The Davenport Collection
- a growing resource on magic and entertainment history

Davenports

Demon Safety Pin and Rod

Demon Safety Pin and Rod

The performer gives for inspection a safety pin and a wooden rod with a hole in the centre. The pin is pushed through the hole and fastened. The rod is then moved so that one side is underneath the other arm of the pin. Instantaneously, the rod is made to appear to penetrate the arm of the safety pin. The effect is quite startling. Also illustrated here is an early Davenport advertisement for this trick in two sizes: Pintrix Small for 4d and Pintrix Large for 6d. Note that the rod has DEMON SERIES L.D. LONDON FOREIGN on it. The rods would have been imported from Germany. See N3000 for a larger version of this trick.

Demon Pea House

Demon Pea House

This is a version of the old ‘pea house’ trick. The magician shows a small wooden ‘house’ and a dried pea. The pea is dropped into a hole in the house. When the magician turns the house over, the pea doesn’t drop out. To finish the trick, a second pea is placed on your palm to lure the pea from the house. This time the educated and home-loving pea does drop out of the house to join the pea in your palm. Complete with instructions copyright Lewis Davenport Limited. This example comes from 1994.

Adam’s Pea Trick

Adam’s Pea Trick

This well made trick in brass is really a catch – mystifying, amusing and saucy. The performer shows a natural coloured pea and three coloured ones. The performer turns round and one pea is chosen and dropped into the tube while it is held behind the performer’s back. No matter which colour is chosen, it is always the ‘natural’ pea that trickles out from the tube. Supplied by Davenports with instructions in a smart box.

Demon Safety Pin and Rod

Demon Safety Pin and Rod

The performer gives for inspection a large safety pin and a wooden rod with a hole in the centre. The pin is pushed through the hole and fastened. The rod is then moved so that one side is underneath the other arm of the pin. Instantaneously, the rod is made to appear to penetrate the arm of the safety pin. The effect is quite startling. Davenports were still selling these rods and pins in the 1990s, complete with instructions. Also illustrated here is an early Davenport advertisement for this trick in two sizes: Pintrix Small for 4d and Pintrix Large for 6d. Note that the rod has DEMON SERIES L.D. LONDON FOREIGN on it. The rods would have been imported from Germany. This particular example and instructions came from Davenports in 1994. See N3010 for a smaller version of this trick.

Davenport’s Comedy Break-up Pistol

Davenport’s Comedy Break-up Pistol

When the pistol is fired the barrel breaks up and droops in a most absurd way. Note that a Davenport demon head and the word DEMON are stamped into the wooden grip. Advertised by Davenports for 15/6d.

Ali’s Eyeful a gem of a gag

Ali’s Eyeful a gem of a gag

Although this is just a gag, it can be used in many ways, including having some fun with a magic tricks. For example, a magician could put a card face down on the table and say “We must keep an EYE on that card”. The eye comes with a whole host of printed ideas for its use, copyright by L. Davenport & Co., London. Television and American Rights Reserved. Also illustrated here is the Davenports advertisement.

Cricket Bat Trick

Cricket Bat Trick

This clever little trick is of the paddle variety. When you place a small wooden peg through one of the holes in the bat, it magically jumps to another hole. According to Davenports instructions, this trick was made in Germany in 1938 and there is no reason to disbelieve this. Bats like this one were still being sold by Davenports in the 1990s. This particular bat, with photocopied instructions, comes from 1994.

The New Demon Wand Rattle Bars

The New Demon Wand Rattle Bars

The three miniature wands are shown. Two of them are solid and the third rattles when you shake it. The performer puts the three wands on the table and slowly moves them around, inviting the audience to guess the position of the rattling wand. Whatever position they guess, they are always wrong. The performer can also demonstrate the trick so that the audience always guesses correctly. The trick comes complete with instructions and was sold in one of Davenports distinctive gold boxes.

The “Red Hot” Ball

The “Red Hot” Ball

This item is complete with instructions from the Magical Department of A.W. Gamage Ltd, Holborn, London. The illustrated Davenports advertisement reads: ‘A heavy brass ball is shown and given to spectator to hold. In a few seconds he is seen passing ball from hand to hand, causing roars of laughter. At last ball gets so hot he is obliged to drop it on the floor!!!’ We are told that the ball is quite simple to use and there is no chance of failure. If performed today, you would almost certainly be in trouble with health and safety legislation, assuming you were able to even buy the required chemicals. Not recommended for the modern performer! Note the fact that the advertisement misleadingly shows a large ball sitting on the magician’s hand. In reality it is 55mm in diameter.

The Obedient Ball

The Obedient Ball

The ball runs freely on the cord when the cord is held vertically. However, the magician can make the ball stop at any point along the cord called out by the audience. The label on the box lid includes the letters L. and D. for Lewis Davenport. A label on the bottom of the box says ‘A.W. Gamage Ltd, Holborn, London’, so this trick would have been supplied to Gamages by Davenports. Gamages was a major customer for Davenports wholesale business.

Davenport Collection website e-news #15, September 2022

Davenport Collection website e-news #15, September 2022

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 September 2022 issue included:
– three seldom seen tricks.
– a little known Davenport shop.
– two jokes for your drinking and card playing friends.
– Jimmy’s Magic Pencil.
– magicians and their families
– noise-making novelties.

To see all the other e-news, click on Website e-news.