This trick was sold by Davenports and other dealers. The advertisement, shown here, is from Davenports Demon Telegraph, Vol.1 No. 12 August/September 1934. The advertisement is headed ‘Ralph W. Hull’s new “Century of Progress” card act’ and gives details of the many tricks which are possible. The advertisement tells us that: ‘Old principles and new principles [are] combined in a routine that simply staggers the imagination’. Thanks are due to David Britland who provided information on this trick.
The magician shows the audience two pillars with cords running between them at both ends. The drawing which is included here makes this clear. A spectator is given the choice of which cord they would like to see cut. The pillars are placed together and the magician cuts through the selected cord. The spectators see that the cord really is cut, yet when the pillars are placed together again the magician pulls the cord backwards and forwards proving that it is magically restored. Complete with instructions.
The magician shows the rod and explains that when you pull a bead at one end, the cord it is on grows longer. At the same time the cord at the other end of the rod grows shorter. This can be repeated and when the audience is convinced that the cords are joined, the magician pulls the two halves of the rod apart. The audience can examine the two halves and put them together again, but the magic will not work for them. However, the magician can take the two halves, put them together again, and the magic is restored. The rod is inscribed DEMON, confirming that the trick is a Davenports item.
The performer opens the fan and shows a plain image, with green grass at the bottom and a blue sky at the top. When the performer wishes, the fan may be opened again revealing a Chinese man. The fan is usually used in conjunction with a silk handerchief. The performer shows the handkerchief with a picture of a Chinese man on it. The image of the man is magically made to disappear, only to be found on the fan.
Under full control of the magician, this fan may be opened to show a complete fan, or opened to show that it has broken into pieces. The prop is used in comedy routines where the spectator assisting you always breaks the fan when they open it, only for it to be restored by the magician. Repeating the effect a few times adds to the amusement and mystery.
Under full control of the magician, this fan may be opened to show a complete fan, or opened to show that it has broken into pieces. The prop is used in comedy routines where the spectator assisting you always breaks the fan when they open it, only for it to be restored by the magician. Repeating the effect a few times adds to the amusement and mystery. This fan is slightly shorter than the one referenced as N3219.
Under full control of the magician, this fan may be opened to show a complete fan, or opened to show that it has broken into pieces. The prop is used in comedy routines where the spectator assisting you always breaks the fan when they open it, only for it to be restored by the magician. Repeating the effect a few times adds to the amusement and mystery. This fan is slightly longer than the one referenced as N3220.
The items supplied allow the magician to perform a convincing rope trick. A long length of rope is genuinely cut in half by a spectator. The magician now ties the two pieces of rope together and trims the loose ends of the knot. With a spectator holding each end of the rope, the magician passes his hand over the knot which immediately vanishes. The spectators can pull on the rope to satisfy themselves that it is once again a single length of rope. Complete with instructions.
The instructions descibe the effect as follows. The magician shows two ropes which are placed around the neck, the ends being held in front of the body. Blowing on the two ends held in the right hand, he shows that they have become magically knotted together, The same happens to the ends in the other hand. The ropes are then lifted off the neck and shown to be linked together. The knots are unfastened, and the two ropes handed out to a spectator for examination.
The instructions describe the effect as follows. The performer stretches a length of ribbon between his hands, folds it in half, and then, holding the two ends in one hand, forms a loop, allowing it to hang down. Taking a large knife, he inserts the blade in the top of the ribbon and proceeds to cut through it. The audience see it cut, yet the ribbon may be restored instantly. The cutting and restoring may be repeated again immediately.
This is a detailed description of an entertaining rope routine using a member of the audience who is fooled by repeated cutting and restoring of a rope, whereas the audinece can see how the trick is being done.
The items supplied with the instructions include a ring, piece of rope and a coin. These can be used to achieve various tricks such as putting the ring onto the rope or vanishing a coin under a card. A thoughtful magician will be able to develop many other routines using these items.
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