howard had informed him only a half dozen were sold, so it seems it is also quite rare. The Oriental diamond design on the lid of the box is actually two wood veneer overlays. This is an all wood construction, including the chips and finished with a smooth clear coating. Superb craftsmanship throughout, for an import!

The effect has a lengthy Chinese gambling theme. Single colored chips double magically, and then change into various colors. Money doubles and a decorative writing grandly appears on the paddle to end the routine. The paddle measures 4 3/4 inches by 1 1/4 inch. The decorative box housing the entire set measures 5 3/4 inches by 2 inches.

Overall, this is truly a gorgeous paddle that is a treasure in my collection. Don’t recall how much I paid for it, but after seeing it, I would have gladly had paid much more.

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Should frame and hang up the mechanics as Art!

The Coins Thru Glass…what can I say about this timeless classic. I have an original Kline Copenetro. I love the nicely turned wood base and it’s simplicity, but always had a soft spot for fancy mechanical marvels. Add to the intricate clever mechanics beautifully finished hardwoods, gleaming brass and copper components, and you have a true work of Art. As the title of my review states, this is the one single piece in my entire collection that could be hanged as Art and just be admired on that merit alone. I guess you just have to see this apparatus to know what I am talking about.

I do own one of the first mechanical version of Silver Odyssey with the oval tray, but the electronic version I just acquired from George Robinson is breathtaking. He has certainly kept, if not surpassed, the strength and quality of the CW line. As Andy did point out in his review, the one issue with this piece is the failure to provide an impressive vanish for the coins. I have been thinking of a Lassen 4 nested 1964 Kennedy gaff with the last vanish using a Devil’s hanky that’s been conveniently draped over the glass for the initial 2-3 coin appearances… will see.

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Great Undiscovered Craftsmanship

This is one absolutely gorgeous woodturned Pillbox and an upcoming stardom for Angelo Iafrate of Majic Brand. 2006 is the first serious year for this experienced woodworker turned magic builder and, if this Pillbox is any indication of his skills, you are looking at the next all wood magic collectible. His work is now serially numbered, mine being #24.

It’s hefty in weight…lots of good exotic wood is used and the finish is so smooth to the touch. Exotic rare woods – Brazilian Rosewood, Macassar Ebony, and Gabon Ebony – make up this piece and all the components fit perfectly with incredible close tolerance. The amazing thing is that there are three unsold Majic Pillboxes on Ron Allesi’s auction site…unbelievable, but, then Angelo is an "unknown". But…this was also true of Richard Gerlitz 5-6 years ago and Alan Warner back in 1972.

This is one of those "looks much better up front and close than any photos can convey" item. For the added personal touch, the simple, but convenient, white storage tube for the Pillbox has a customized label, with even a photo of the Pillbox on it…nice! I will definitely be following this newcomer on the magic collectible scene. Now, if Angelo would expand his skills to other wood based magic apparatus, we would be looking at the next Mel Babcock.

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