Greg

Powell Packs a Punch

I’ve never been let down by Mr. Powell’s effects and this lovely piece is no exception.

The effect is not new, but the method is. Or sort of. It actually combines several old ideas into a new design. But how come? And that is why I’m giving this review 4 stars instead of 5. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT regretful for purchasing this. I love it. The quality is top notch, and the design is unique. This box can play in a variety of settings. I just question why Mr. Powell put so much effort into fixing something that may not have been broken.

Let me go into detail without letting on too much. This box looks like a Lippincott box, feels like a Lippincott box, delivers the same effect as a Lippincott box, but doesn’t function like one. This probably will fool your magician friends at your IBM meetings, but laymen, who probably could never figure out a traditional Lippincott Box, will never know the difference. It is devious, and the secret – to those who aren’t familiar with its workings – is undetectable. But is it necessary?

A gentleman by the name of Joe Porper also recreated the Lippincott box with his ingenious Strong Box. It was brilliant in design and construction, and in some ways – due to its added weight and design – functioned a bit quicker than a standard wood box. Dave Powell’s beautiful Antique Pill Box also brings some new ideas to the table. But did either of them NEED to be made? I guess you can argue that it’s human nature to improve upon our past accomplishments. The classic Linking Rings effect for example, has been redesigned to include a practically seamless, locking key ring. A lot of magician’s love this update. So, maybe I’m just being too analytical.

Let me close this already long review with this…if you are a collector, and love Dave Powell’s creations as much as I do…buy this. If you are a professional, or casual performer who appreciates quality, and can afford this piece…buy it. If you are an amateur, or beginning magician who can’t spend the money for a top shelf effect…don’t buy this, there are much less costly options.

Myself? I’m a hybrid. I am an amateur magician and an avid collector who has a habit of buying beautiful, hand-crafted magic, created by artisans who have pride in their work

I am not disappointed.

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Proof Positive

If any collectors still have doubts whether Magic Wagon are modern masters in the art of apparatus crafting, this effect should destroy those doubts. The Mod Quad Penetration is "without a doubt," absolutely stunning in construction and effect. What Magic Wagon has done again, is taken an old dog and taught it a new trick. Or, in clearer terms, they’ve taken a good old trick, redesigned and reengineered it, and transformed it into a great illusion.

Let’s begin with the construction … quality all the way. From the meticulous fitting and finishing, to the hardware selection, and decision to use real glass verses plexi, Magic Wagon is even proud of themselves with this piece (they pat themselves on the back in the instructions). I love the weight and size of this piece. It is heavy enough to be serious, but not so large as to be cumbersome. The engineering is magnificent as well, with the secret mechanism operating smoothly and predictably. Much improved from older models.

I also love the design. Magic Wagon has a knack for creating mysterious and mystical looking props that don’t make excuses. They are magic props, plain and simple. When you perform with them you need a story to accompany your presentation, since the item at hand is clearly not an everyday object. And that’s okay. These creations deserve special attention. The Mod Quad Penetration is a cross between an archaic artifact and a victorian science experiment. It is clearly not modern, but it begs to be explored.

Now let’s discuss the effect. This one will leave them stunned. Basically, you offer a solid sheet of glass divided into quadrants. You cover each side with a magnetic panel, and the spectator can name a quadrant they would like to have "penetrated." You can demonstrate it yourself, or give the spectator a chance. Magic Wagon suggests a sucker type of demonstration, but it’s really up to you. If performed properly there is simply no rational explanation for how this "experiment" can work. And, the ease of operation and usable size make this penetration very easy to operate. You can really concentrate on getting the most out of each phase of the presentation as described in the instructions, or embellish and improvise to suit your style. In the end, all four sections of the glass are penetrated by individual ribbons leaving the spectator with no idea, hunch, hint, notion, clue, or inkling on how you performed this ingenious demonstration.

This is classic magic the way it was meant to be. Well designed, well made, and very, very, well done.

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Plays Big

Why oh why do I doubt Wayne Dobson? Often I read a description to one of his effects and dismiss it because it seems too simple. Then, I come back and read it again, and realize…simple is okay as long as the magic is good. And Wayne’s magic is good.

"Startling" is really good. So simple to perform that you can take this effect and play it up with a lot of different story angles about old game pieces from your childhood, letters that fell off an old plaque or trophy…it’s wide open.

Small effects that pack a big punch don’t come around that often. Get them while you can.

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Not Just Another Box

Mel Babcock. What a gift to magic he is. So many bad Lippincott Boxes have been produced that I forgot how effective this prop can be. Mel’s jumbo version is a pure delight. It looks great and works great…plus it is built like a tank like all of his pieces. That’s why I like Mel’s props. They’re not just built for collectors, they’re built for workers. You can’t go wrong.

Mel isn’t the most prolific craftsman, but he still continues to be one of the best. When he picks an effect to produce you know it will be magical on many different levels.

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The Trickery Has Done it Again!

Thank God the magic community has a company like The Trickery to keep quality magic alive. Howard Baltus, The Trickery’s founder, has always had an appreciation for well-crafted apparatus, and has gone out of his way to make it available to his customers by either hunting it down or having it created himself. His work with Bob Solari under the Definitive Magic banner yielded some of the most unique, and quality-driven effects the industry has seen in a long time.

The Trickery’s latest effort in this vein is the Definitive Atomic Ball. They have produced several versions of this effect in the past, but all pale in comparison to this version created in partnership with Magic Wagon of Thailand. For the life of me I can’t understand why there isn’t more of a buzz about the work this company is doing. The quality and attention that they are putting into their effects are really second-to-none. I would compare them to other craftsmen, but that really isn’t fair since Magic Wagon’s products utilize materials and production methods I’ve never really seen before in magic manufacturing. Even contemporary producers like Dave Powell, RNT II, and Colin Rose aren’t experimenting with the techniques and materials that Magic Wagon is employing. But I digress.

The Definitive Atomic Ball is outstanding in every way. The effect is quick but baffling and the construction of this version is impeccable. You will love handling this, displaying this, but most of all performing this.

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Rich Magic

If only making money were this easy. Making magic certainly is. This trick simply looks like real magic. Even if you’re performing for yourself in front of a mirror, it will fool you.

Viking pulled out the stops on this one and did a great job of emulating the original prop. The piece really feels like something both utilitarian and magical, as if you actually did own a magical money maker. Is there a down side? Yes. It’s a one shot trick that will need quite a bit of story telling to turn into more than just a novelty effect. But with some creativity, it could be used in conjunction with other money magic as a strong opener or closer.

The Delben Blotter is not inexpensive, but it’s worth it. In this case you have to spend money to make money.

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Something to Talk About

Did you ever want to be able to present an effect that will leave people with something to talk about? This is that effect.

Dean’s Box is simply a box, which is why it is so provocative. Its simplicity is its greatest strength. The design of the box, the finish of the box, even the size of the box all coalesce into a kind of magic Gestalt that becomes almost mystical. You have to witness a performance to believe it.

I liken this effect to a spirit cabinet. The performer presents a container but never explains what’s inside. He proceeds to take two ordinary ropes…and they are…and place them into each end of the cabinet and out through the top. For a moment he covers them. When he releases them they are linked. He does this once more under even more impossible conditions and they join again. As a climax a solid brass ring is introduced…and it is solid. One of the two ropes is freely chosen and thread through the holes in the box. The ring is thrown inside. When the front of the box is opened the ring is now on the rope. Solid through solid, not once, not twice, but three times under ever increasingly impossible conditions.

Are spirits at work, or just great magic? That’s the beauty of Dean’s Box, it can be presented either way. This effect may seem like just a box, but it contains so much more. It won’t leave them talking, it will leave them speechless.

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Solid Magic

Don’t presume that you know how this effect works. The trick is familiar but the method is not.

I’m a big fan of Joe Porper’s craftsmanship and creativity, but have steered away from some of his more ambitious efforts due to their prices. This was an exception however, after I saw a dealer demonstrate this effect at a recent convention. He used it as a typical ring box, but the effect was amplified ten fold due to the solid metal construction of the container. That sturdiness coupled with the fact that the dealer allowed me to examine it afterward, sold me on the box. It simply didn’t operate in the same way as other ring boxes did. I couldn’t figure it out.

You’ll love this prop. Use it like a ring box, or follow the excellent Poor Man’s Safe routine that it comes with. Either way, you’ll have an unusual box with an uncommon secret, that will enable you to perform some extraordinary effects.

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Instant Classic

Maybe I’m going out on a limb here, but it seems to me that we are seeing Magic Wagon become one of the classic magic manufacturers of our age. They don’t seem to miss a beat when it comes to creating timeless, first-rate effects in both quality and concept.

The Chao Phraya Chest is another release from Magic Wagon that defies description regarding the effort that went into creating this piece. The effect is a simple coin to impossible location, but the method is seamless and flawless, and the chest is a work of art. Your audience will feel special just looking at the wonderful workmanship and finish. I shouldn’t go on too much about the craftsmanship for fear of overshadowing the effect…which is excellent. Because you don’t need to concentrate on loading the signed coin since the operation is so easy, you can put your energy where it should be…into your performance. And the beauty of the box lends itself to creating a story about its history and how you acquired it. It is just too beautiful not to talk about.

Buy this effect. Use this effect. Enjoy this effect…your audience definitely will.

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And the Winner is…

The winner is you…if you own this effect from Magic Wagon. I honestly don’t know how this company can turn out such uncompromised quality, time after time, and still continue to beat their customers’ expectations.
Every magician knows this effect. It’s been produced over the years by dozens of reputable magic manufacturers with stunning results. And then came Magic Wagon, sneaking onto the scene with nary a whisper, only to stun us all with their mind-blowing devotion to producing winner after winner in the realm of beautiful magic props. Somebody stop these guys already before I need a third mortgage. With the Square Tubes of Pekka they took an "oldy but a goody," and turned it into an "oldy but a masterpiece."
Those descriptions are simply based on appearance. The handling is equally as favorable. The black art is believable, the load area is substantial, and the finish…aside from being attractive, is easy to grip and work with. When you see this piece…and feel it…you’ll be torn on whether to collect it, perform it, or hide it so no one else can have it except you. It is absolutely dazzling.

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