Look here for magic apparatus, magic sets and magic related items such as association pieces, trophies and badges for clubs.
The Davenport family used the name Maskelyne’s Mysteries for their range of magic sets following their purchase of the Maskelyne’s business assets in 1935. This filled box is from around the 1950s, but the box itself with gold edging to the compartments may well be pre-war.
The Davenport family used the name Maskelyne’s Mysteries for their range of magic sets following their purchase of the Maskelyne’s business assets in 1935. This filled box is from around the 1950s, but the box itself with gold edging to the compartments may well be pre-war. The box was probably one sold by Goldstons, the wholesale arm of Davenports run by Gus Davenport.
Gus Davenport would have received this during Russian Convoy days in WW2 when serving on HMS Keppel in the Royal Navy.
Second world war identification belonging to Gus Davenport who was a Supply Assistant in the Royal Navy. Gus did a large number of shows during the war, leaning on Davenports magic shop to provide a never ending supply of new material. His entertainment efforts were recognised by his colleagues in a gift of a silver cigarette case, Ref. no. N304.
Second world war identification tag belonging to Gus Davenport who was a Supply Assistant in the Royal Navy. Gus did a large number of shows during the war, leaning on Davenports magic shop to provide a never ending supply of new material. His entertainment efforts were recognised by his colleagues in a gift of a silver cigarette case, Ref. no. N304.
The magician hands out the card houlette to be examined and then gets three cards selected by the audience. The cards are placed back into the pack which is placed in the houlette on the end of the wand. The magician then makes the cards rise one at a time. The houlette and wand come apart so that the houlette can be examined by the audience.
Unfortunately this box had no contents, but in Davenports Christmas 1933 Demon Telegraph magazine the box was advertised as ‘Box of Cigarette Magic’. The price was two shillings and sixpence.
The magician challenges the audience to spot the cup under which the cork is hidden. At the finish the magician lifts a cup and produces from underneath it a large cork which fills the cup. The cups are stamped DEMON. Unfortunately the stand which was sold with the trick is missing.
The magician is able to produce a selected picture or card within this previously empty frame. The design of this frame is not like the usual version used by magicians.
The magician makes a prediction. Two dice are dropped into the mouth of the vase and shaken up. When the top is removed, and the audience shown which numbers have come up, the magician’s prediction turns out to be correct.
The magician makes a fire in the pan. When the lid is removed a duck or a number of birds have appeared inside. In the opinion of some knowledgeable collectors, the duck pan was made by Bartl in Germany.
The bars are mixed up and the spectator attempts to follow the bar that rattles. Whichever bar the spectator picks up, it does not rattle. However, the magician can pick up any bar and it rattles. Unusually, any spectator who is in on the secret can also make any bar rattle, or not, at will.