This electrically powered automaton shows a Davenport Demon levitating a playing card. When found in a storeroom, the automaton was not in working order. Cambridge magician and engineer Tony Middleton did a great job repairing it and upgrading it to get it back into reliable working order. The original age of the automaton is probably mid-20th century. We do not know if the automaton was ever on display at Davenports shop. See also N869.
Click on Details if you would like to download a PDF of this e-news.
E-newsletters like this one are sent out four times a year, highlighting recent additions to the website. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please contact the curator. The March 2024 issue included:
– A film clip of Gus Davenport performing The Three Shell Game in 1936.
– Zauber Burgen (Magic Castles).
– Devant, Maskelyne and the Crispin Family.
– Magic sets.
– Cecil Lyle’s Chocolate Box Illusion – now on film.
– Demon Series printed silks.
To see all the other e-news, click on Website e-news.
As 12 silks are produced from a Ghost Tube, each one is shown illustrating an amusing story. The patter story is by Norman Hunter. The advertisement for the trick in the first Demon Telegraph dated Augst 1933 tells us that ‘These special DEMON SILKS are beautifully printed on best quality silk and in four or five colours. Each one is a real work of art.’ All of the silks and Norman Hunter’s patter may be seen in the PDF. Although the illustration in the Demon Telegraph shows a Fireman, and the patter (see the PDF) mentions a Fireman, this set of silks contains a Scotsman rather than a Fireman. More interestingly, the Scotsman silk and the Jelly silks have different borders to the other silks and look very much like Harry Leat silks. It is tempting to think that Davenports ran out of the advertised silks and replaced them with Leat silks.
Davenports put these silks on the market in the 1930s and they very quickly became popular. The designs were also produced as 18 inch square silks. To see the range of silks view the PDF by clicking View Details below.
Davenports put these silks on the market in the 1930s and they very quickly became popular. Some of the designs were also produced as 36 inch square silks. To see the range of designs view the PDF by clicking View Details below.
The figure moves its arms, eyes, eyebrows and mouth. The index finger on the right hand taps the window pane to attract the attention of passers-by. One day a policeman came into Davenports shop requesting that the figure was unplugged because so many people had gathered on the pavement that it was causing an obstruction. For more information visit Item N62.
In addition to the Davenport Demon featured on the card case, the Joker and Ace of Spades also feature special Davenport designs. The card case differs from that in Item N3264.
The owner of this pack can perform a wide range of card tricks. In addition to the Davenport Demon featured on the card case, the Joker and Ace of Spades also feature special Davenport designs. Complete with Davenport instructions.
In addition to the Davenport Demon featured on the card case, the Joker and Ace of Spades also feature special Davenport designs. These packs were imported from the USA, as can be confirmed by the ‘Imported Playing Card – Duty Paid’ wrappers that are still on some of the packs. The card case differs from that in Item N3266.
The performer riffles the pack to show the spectator that all the cards are different. As the cards are riffled again, the spectator says STOP and takes a card. The performer is now able to name that card without looking at it. Magicians call this a Svengali pack. The card box has the Davenport Demon trademark on it. Complete with instructions which are printed on blue paper. This suggests that the trick was made when there were shortages of paper because of WW2. Like many companies at the time, Davenports had to make use of whatever paper was available.
This idea by Allan Lambie was sold by Davenports with instructions copyright L. Davenport & Co. They also called it The Invisible Birth of a Flower. The effect is that a length of ribbon about three feet long attached to a circular tag is shown freely. Then instantly, without covering in any way, it transforms itself into a flower which the performer places in his button-hole.
This Demon Series trick involves a book of pocket matches, each match bearing the name of a card. The trick was invented by American magician Mihlon Clayton. The advertisement is also illustrated here. Unfortunately we have not discovered the detailed routine or the instructions. The search continues but, if you know, please contact the Curator.