Greg

Crystal Clear Perfection

I just found my favorite Magic Wagon effect…and that is hard for me to say, since I’ve had dozens of favorites.

I’ve used this, and it delivers seamlessly, every time. I’ve had people examine it, then place their selection in the box with me in another room. I call out the selection… and I am nowhere near the box. It is inexplicable.

I love the design of this piece. It’s exquisite. It looks mysterious, but very special…almost unworldly, and wizardly. It lends itself to dozens of story lines and explanations. The mechanics function perfectly, and signal you in a purposely redundant way…you will not miss the needed clue.

If this piece is a sign of things to come from Magic Wagon, I’m riding along with them.

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Dragon’s Never Looked Better

I really want to meet the team at Magic Wagon, and find out what makes them tick. Effect-after-effect, they keep on exceeding expectations.

I know this little micro-magic gem is based on classic principles, but I’ve never seen the illusion presented with such elegance. The workings are precise, and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Just what you would expect from "the Wagon."

I do agree with Andy Martin’s assessment. I’ve managed to trim several steps from the suggested routine, and still attain the intended effect. But, that’s not a criticism. This piece is as close to perfect as micro-magic can be.

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A Classic Just Got Classier

Mr. Gaynor has a reputation to maintain, and he’s done it here with this re-invention of a classic ESP effect. The method used to divulge the order of the chips (or coins, or other similar objects), is not new. What’s new is the beautiful care put into this version of an old and classic trick.

The craftsmanship is second-to-none, and the workings are as smooth as can be. I wouldn’t have titled it "Aromatic" necessarily, as wood will dry out after awhile, and the aroma will be less-evident. But the dynamic coloring from the premium woods used in this piece make for an impressive, and workable design.

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Beauty in a Box

Drama and elegance, all in one.

I know there are several versions of this basic mental premise on the market now, all reporting to be the next best thing. And while others offer a more hands-off delivery, I can’t imagine them looking as beautiful as this piece.

If you are a fan of Larry Becker, Tony Curtis, and of Magic Wagon, than what are you waiting for? Here is the opportunity to have the best of both world’s… incredible thinking paired with an unyielding dedication to manufactured perfection. We call that a win-win situation.

I remember being blown away by the original Chameleon box, but this version has taken all the good elements of that effect, and made them easier to handle, prettier to look at, and better to work with. This is a utility device on steroids.

Like all Magic Wagon effects, the price may be intimidating at first. But when you get the piece, handle it, work with it…everything clicks into place, and you realize you’ve made the right decision.

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I Predict You’ll Like This

I recently purchased this after seeing it used as a utility prop on some Alakazam DVDs. On those DVDs it’s used as a tool for forcing something to be revealed in a bigger way later on…not as an effect unto itself (although it could be).

The book has a vintage appearance and design – not as aged as an Outlaw-effects piece – but still odd enough to lend itself to some great origin stories. It reports to be from the British Institute of Parapsychology, i.e. B.I.P., and appears to be a testing tool containing words, times, different colored shapes, and random numbers between 10 and 999. Sounds pretty versatile as a forcing device, right? And, it is. This can easily be any mentalist’s go-to tool for an easy, quick force leading to a dramatic reveal.

This is one of those simple tools that can work wonders. Imagine a small, well-made hammer. You can tap with this gently, or swing with this hard. Either way, you’ll make an impression.

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Magical Value

I was hesitant to purchase this effect at first when I saw it on The Trickery’s site, since it seemed less "special" than other Colin Rose effects. By special I mean ornate, as are many of his wood turned vases, cups, etc.

But the premise seemed straight forward – which I liked – and the props did have a simplicity to them that would make a realistic presentation more believable. The props looked like old game fixtures, dice cups from an old board game. So, I went ahead and took the chance.

Boy, I was not disappointed. If anyone can make two simple, unadorned wood containers look better than this, I’d be surprised. They feel like you are holding something special. And the secret is so simple, it defies detection. I haven’t performed this yet, but I feel very confident I can pull this off. Nothing ground-breaking, but done correctly, I can see this being a nice, mid-set effect in a mentalism show.

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Blown Away by the Quality

I just opened mine and without even performing with it, I am blown away by the quality. No surprise, considering The Trickery is driving the bus and Magic Wagon is supplying the bus. That is THE A-Team in my mind. So far, this match up between The Trickery and Magic Wagon has produced only winners.

This gets an A+ for craftsmanship, but I still need to work with it to grade it further. Perfect finish on all surfaces…wood, metal, and interior. Even the weight feels right. It’s elegant, but substantial. Even after purchasing at least 75% of Magic Wagon’s offerings (including The Trickery/Magic Wagon team-ups), I still can’t get over their consistent quality. And, couple that with Howard’s (of The Trickery) devious mind…look out!!!

My one, and only complaint is the same one I have with all the items Magic Wagon produces.. they look so darn good I want to hoard them away rather than use them. And I know, that’s not good. So, I’m going to make myself use this effect. It really does "look" and "act" like a winner. I’m very sure it will perform like one.

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Underrated and Overlooked

I can’t understand why this effect has been around so long and hasn’t received more attention. Maybe that’s good for people like me, who love using this innocent, but devious contraption.

Imagine a box with valuables inside and keys freely… honestly freely… chosen and even traded amongst the audience members. You can be given a key that they select. They can even change their minds mid-way through the performance, and trade their keys, or your key. It doesn’t matter. What does matter… and this is the key difference… is that your key always works. But, you never need to touch the box. Yep. That’s right. Unlike other tricky lock effects where the magician takes the last key and is able to open the lock, this effect is entirely self-working. You always get everything in the box, and you do absolutely nothing.

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Astro Ball Grows Up

I only own small props by Dave Powell, so I didn’t know what to expect from him with an effect this sizable. In Dave’s case, the quality didn’t go down when the size went up.

This reworking of a classic is stunning. First, the construction is what you would expect if you are familiar with Dave’s work. It is created with care using high quality hardware and woods, and the assembly and finish are works of precision.

Second, the design is a vast improvement from this effect’s predecessors both visually and mechanically. Visually, the piece is elegant and mysterious, with no garish designs or decals. It can serve you well as a straight trick, or as more of a bizarre spirit cabinet presentation. Mechanically Dave chose to make a very logical jump from the horizontal cabinet like the Milson Worth version, to a more dramatic, vertical construction. The conversion makes for a more appealing presentation since the emphasis is now on height verses horizontal space. The interior is tighter, which makes the appearance of the ball in the glass seem more impossible.

This is now my favorite Dave Powell effect. I hope he continues to dabble with the parlor-sized pieces, and reworks some other classics. He may be reinventing the wheel, but his wheel is better.

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Simply Magical

I love Mikame magic. Like the effects of Alan Warner, Colin Rose, and Magic Wagon to name a few, Mikame designs pieces for the discerning performer. Beautiful, tasteful props, that aren’t painted with odd, garish spray painted designs. This is classic magic guaranteed to stand the test of time.
Final Penetration is no exception. From a design stand point, it’s outstanding. Simple, elegant, but with a bit of a twist. The stick that the block penetrates has a strange, yet subtle pattern embossed in its surface. It begs for a story to go along with it.
The effect isn’t new…at least not in description. But the method, at least to my knowledge, is freshly applied in this rendition.
Final Penetration is well-made, devilish in engineering, and works perfectly.
Use it. Display it. Or both. Either way you won’t be disappointed.

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