These 40 or so blocks look brand new and it is clear they have not been used to print anything. It seems they must be spare blocks, in case they were needed during the print-run of the book. The images shown here include the halftone blocks for Robert Harbin and Charles Bertram. There is also a PDF which lists all of the magicians included on these blocks and explains how the pages of illustrations were printed.
The magician shows a stand on which is placed a wooden frame which has been shown to break into two across the hole in the centre of the frame. The magician hands out a card for examination and then demonstrates that it fits inside the frame, the hole in the card coinciding with the hole in the frame. The card is placed back on the table. The magician then shows that the glass chimney fits through the hole in the frame, where it is left in position and a silk handkerchief pushed through so that it hangs out from both ends. The magician again picks up the card and pushes it into the top slot in the frame. It should of course come to rest when it hits the top part of the chimney but, with the correct magic word, the card is pushed right through the chimney and handkerchief and down to the bottom of the frame. The apparatus can be shown all around. The final applause comes when the magician removes the top half of the frame and lifts out the card and chimney, showing that the card really is threaded onto the chimney.
With help from Chris Cross and Philip Treece, the inventor of this trick has been identified as Brian Godfrey. In the ‘Demon Telegraph’ of October 1933 (illustrated) the trick is advertised as Brian Godfrey’s PHANTOM PENETRATION. This is the first mention of the trick we have found. The trick makes use of a glass tumbler rather than a glass chimney. A few years later Goldston and Stanyon advertised the trick. In America, the same effect called ‘Improbability’ was sold by the National Magic Company and Sherms. They do not credit the inventor. The trick is written up in ‘Goldston’s Magical Quarterly’ of September 1935. Bob Albo describes the effect in detail in Volume III of his Classic Magic series.
This stamp came into the Davenport Collection when Davenports bought Goldston’s business in the 1940s.
This talk covers new insights into the private and business lives of Goldston. It is based on a study of the Goldston archives within the Davenport Collection as well as new research undertaken by Fergus. The story is a fascinating one, brought to life with many illustrations. The talk starts by solving the mystery of where Goldston was born.
The photographs are of Arthur Margery, Herbert Milton, HRH Princess Mary at Milton’s performance, Robert Harbin, John Mulholland, Arnold Crowther and Leslie Wilson. The artwork appears in the book next to page 37.
This came from Goldston’s shop in Green Street, London.
A half sheet poster which in the bottom left corner has the Will Goldston name and trade mark
This large, full colour advertisement was presumably for display. Dennis F Harle was born in 1920, so this item is probably from the 1940s, or late 1930s at the earliest.
The artwork is signed S.T.C. Weeks. According to the web, Sydney Thomas Charles Weeks (1878-1949) was a painter in oil and watercolour. He was also a successful commercial artist, producing illustrations for magazines and advertising posters. Weeks exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1934-47.
Unknown artist. The artwork was reproduced as part of a large order form for the book ‘Great Magicians Tricks’ collected by Will Goldston, 1931.
