TREASURES

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Lecture Notes by
Alexander de Cova

written by
Alexander de Cova

photography:
Barbara de Cova

illustrations:
Alexander de Cova

layout & design:

Alexander de Cova

© Copyright 2004: Alexander de Cova.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be
invented, without written permission.

The worldwide manufacturing rights of the effects described herein are held exclusively by Alexander de Cova. Special thanks go
to Helga Braunmüller, Munich, for allowing me to reprint in english language some items previously published in a German edition
by Rudolf Braunmüller.

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Contents:
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A Few Words Before.......................................................3

Two Switch Boxes...........................................................4
Jump off knot.......................................................................5
The Baby Egg Bag..............................................................5
A Rope Move.......................................................................6
Flash Card to Silk................................................................7
My Gumball Machine.........................................................8
Utility Coin Switch..............................................................9
Linking Pin Finale...............................................................9
Blank Check Transpo........................................................10
Visible Ball to Silk.............................................................11
Super Simple Miser’s Dream...........................................12
Cups & Balls Loading Technique.....................................13
Load Setup.........................................................................14
A Novel Ball Vanish...........................................................15
Another Vanish.................................................................16
Another Idea for the Load.................................................16
The Chopstick Vanish........................................................17
Tossing Technique............................................................18
Retrieving........................................................................18
Another Bar Stunt.............................................................19
Two Crazy Ideas...............................................................20
Jumbo Coin Vanish............................................................21
Thumbtip Silk Vanish........................................................21
Thumbtip Table Load........................................................22
Easy Slotmachine..............................................................23
Master Silks Routine.........................................................25

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 A Few Words Before
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This is my very first lecture note in english language – as a matter of fact, it is the first time I
expose some of my magic in print to the english spoken fraternity. The title TREASURES was chosen
on purpose, because I tip some of my closely guarded secrets. It is said that the best way to hide a
routine is to publish it. I sincerely hope that this material is now not only hidden, but PERFORMED
and put into use by YOU!
In these lecture notes you will find some of my best effects, sleights, gimmicks, tips and ideas I
have collected over a period of 15 years. Most of the material is for the stand-up performer, that
means suitable for the small stage or platform (working conditions I find myself in about 90 % of my
professional work).
As I am a strong believer in ultility sleights that can be used in different routines, you will find lots
of material that deals with new techniques or variations on existing things that many magicians know
(or believe to know...) and which you can incorporate in your own routines and tricks. This way I
believe the majority of magicians can benefit from my lecture. It is more versatile than explaining all
the routines with my own personalized handlings, which just fit me and no other person in the world.
Please guard these secrets well, some of them are rather exclusively! And - above all - PRACTISE
the routines well and think creatively about them before attempt them in public.
A big thank you goes to Jean-Yves Prost from Lyon, France, who took all the trouble to organize
this lecture tour. Thank you Jean-Yves!
VERY special thanks go to Barbara, who shows so much patience with me and my magical enterprises. She is
my inspiration and motivation in life...
Finally, I would like to thank YOU for your hospitality, your interest and for inviting me to your
magic club to do my lecture. I hope everybody takes at least something home for him(her)self. And
may this only be the fun watching these effects being performed and having a good time during my
lecture in the magic club.

All the best and good luck!

Alexander de Cova
Vienna, September 2001

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 Two Switch Boxes
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Here I will describe two different ideas for novel switch boxes that enable
you to switch different objects. One is a simple constructed sort of „turnover
switch box“ to switch a complete pack of cards, the other one a cleverly disguised
cigarbox that enbales you to switch flat objects like bills, billets, small envelopes
and the like. All manufacturing rights are reserved!

The cigar switch box:

Once I bought second hand a very nice wooden card box (the one with two
loose flaps inside). While playing around with this beautiful prop and noticing Figure 4 - the inner tray covers the
Figure 1 - the cigars act as a „flap“ to second deck.
switch the objects. that my jumbo cards didn’t fit and the flaps jammed, I hit upon the idea of using
cigars as a flap. As you see, you just have to fill up the box with fitting cigars
(they could be glued together at the sides to form a „flap“). The box should look
the same from both sides. Figure 1 shows how the box looks.
It’s also easy to make one up by hinging the lids of two regular cigar boxes
together, making a very realistic cigar change box! This utility box enables you
to switch flat objects like bills, envelopes, etc. Very good and suitable for a „bill
in cigar“ routine...

The deck of cards switch box:

I came up with this one after an not so satisfying search for a suitable box that
would imperceptibly switch a complete deck of cards for me (actually for my
version of Eddie Josepgh’s „Premonition“ effect). The box looks again the same
Figure 2 - the box from the outside. on both sides (figure 2). Figure 5 - it has an recess on both sides
Looks the same on bothe sides. I made mine out of thick cardboard, which I spraypainted. There is no reason to take the cards.
this could be manufactures in wood or plastic. The inlet is done out of very thin
and durable aluminium and lined with green felt. My box is simply black because
I don’t want it to attract the spectators’ attention.
On the inside, it is decorated like a box that you can buy in many novelty
shops, toy shops, etc (figure 3). It contains a pack of cards, a set of dice, a pencil
and usually a paper pad to jot down the scores at card and dice games.
My box has a loose inlay that holds two packs, but only one is ever seen by the
spectators. Ths pack lays in a sort of recess on on side of the inlay.
The other side is higher and appareantly there are some dice an a pencil lying
in appropiate recesses. In reality, these objects are only flat cuts that resemble
the real thing in order to keep the box flat (figure 6).
In performance, open the box and show the deck of cards. After replacing it in
the box, close the lid and put the box to the side.
Figure 3 - a view of the inside. Figure 6 - the dice and pencil are cut in
Next time when you pick it up, simply turn over the box (à la Himber wallet) half so that everything is flat.
and open the other side. The spectators see the same situation as before – but you
secretly switched the deck of cards inside the box!

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 Jump off knot
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Here I offer an interesting variation on Milbourne Christopher ’s excellent

„pop silk production“ technique (described in Rice’s „Enzyclopedia of Silk
Magic“), this time done with completely different objects – rope! It looks very
magical and funny.
The performer ties a knot into the middle of a piece of rope. Then, without
further moves, the knot jumps visibly off the rope. Everything can be examined!
You need a piece of soft rope (about 70 cm) and a single knot made of matching
rope. The knot is hidden before the performance in the crotch of the left elbow,
Figure 1 - the extra knot is hidden in underneath the cloth of the shirt or jacket – as the silk in Milbourne Christopher’s Figure 4 - pull on the false knot with the
crotch of elbow under the jacket original concept. left hand leaving the right hand
material stationary
Take the rope and show the hands empty thereby. Now tie the wellknown
„Hunter Bow Knot“. Thread the ends of the rope through the loops in the
traditional way so the knot is ready to vanish.
Hold the rope a little bit to the side, as shown in the picture. The idea is to pull
the rope tight with a sudden outward movement of the left arm (just strech the
arm). This causes two things: the bow knot suddenly disappears and the hidden
extra knot in the crotch of the elbow is shot up and foreward.
The timing is perfcet and automatic. Just stretch out the left arm, holding the
right hand steady in place. The knot appears to visibly jump off the rope.
A little experimentation will show you exactly where to position the rope with
the bow knot, so that the illusion of the knot visibly jumping off is perfect. Give
this one a try and you will be amazed at the reactions!
Figure 2 - start to tie the classical Figure 5 - the knot visibly jumps off the
Hunter Bow knot... rope and into the air!

The Baby Egg Bag

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a magician as a baby already and „annoying“ my mother
In my never ending search for new twists on the with my magical antics at my daily bathing time many years
presentation of the good old egg bag trick, the following came ago.
to my mind. So I tell the story how my mother desperately tried to
It can be made into a very lovely and funny presentation find the soap, which I used to „hide“ in the washrag (out of
of this classic of magic. In my presentation, the egg bag is a fun). Everytime she thought she knew where it was, I
washrag (made from frottee cloth like towels). The „egg“ is produced it from elsewhere, etc. (get the idea?)
a little soap like you get in hotels for free. I use the Malini For the finish, I switch egg bags and produce two rubber
style bag, but any other model is good also. toys from the bag as a final load. With these, I perform
Figure 3 - pull the ends through the The routine I do is rather standard, the Ken Brooke Daryl’s excellent trick „Sound Transposition“, which is a
loops in readiness to dissolve the knot handling (which for me is the best handling of the egg bag very funny and entertaining trick and fits perfectly to this
trick). Just look up the books for a good handling, Tarbell „baby presentation“. Have fun!

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 A Rope Move
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This is a little useful move that can

be used in many routines that use a long
piece of rope and a short one (i.g.
Daryl’s routine, Tabary’s, Colombini’s,
George Sand’s, Flip’s and many other).
The object is to get the short piece,
which is held at the end of the long one,
into another position, so that it is folded
Figure 1 - with the right pinky grap the Figure 4 - with the left hand, stroke and the long rope also. Figure 7 - the left hand grasps the ends
middle of the long rope and turn the down along the two long ropes and let of the long rope with the pinky and
hand. To accomplish this most of the exi-
go of the ends. brings them up.
stent moves used some very strange
movements. So I developed this se-
quence, which looks much mor natural.
In the photographs the long rope is
gray (red) and the short piece white.
The whole sequence must be done
in one continuous flowing moevement
and should look like you are just folding
the rope up.
In reality the little piece is secretly
positioned, so that after the move you
can follow with many other sequences
Figure 2 - the left hand brings the small Figure 5 - lift up about half way of the that use this setup. Figure 8 - the left hand grasps the loop
piece towards the right hand. two long ropes and put the new middle The idea is to make this look like if end of the small rope and takes it out of
into the right hand. you are casually folding up the rope for the right hand.
convenience of handling and not to
make it look like a move! Also, you
shouldn’t look at your hands during this.

Additional handling tip:

A liitle help for finding the exact
center of the rope is to put some wood
glue at this spot. This spot is easily felt
when the glue has hardened but
invisible for the eye. So you have an
orientation on the rope without having
to look at it.
Figure 3 - pinch the end of the small Figure 6 - the bundled rope is held in Figure 9 - the position of the rope is
piece with the right first finger and the right hand. In this position you now reversed and you are in a standard
thumb. The left hand goes downwards. could do a rope cut. position for many rope routines.

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Flash Card to Silk
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Good visual stuff for the manipulative magician is seldom seen in the magical
literatur. Here is a gem – a visual transformation of a jumbo card to a silk. It is
based on an effect by the German manipulator Jan Torell, who was one of my
first teachers in manipulation. My handling is completely different from his and
when he saw this, he liked it very much!
In effect, a jumbo card, which is held at the fingertips, visibly changes to a
silk! The silk is unprepared! The preparations are simple. All you need is a jumbo
card, the back of which is covered with dull black felt and a 18 inch silk. You need
to wear a vest and a black pair of trousers.
Have the silk rolled up and palmed in the right hand (I use Jan Torell’s own
fold, but any other productions fold does well). The jumbo card is held in the left
hand at the lower left corner. The actual transformation is a combination of two
movements: the vanish of the card and the production of the silk. The unfolding
silk will screen the unloading of the jumbo card under the vest.
The left second finger contacts the card at the face and presses inward. This
will cause the card to swivel into a sort of Tenkai palm position. During this
movements, the left hand goes down, turning the black backside of the card
towards the audience. The card is now in a position directly under the vest rim
and in front of the black trousers, so the spectators cannot see it due to the black
art principle.
At the same time, the right hand produces the silk. These two actions combined
give the perfect illusion of the card visibly transforming into the silk. The silk
screens most of the action. Now for the unloading. The left first finger grips part
of the silk near the lower corner. The left hand then moves straight upwards,
shoving the card under the vest in the process. The hand continues ist upward
movement, while the right hand moves downward in a sort of flourish gesture
with the silk. Both hands end up as shown in a position near shoulderheight. You
are clean now and can continue with the silk!

Afterthoughts:
Of course, this simple transformation can be varied. For some time, I used a
blank jumbo card with my name printed on it (like a name batch). With this, I
introduced myself. Because of the fact that the audience now knows who I am,
the name batch is no longer needed and changed into the silk.
Another thing would be to use a fairly large silk and a rubber covered glass
for the Bob Elliot glass of wine production (the glass is carried under the right
armpit). The jumbo card would be a sort of dining card. Ask if someone wants to
order something. As no one wants to, change the card into the silk. From the silk
then produce a glass of red wine. A very pretty opening sequence!

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My Gumball Machine
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This has nothing to do with Joe Givan’s excellent trick – it’s a very visual and
practical vanish of up to 10 or 12 standard spongeballs. It’s perfect for kid shows.
You need the (multicolored) sponges, two round plastic salad bowls, a children’s
sand pail with lid and some spray paint (figure 1). Also a special gimmick (figure
3). This is a tube, which is closed at one end. At the side, a clip is fastened. The
tube should be flesh colored. This gimmick is usually used in silk magic.
Assemble the boxes as shown in figure 2, reverse the sand pail and put both
bowls on top of it. The upper bowl should have a hole cut in the bottom, so you
can reach inside from above. Now you have a sort of „gumball machine“! When Figure 3 - the gimmick used for the Figure 6 - the left hand gestures toward
you put the sponges through the hole in the upper bowl, it looks quite realistic! vanish of the sponge balls. the audience.

Figure 1 - the simple parts of the Figure 2 - everything assembled. You Figure 4 - the gimmick is held in the Figure 7 - the left hand relaxes for a
gumball machine. can decorate it, if you want. right hand. The clip protudes at the moment behind the right hand.
inner side of the hand.

Now for the vanish of the balls. Have the gimmick secretly in the right hand,
the clip protuding at the rear (figure 4). Take one ball after the other and poke it
into the fist, really into the gimmick (figure 5).
When the last ball is inside the gimmick (it will take about 10-12 balls), the
left hand after a short gesture relaxes and comes to a rest behind the right hand
(figure 6 and 7). The clip goes between the left first and middle fingers (figure 7
- view from behind). With one movement open both hands with the palms towards
the audience (figures 8-10) – the sponges are gone in the blink of an eye! Dispose
of the gimmick at the appropiate time.
Sometimes I vary the whole theme. Then, the sponges represent icecream!
All is set up in an appropiate glass, together with cream (a little white silk), Plate
and a spoon. Look at figure 11 to see the arrangement. The vanish of the icecream Figure 5 - now poke some spongeballs Figure 8 - the gimmick is secretly
is the same as for the gumballs. into the gimmick (about 10-12). clipped between the first and second
finger.

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 Utility Coin Switch
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This is a very simple but deceptive coin switch, if done in a casual manner.
The best thing is that it allows you to switch more than one coin for more coins.
The coins to be switched are in the right fingerpalm. The left hand holds the
other coins. The right hand approaches and directly takes the left coins in the
thumbpalm. It moves away from the left hand and immediately throws the
fingerplamed coins onto the table or in a cup.

Figure 9 - both hands open with the

palms towards the audience.
Linking Pin Finale Figure 1
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Jerry Andrus‘ linking pins is a wonderful trick. But – in my view – it lacks a

definite climax. I came up with one that is very effective and fits the theme.
Besides the well known Andrus pin set you will need a variety of safety pins
(they must be magnetic) in different sizes, two identical coin purses and a strong
magnet, which is worn in the left back pocket of the trousers.
Divide the pins in two equal heaps. Now link all the pins of one heap into a
long chain and put that into one purse. The other loose pins along with the Andrus
pins go into the second purse. I carry both purses in my left inner breast pocket.
With the right hand, reach into the left inner breast pocket to remove the purse
with the loose pins. During this, drop the purse with the chain through the armpit
into the left sleeve. It will stay there securely if you keep the arm bent at the
Figure 10 - the hand are empty. Be elbow and drop easily into your waiting left hand, when you lower the arm.
careful with your angles here. With the right hand, bring out the other purse. Open it and spill the contents Figure 2
onto the table. Finger through the various pins and sort out the Andrus pins (say:
„We will use the biggest ones, so you can follow this little experiment more
easily.“). Put all the other pins back into the purse and close the purse.
Now you will switch the two purses in the action of showing the large pins.
The left hand holds the purse with forefinger an thumb. With the right hand, pick
up one of the Andrus pins (an unprepared, preferrably) and hand it to an spectator
on your left side. This covers the switching action. The moment you turn towards
the spectator, the left hand lowers. The purse in the sleeve will fall into the cupped
fingers. At the same time, cling the other purse to the magnet. A trial will show
you how easy this is and that there is almost no movement. Immediately bring up
the left hand and hand the spectator the (switched) purse for safekeeping. Now
perform your favourite routine with the linking pins. At the end, let the spectator
Figure 11 - the concept of the icecream give you back the purse you gave him. Open it and look inside with a surprise.
cup. the cream is a white silk! Spill the content onto the table and show the Figure 3

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Blank Check Transpo the spectators look inside the tube, where they see the folded paper.
Have a spectator stretch out his palm and go into the motions of dumping the
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check inside the tube onto his palm. Pretend to have difficulties and transfer the
marker to the right hand. Point the opening towards you and reach into the top of
This is one of my favourite routines for close-up environments. But I also the tube with the left first finger. The fingertip enters the tube. Extract the folded
performed it in many different situations at the bar, at parties, etc. It is one of my paper and drop it onto the spectator ’s outstrechted hand. It’s the signed check!
most practical routines and I am sure it will appeal especially to the professional To finish, you can either leave the tip inside the tube and just screw the top
p e r f o r m e r. part on again or (as I do) quickly enter the tube with the first finger and steal the
Interesting in this presentation is also the handling of the fingertip, which tube before you screw the top part on. That’s all! The trick is reset for the next
fooled many well versed magicians. performance.
The effect is simple: A spectator signs a „blank check“ (a white piece of paper)
with a big Edding felt tip pen. The check is folded and vanished in a very clean
way. The signed check is found inside the Edding marker, which has been in full
view all the time!
You need a small thumbtip (I got mine at a convention and thought it was a
fingertip. They told me it’s a thumbtip for the lady magician...) This must fit into
the opening of the body part of a very big Edding marker (I use the brand Edding
800, which is the biggest of the marker series).
Also, you will need a silk handkerchief and some blank pieces of paper that
have approximately the size of checks ( about 14 x 7 cm). I use a leather check
book with papers cut to corrresponding size. Remove the ink tank from the marker,
fold one of the papers, fold it into eights and glue it into the bottom of the marker.

Performance:
Take out the checkbook and marker. Have a spectator sign a „blank check“.
Put the cap onto the marker and leave it on the table. Now have the spectator fold
the „check“ into eights. Meanwhile, bring out the handkerchief. The fingertip is Figure 1 - silk is transparent for clarity. Figure 2 - left hand starts to drape silk
worn on the tip of the left middle finger. fingertip is on the left middle finger. over the right hand and loads tip into
Display the silk as shown. The tip is effectively hidden by the silk, the hands right fist.
appear empty. Now drape the silk completely over the left hand. Now for the
loading of the tip into the silk. Pass the silk over into the right hand. Whilst doing
this, the left middle finger straigthens and the right finger grap the tip through
the silk. The tip is now in the standard position like for the lit cigarette vanish.
With the left hand, get the folded check. Hold it with the Thumb and forefinger.
Now push it into the silk (tip). The first finger makes a small push and steals the
tip. Immediately bring the first finger up (palm of the hand is towards the
spectators, finger tips point at spectator). Now rotate the hand 180 degrees, still
with the palm towards the audience and grip the rim of the silk with the thumb
and first finger. The thumb is on top of the silk, the first finger with the stolen
fingertip underneath. Again, the fingertip is very effectively hidden by the silk.
Let go of the right hand with the silk and show the vanish of the check!
Figure 3 - tip is loaded, left hand Figure 4 - the tip is now in the standard
Put the silk away while you direct the attention on the marker on the table. continues to drape the silk. position for the vanish.
Pick it up with the left hand and hold it as shown. This again hides the fingertip
completely. Unscrew the cap and top part of the marker with the right hand. Let

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 Visible Ball to Silk
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This one is really an eye popper. In

effect, a billard ball VISIBLY changes
into a silk while being caught in the air!
You need a billard ball (unprepared)
and a 18 inch or 36 inch silk. At one
corner of the silk, fasten a stiff wire
loop, painted flat black. Roll the silk in
the traditional figure eight silk fold,
Figure 1 - the rolled up silk bundle with Figure 4 - ball is placed between left Figure 7 - on the third time, right hand starting at the corner opposite the wire
the wire loop. first and middle finger. catches ball.
loop.
You hold the silk ball in the palm of
the right hand with the loop protuding
at the lower end of the fist. The billard
ball is held in the same hand on top of
the silk and helps to hide the silk ball.
Show the left hand empty. Bring both
hands to waistlevel and feed the wire
loop over the left middle finger. Move
the left hand in one continuous motion
under the right hand and then up to the
front at shouldheight. The palm of the
hand shows directly to the audience.
Figure 2 - silk is palmed in the right Figure 5 - ball falls into waiting right Figure 8 - hand is brought downward The silk ball is hidden behind the hand,
hand. hand. with a catching motion. The silk swings hanging from the middle finger. You
over... have to watch your angles here!
The right hand holding the billard
ball throws this up towards the palm of
the left hand. The ball strikes the left
hand (which is kept steady) and
descends down to the right hand, which
catches it. The right hand repeats ist
throwing movement. On the third throw,
the left hand catches the ball and closes
around it. This is done with a fast
downward movement. The silk opens in
a flash.
Figure 3 - right hand moves over left. Figure 6 - right hand throws ball up a Figure 9 - ... and opens in a flash!
Left middle finger enters loop. few times against left hand.

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Super Simple Miser’s Dream
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For many decades, the classic miser ’s dream effect has remained one of the
most effective tricks in the repertoire of many top flight magicians. I offer a
humble version, which is very effective and above all – VERY easy to perform!
You won’t be surprised if I tell you that EVERYTHING is gimmicked (don’t
worry, very simple) but this will enable you to perform without having to practise
difficult moves for years. And the catching of the coins looks very convincing.
You need a large silver coin. Drill a small hole near the rim into the coin. Take
a thumbtip and cut of most of the body part, so that only the tip of the thumbtip
remains. With a rivet, permanently fasten the coin to the tip. This is your coin
catching gimmick and it will make you an admired „sleight of hand expert“!
The champagne bucket is also prepared. Drill two small holes near the opening
into the rim. These are opposite to each other. Take a second silver coin and also
drill a hole through it. Now take some clear nylon thread and thread the coin onto
it. Thread the thread through the holes in the bucket in triangle formation, so
that the coin is just resting on the bottom of the bucket. The idea is that when you
hit the horizontal thread with the back of your hand, the coin in the bucket will
jump up and fall down, creating the illusion that it dropped from your hand.
Now for the catching „moves“. Put the tip on your thumb. You will see that by
just pushing foreward, the coin will appear at the fingertips! By pulling back, it
will be effectively hidden in a sort of fingerpalm. The beauty of the production is
that it only takes a plucking motion to make the coin appear. It looks like the real
thing. When you have produced the coin and shown around, you pretend to drop
it into the pail. When the hand enters, ist back hits the nylon thread and at the
same time, you pull the coin back into the hand. The timing is almost automatic
and the illusion of throwing the coin into the bucket a perfect one.
In the bucket there should be some coins beforehand, so that after the
production of a few coins, you can show them to the audience.

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 Cups & Balls Loading Technique
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In this description I will deal with my technique for doing the final loads of
the cups & balls trick. Due to the fact that this concept was developed on the
streets, the technique is sure-fire, direct and there are almost no angle restrictions.
These are the demands of any streetmagic and I was forced to fullfill these
requirements.
The object is to accomodate the final loads in a different way. My loading
technique is invisible even to experienced magicians! Also, you will have no bulky
pockets during the tricks you performed before this effect. I will also teach you
Figure 1 - take the ball and put it into my original street technique for getting the loads into position just prior to the Figure 4 - reach for the cup and lift it.
the pocket. beginning of the routines in full view of the audience by just setting up the props The other hand (holding the load)
remains absolutely still.
for the cups and balls.
The technique depends on the use of a topit, but this time not for vanishing
the objects, but for producing them. The topit must be of the Michael Ammar or
Carl Cloutier style with the secret access from the outside pocket into the topit (a
slit in the jacket wall). The topit should be constructed accordingly to the final
loads, so that no bulge on the outside of the jacket is seen when they are inside
the pocket.
My topit is in the right side of my jacket, so I will describe all the handling
with this in mind. The three (or four) loads are in the topit.
Situation: On the table are the three cups. One little ball is under each cup.
You have an extra ball palmed in the left hand. This is a more or less standard
situation in many cups and balls routines, so it should be easy to arrive at this.
Figure 2 - grab the load and transfer it The sequence: Pick up the left cup with the right hand, transfer it to the left Figure 5 - set the cup directly over the
through the topit to the other hand and pickup up the little ball with the right hand. Set the cup with the left hand other hand. This gives the necessary
holding the jacket. down, secretely loading the palmed ball underneath. cover for the loading.
The right hand now visibly places the ball into the right jacket pocket. The
left hand helps by steadying the jacket. Grip the jacket at the rim with the left
hand as shown in the figure. He first finger is outside, the other fingers and
thumb on the inside. This is a natural position. The fingers are near the upper
opening of the topit!
As soon as the right hand has entered the jacket pocket, go through the slit
into the Topit and let go of the small ball and grip one of the loads. Still inside the
Topit, lift it up to the left fingers, which grip it. This is a very easy move. Now
come out of the topit and jacket pocket with the right hand, show it empty and lift
the cup to show the reappearance of the small ball. Under this shift of the
spectator ’s attention tranfer the cup directly over the left hand. As you will see,
everything is covered from almost every angle!
Figure 3 - exposed view of this action. Figure 6 - exposed view of the action.
The transfer happens under the jacket!
Now for the actual loading move. Move the left hand to the left, thereby loading The position of the cup gives ample
the fruit into the cup. As soon as this is done, grip the cup at the rim and take it cover from almost all angles.

page - 13 -
 with the left hand. The little finger
keeps the load from dropping out.
Reach foreward with the right hand and
pick up the ball from the table. Replace
the cup with the left hand mouthdown
onto the table. The first cup is secretly
loaded!
Now repeat the same moves with the
second and thrid cup – that’s it! Work
on smoothness and above all – DON’T
HURRY! All the moves must be
executed with deliberate smoothness,
Figure 7 - exposed view of the loading almost in slow motion. It is this Figure 1 - a standard TOPIT vanisher is Figure 4 - wipe your brow and put the
action. used. hanky away. Grab the second load.
unhurried movements that fool the
onlookers.

Load Setup
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Of course, some times you don’t

want to carry the loads in the topit all
the times or during routines and tricks
you show before the cups and balls.
Here is a way to solve this problem. This
Figure 8 - as the spectators see it. They also solves the problem on the street Figure 2 - bend down to get the Figure 5 - also, get the wand. On the
look at the ball that appeared handkerchief and grab one load. way up, throw the second load into the
underneath the cup. where to put the loads AFTER the TOPIT.
performance and set up the trick for a
repeat performance.
I have either way a little suitcase on
the ground, the lid open or I use my
special street table, which has a built-
in compartment at the back in the right
height.
In it are the loads and the clothbag
with the cups. Also a magic wand which
I need during the routine and a little
handkerchief.
For my technique you must be able
Figure 9 - set the cup down with the to work the vanishing techniques with Figure 3 - on the way up, throw the fruit Figure 6 - lay the wand onto the table.
load and immediately pick up the ball. a topit. There are many excellent books into the topit.

page - 14 -
 and video tapes on the market teaching
this. You will load the fruit into the topit A Novel Ball Vanish
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with an upward throwing technique
when you pick up the props from the
suitcase on the floor. There are dozens of different
With the right hand, lean on the table vanishes for the small balls in the
top for support. Bend down towards the literature. My humble offering does
suitcase. This automatically opens the away with the usual transfers into the
Topit, as you will see. With the left hand, other hand. It looks like real magic: the
reach dwon into the case, grap a load ball is dropped into the hand (really)
and the handkerchief. Come up with the and a moment later is gone!
left hand. It will pass by the Topit. Start with the ball on top of the cup.
Figure 7 -repeat the same actions when Throw the fruit into it and continue your Figure 1 The wand is under the right arm. With
you bring the bag with the cups up from the left hand, tilt the cup forwards. The
the case...
way up with the handkerchief to your
forehaed. ball falls into the waiting right hand,
Wipe your forehead with the hand- which closes around it.
kerchief (a natural gambit), bend down Now two actions happen simul-
and replace the hanky in the suitcase. taneously: the left hand moves towards
Immediately pick up the second fruit the wand to remove it. The right hand
and the wand. On the way up throw it sort of gets out of the way of the left
into the Topit and continue the upward hand.
movement with the wand. Show the There will be a moment where both
wand, put it onto the table and bend hands almost touch, that means the
down to get the cups. right hand is above the left hand (or
When you get the cups, also grip the rather the left hand passes under the
third load and throw it into the Topit as right hand).
Figure 8 - ... and put it onto the table as before. Lay the cups onto the table and Figure 2 Exactly in this moment the ball is
well. You are now set and the final you are set! dropped from the right hand into the
loads are in position in your TOPIT in After the performance, when the slightly cupped fingers of the left hand.
readiness for being produced at the end The left hand continues its move-
of your routine! table is full of the cups and the loads
and the people are still watching you, ment towards the wand and grabs it at
put everything openly away into the the end. Meanwhile the closed right
suitcase (at least, you need the table hand (as if still holding the ball) moves
space now for the most impotant thing to a position slightly to the right of the
in street magic: the hat where the spec- body and about chest height.
tators put in their free donations!). Tap the hand with the wand and
Now you are clean and can start with open it to show the vanish.
a new show... Alle the movements must be done in
one continuous motion without the
slightest interruption.
Figure 3

page - 15 -
 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 1 - ball is displayed in the right Figure 4 - exposed view of the action.
hand.

Another Vanish
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I came up with this move whilst playing with another move - by pure chance. It is
good in routines, where a ball has to be stolen from an inverted cup. The steal takes
place in the moment the cup is placed onto the table. The whole Sequence should be
done in a casual way. Correctly done, it looks just like the real thing. See the figures
at the right.

Another Idea for the Load Figure 2 - the left hand puts the cup Figure 5 - exposed view of the action.
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over the ball and appareantly pushes it The left pinky clips the ball secretly
onto the table. and steals it.
Many discussions have been held about the number of final loads - three or four.
Personally, I vote for the three lemons. To please the „four-load-magis“, here is an
idea for a very surprising and logical fourth load.
As you know, lemons are sometimes sold in a (most of the time yellow) plastic net.
This can be crumpled into a small ball and easily palmed and loaded into a cup during
the routine. Have this net (with the price tag!) in your pocket and you are ready to
go.
Do your favourite routine and when you have loaded two of the final loads secretly
under two cups, load the crumpled up net into the third cup. Put the small ball into
the pocket and say: „Wouldn’t it be amazing if the ball jumps back from the pocket
under the cup?“ Lift the cup and show the net. „I don’t know where this comes from,
but it must have to do something with these...“
The appearance of the net gives enough misdirection for the third load. Here you Figure 3 - the cup is placed onto the Figure 6 - in reality, the ball is palmed
ift the cups and reveal the lemons. BINGO! table, the ball appareantly under it. in the left hand.

page - 16 -
The Chopstick Vanish
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I have been using this vanish of a sponge ball in my „bowl routine“ for over 10
years now. It is very effective and a real fooler. Above all - it is very practical! In
effect, a sponge ball is placed into the hand with two chinese chopsticks in a very
fair manner. The hand closes around the ball and turns palm down. A moment
later the hand is turnd plam up and opened - the ball has vanished!
I use this sleight for the vanish of the last ball in my bowl
routine. My presentation goes around the „original chinese
bowl trick“, therefore I use chopsticks as a magic wand.
Basically, the working is this: the ball is really placed
into the right hand with the chop sticks. This is a
very fair procedure.
Close the hand around the ball and turn the
hand palm down. While the other hand regrips
the chopsticks and points to the back of the
right hand, the ball is secretly transfered to
the „heel clip“ position.
The left hand with the chopsticks
remains motionless, while the right hand The illustrations in the circles
turns palm up again. This movement almost show the action as the spectators
automatically transfers theball into a see it. At the left you see the
psotion directly underneath the left fingers. working from underneath...
Clip the ball lightly with the left fingers
against the left heel and continue to turn
the right hand up.
The ball is hidden under the left hand.
be careful with your angles here and direct
the attention towards the right hand. Move
the right hand a little bit to the side and
open it to show the vanish.
In my routine, I lift the inverted bowl
from the table to show that the ball has
reappeared. The bowl is transferred to the
left hand and the hidden ball loaded.
The move can also be done with other
small objects that can be easily clipped. I
personally find the sponge ball best.

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Tossing Technique
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I have been using this little bit of business countless times when I was working
regularly behind a bar. It is based on an old technique, where an object is appareantly
thrown into the air. In reality, it is thrown into the other hand behind the leg. Thus a
very surprising vanish is accomplished.
I improved on this old ruse and when you give it a try, you will be amazed how
effective it is. It can be done with almost any object that goes underneath your jacket
and can be somehow clipped.
I used almost everything that was the right size - newspapers, plates, saucers,
even glasses and ashtrays!. Experiment and practise and you will find many more Figure 5 - the left hand pretends to toss Figure 6 - the left hand goes up and
uses for it. the object into the air. It is gone! pretends to throw the object into the air.

Retrieving
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At the bar, I would drop the vanished

object into a padded box that was hidden
underneath the bar and so the object was
„really gone“..
In emergencies you can immediately
reproduce the object from your pocket as
shown in the photographs.
Figure 1 - show the plate in the left Figure 3 - here is what’s going on Figure 8 - turn with the left side towards
hand. The right hand is in a natural behind the scene. Jacket removed for the audience and open the jacket with
position at the hip. clarity. the left hand.

Figure 2 - the left hand goes dwon in a Figure 4 - on the downward swing, the Figure 7 - the right hand graps the plate Figure 9 - the plate is reproduced
sort of throwing movement. The right left hand bends up and the plate is and brings it around the body. appareantly out of the left breast
hand remains still! clipped with the right thumb. pocket!

page - 18 -
 Another Bar Stunt
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I don’t remember how many times I have done this! It always gets a gasp from lay
people (and magicians alike). I explain it because it illustrates mysleeving technique,
which I use for other objects as well.
It is a very funny move, because actually it would be illogical to put a burning
lighter in your hand. But in this case, the lighter flame makes the spectators follow
the movement of the hand and this optical thing is very hard to resist.
Usually I do this when I have lit the cigarette or in combination with the routine
„Card IS cigarette“. In this routine, I pretend to have difficulties to light the cigarette
Figure 1 - show the burning lighter with Figure 4 - the sleeving is done on the in my mouth (which is a signed rolled up card), so I vanish the lighter! First the
the left hand. People look at the flame. upward swing of the left hand. sleeving technique:

Figure 2 - pretend to put the burning Figure 5 - slap the right hand, which Figure 1 - note how the lighter is held. Figure 3 - the hand turns and the
lighter into the right hand, but place it opens. Also, the hand and forearm are one fingers give a final push on the lighter.
in sleeving position. straight line!

Figure 3 - right hand closes around the Figure 6 - turn the palms towards the Figure 2 - the left first and middle Figure 4 - the hand turns palm up to be
lighter, the left hand prepares for the audience to show the vanish. finger gently push the lighter into the shown empty.
sleeving move. sleeve opening.

page - 19 -
 Two Crazy Ideas
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One of the stronger tricks for laymen

is the torn and restores newspaper. I do
perform it and recently I bought the mag-
netic version, which I like very much. I
added a very strong finish to it, which
really „kills“ lay people!
After performing the classic torn &
restored newspaper, the performer folds
Figure 1 - a thick nylon thread is the newspaper in half. When he unfolds Figure 4 - while displaying the paper, Figure 7 - refold the newspaper, thereby
fastened to the fin. it, there is a real big fish lying inside the the left thumb hooks into the nylon loop wrapping the fish into the paper.
undder cover of the newspaper.
newspaper!
You will need a big plastic fish. I got
mine from a decoration supplier. At the
fin, punch two little holes and fasten
sonme strong nylon thread to it.
In the inner breast pocket I fixed a
piece of wooden rod, which protudes
slightly over the pocket opening. This is
a sort of „hook“, over which the nylon loop
is hung, so that the fish stays suspended
inside the jacket. If you wear a TOPIT,
the fish is even mor hidden.
Figure 2 - the fish is hung over the For the production, unfold the news- Figure 5 - move the hands to the left Figure 8 - open the newspaper and
wooden stick in the pocket. paper in front of the body. It is easy to and load the fish behind the paper. show the fish lying there!
hook the thumb under cover of the
newspaper into the nylon loop and load
the fish (#a la dove steal).
Another idea is to use a little hot water
bottle filled with red whine instead of the
fish. Then you can produce enough liquid
from the paper to fill up a fairly large
glass.
The loading movements for the hot
water bottle are the same as for the fish.
You can buy find these bottles in may
dime stores.

Figure 3 - show the restored newspaper Figure 6 - the fish is momentarily Figure 9 - instead of the fish, use a little
and unfold it. suspended behind the newspaper. hot water bottle to produce liquid from
the newspaper!

page - 20 -
 Jumbo Coin Vanish
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I use this vanish most of the time in my manipulative routines. For me it is one of
the most natural ways to vanish a jumbo coin. The vanish is also very effective when
there is a silk draped over the right hand and the coin is placed appareantly into the
silk.

Figure 1 - coin is held at the left

fingertips between thumb and first
Figure 4 - the detail of the movement of
the left middle finger, which straightens Thumbtip Silk
finger. out ...
Vanish
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Figure 1

Most of us know the bad execution

of the vanish of a small silk with the
aid of a thumbtip.
I developed a completely different
handling for this vanish, where the
hands are shwon empty during the
movements of the vanish!
Start with the thumbtip on the left
Figure 2 - coin is appareantly placed Figure 5 - ... and pivots the coin along thumb, behind the silk. Show the silk
into waiting right hand. Left middle the first finger backwards. with both hands.
finger pivots coin into left hand. Bring the hands together for a mo-
ment to tug on the silk. At this
moment, hold on to the thumbtip with Figure 2
the right thumb.
The left hand can let go of the silk
for a moment and be shown empty. You
begin poking the silk into the
thumbtip. Bring the hands together
again and start to crumble up the silk.
All the following actions should
look like you are crumbling up the silk
into a small little ball.
During this manuevre you will Figure 3
Figure 3 - right hand closes around Figure 6 - shows how the coin is held in „accidently“ show the empty palms of
„jumbo coin“, which is in left hand in place in a sort of Tenkai palm position.
both hands!
Tenkai palm position.

page - 21 -
 When about1/4 of the silk is in the thumb tip, turn the left
hand with the palm towards the audience. The fingers are Thumbtip Table Load
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spread apart and the hand looks empty. The thumbtip is hidden
by the silk and held by the right thumb and middle finger.
In order to also show the palm of the right hand to the This is based on a typical Slydini movement coordination. it
audience, the thumbtip must be transferred in to the left hand. enables you to show both hands empty and yet load the thumbtip
This is accomplished by a sviveling motion of the thumbtip. into your hand in readiness for a vanish or whatelse.
The right first finger presses on the rim of the thumbtip These movements must be done in a continuous flow and in
Figure 5
and pulls to the right. This causes the thumbtip to pivot back a natural way to be deceptive.
and to the left. As a matter of fact, this is just a way to hide the tip under
All this is hidden by the left fingers. A s soon as the tip is the table edge until the last moment, when it is needed. So the
behind the right fingers, the right palm can be shown. Continue move is confined to a seated performance.
poking the silk into the thumbtip. You can repeat these This sequence is also good to dispose of a loaded thumbtip
movements one or two times. after a vanish without having to resort to lapping or going to
For the finish, poke all of the silk into the thumbtip and push the pockets.
the thumbtip on the left thumb, again under the cover of the
left fingers. You can now open the hands in the usual way to
show the vanish.

Figure 6

Figure 3

Figure 1 - thumtip is on the left thumb

under edge of table. Gesture with the
right hand and show palm empty.

Figure 7

Figure 4

Figure 2 - the right hand comes back to

Figure 8 the table for a short moment. Here
happens the transfer.

page - 22 -
 Easy Slotmachine
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The title is true - this might be one of the easiest versions of Dr. Sawa’s brilliant
concept. On my video tapes „Treasures“ I demonstrated a much more elaborate
version of this. I changed the handling and tried to simplify everything and eliminate
props. The version you have now is the simplest I could find.

The effect:
The performer relates a story about his visit to a gambling casino and how he lost
Figure 3 - the left thumb goes up and his mones. For demonstration, he places a pencil and a coin on the table. He puts the Figure 1 - the pencil with the coin
pushes thumbtip into the right thumb coin into his hand (which ressembles the „one-armed-bandit“), puts the pencil from holding device, the drilled coins. One
cro t c h . the top of the fist. Now he pulls on the pencil, removes it and the coin is gone! coin is black on one side.
This is repeated two more times. The third time the hand is opened, instead of
being empty like before, there is a shower of about 20 silver halfdollars!

Preparation:
As the well read fellow magician will notice, the difficulty in the trick lies in the
production of the 20 coins. I solved this with a gimmick, that is incorporated into the
pencil. First of all, take a pencil and cut off about 5 cm from the sharpened end. Drill
a small hole into the pencil and glue a piece of strong wire into it. This will be the
spike for the coins.
Fix some rubberbands to the pencil. This will hold the coins in place until the
production.
Get about 20 half dollars and drill a small hole through each one, so that every
Figure 4 - immediately after the Figure 2 - the coins are placed on the
transfer go foreward with the left hand coin slides easily onto the spike. Take one coin and paint one side flat black. This will
spike in a stack.
and gesture. kill any flashes later when the stack is loaded into the hand.
The priciple is very simple: put all the coins in a stack onto the spike and stretch
the rubber band around the stack. Put the end of the rubber band over the end of the
spike. The coinstack is now held securely in readiness for the production.
To dislodge the coins, you just have to pull on the stack or - what you actually do
during the performance - pull the pencil from the stack. The end of the rubberband
will slip off the spike and the coins are thus freed.

The other things you need are an additional (unprepared) half dollar and a
matching pencil. You should be seated at the table, because some lapping is involved
in switching out the pencils.

Performance:
Figure 5 - the right hand also comes up Tell your story about the Casinos, etc. and bring out „your last coin“ and the Figure 3 - the loops of the rubberband
from the table and closes around the pencil. Whilst doing this, secretly position the prepared pencil in your lap. Take the are put over the protuding end of the
thumbtip. spike and secure the coins.
coin and appareantly place it into the right hand. Do a false transfer as follows here:

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 the coin is held at the fingertips in the
left hand, which also holds the pencil. The
right hand closes into a loose fist. The coin
is now inserted into the fist. The moment
the coin is out of sight, the left middle-
finger straightens out and pulls the coin
backwards. Thus the coin is secretly stolen
out of the hand.
Take the pencil and insert it with the
sharpened end into the opening of the right
fist. The coin stays in the former position,
don’t try to palm it at this point!
Figure 4 - the coin vanish: put the coin Make a back and forward motion with Figure 7 - push the pencil from the top Figure 10 - for the third time, the
into the closed right hand. into the fist. pencils are switched. Left hand holds
the pencil, as if pulling the lever of a casino
single coin as before.
gambling machine.
Remove the pencil and show the hand
empty. Transfer the pencil into the other
hand and with the hand that has the coin
reach into the pocket appareantly to
remove another coin. In reality, take out
the same palmed coin.
Now repeat the same sequence once
again exactly in the same way.
For the third time, when the hand goes
to the pocket to remove another coin, the
other hand holding the pencil drops into
Figure 5 - as soon as the coin is out of the lap casually. Drop the regular pencil Figure 8 - make the „lever“ movement. Figure 11 - again the coin is pushed into
sight, the middle finger pivots it back into the lap and grab the prepared one. the fist, this time really!
into the left hand. Both hands come to rest on to table top
about the same time. With the gimmick,
it’s easy to handle the coin stack.
Repeat the sequence, this time you
really place the coin inside the fist. Put
the pencil in as before, this time loading
the stack of coins! Remove the pencil,
thereby dislodging the coins and shower
the coins onto the table!
It’s very easy to switch out the pencils
again under this misdirection. All can be
left on the table.
Figure 6 - exposed view of this move. Figure 9 - remove the pencil and show Figure 12 - the left hand pushes the
The coin is just clipped and NOT that the coin has vanished! pencil into the fist as before, loading the
palmed! stack.

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 Master Silks Routine
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

I have always liked the classic

sympathetic silk effect. In the Tarbell
Course there is a description of Al Baker’s
version, which uses only four silks. Check
the Tarbell Course for this trick, so that
you have a good idea of the principle
involved. What I liked about this version
is the way the appareantly two single silks
Figure 13 - exposed view of the loading become knotted. Here is my newest Figure 1 - lay one large silk onto the Figure 4 - start to fold and roll up the
action. From the front the back of the version of this effect, which does away table and fold one corner backwards. silks as shown.
finders shield everything.
with the normal bucket and uses a big
glass (!) for the silks that magically untie.
Also, I improved the gimmick that is
responsible for the effect. Now I use only
one (!) additional silk for the effect! I can
honestly state that this is a much easier
version that is more deceptive and clear
than my former versions. It has fooled
some of the best brains in magic. It’s a
commercial effect and very strong.

Effect:
Figure 14 - the pencil is pulled out of The performer shows four single silks Figure 2 - put the small silk on top of Figure 5 - everything looks like one
the hand, the coins are freed from the on a tableau. He takes two silks and knots the corner, so that everything looks like single silk now. My forefinger points to
h o l d e r. them together. Even the spectator can tie a whole silk again. the connection point of the silks.
the knot! Without touching the knot the
silks are placed in a big glass or transpa-
rent champagne bucket.
The other two single silks are taken
from the tableau and handed to a spec-
tator.
Without any moves of any kind the
silks in the glass are taken out one by one
- the knots have vanished and the silks
are single!
The spectator who holds the other two
silks unfolds them only to find out that
Figure 15 - the coins are showered onto these are now securely tied with a knot! Figure 3 - fold the corner of the small Figure 6 - knot together the two
the table. Meanwhile the left hand silk up. The silks overlap about 1 cm. unprepared silks and lay them on the
switches pencils again. The props needed: table as shown.
For this you will need 4 silks in one

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color, about 18 inches sqaure. Also a single smaller silk, about 9 inch sqaure. This
must be the same color and texture as the other silks.
Further needed is a very big glass or a decorative glass bowl. In emergencies you
can also use a champagne bucket, but I prefer the glass bowl for visibility. Also, some
restaurants and hotels have clear champagne buckets, which are also good.
You needed a sort of tableau. Actually, you could use any one, I most of the time
use an old wooden tableau. But you are not restricted to this, once you understand
the workings of this effect, you will see that a close-up pad of sufficient size can also
be used. In emergencies I used a folded table cloth.
Anything under which you can hide the knots und which lies flat on the table can
be used. A folded Newspaper will do as well.

Preparation: Figure 7 - place the tableau over the Figure 10 - in between these silks, lay
knots (you could also use a close-up the other unprepared silk.
The trick actually is in two parts. One is to vanish the knots in the silks and the
mat for this effect!)
other to produce the knot in the other silks.
For the vanish a very simple principle is put into use: the principle of the extra
corner. That means that you actually have an extra corner (the 9 inch silk) which you
knot together with the single unprepared silk. Because of the fact that the extra
peice is only loosely rolled into the second silk, it will separate from it. Thuas the
unknotting is achieved. The photos show you everything.
The second part is the secret knotting of the silks. Here I use Al Baker’s method,
which is described in the Tarbell course, as mentioned before. Instead of having a
specially built table with a slit in the front of the table drape, I use the tableau or the
close-up mat, which enables me to work the effect on any table.

Preparation:
Knot together two of the unprepared silks (I use a slip knot so that it is easier Figure 8 - take one of the free corners of Figure 11 - to these silks add the silk
later to unknot them). Then comes the preparation of the extra little silk with a nor- the silks (the middle one) and pull it up with the extra piece. You are set for the
mal silk. This is shown in detail in the photographs. and onto the tableau. performance.
The silks are laid on the tableau as indicated in the photographs. The trick is
ready for the

Performance:
1. Display the four (appearantly single) silks on the tableau. Take the silk with the
extra silk and the normal silk and tie them together. Here you actually tie the corner
of the extra silk to the single silk. Put these two silks into the glass goblet as shown.
Be careful to make sure that the spectators see that you don’t touch the knot!
2. Pick off the other two (knotted) silks as shown and remove them from the tableau.
Bunch them together and give this bundle to a spectator to hold.
3. Make your magic passes and pretend to invisibly take the knot from the silks in
the glass towards the silks the spectator is holding.
Figure 9 - repeat this with the other Figure 12 - pick up the silk with the
4. Go to the glass and pick up a corner of the silk nearest the audience that is extra piece and the unprepared silk.
silk. Now appearantly two single silks
outside the glass. Pull gently on this corner upward as you slowly and deliberately are lying on the tableau. The connection point is hidden by the
left pinky.

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Figure 13 knot the silks together Figure 16 - pick up the other two silks Figure 19 - To display the vanish of the Figure 20 - the gimmick will separate
(actually you knot the single silk to the from the tableau. knot, lift the front silk at one corner on from the silk and remain tied to the
extra piece). the outside of the glass. other silk out of view.

lift the silk out of the glass. The gimmick will separate from the silk it was rolled into
(which remains in the glass for the moment). Due to the fact that it is knotted to the
other silk, it will be lifted out of the glass behind this silk. When the silk is outside the
glass, just grab the silk and gimmick in the middle. Due to the fact that gimmick and
silk are the same texture and color, the audience will not notice the gimmick.
Then, slowly, also lift the other (unprepared) silk out of the glass - the knots have
vanished!
5. Have the spectator stand-up and unroll the silks he has been holding - the knot
has reappeared!

Figure 14 - pro the silks into the glass. Figure 17 - put the ends together in the
The photo is as seen from behind. left hand (photo shows situation from
the audience’s view).

Figure 15 - be sure to make it apparent Figure 18 - pull foreward and pinch the
that you don’t touch the knot! silks with the other hand. Give these in
a bundle to the spectator.

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