Stage

Item/Manufacturer	Comments
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Confusing Crayons (Yurasits) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: Good Method: High Value: Fair	This is a version of the Tricky Bottles scaled down for kids. It uses two different colored jumbo crayons instead of beer bottles. The benefit here is that you can switch crayons at any time. You get what you pay for here, and the ad and pictures are faithful to the props. They look good but are cheaply made.
Card in Balloon (Delal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	I bought this second hand through Winkler's consignment listing for $30. It is made of brass and is chrome plated, and breaks down into three parts for easy packing. I was not familiar with this version and found the mechanism ingenius. I know this is not new, but having a signed card appear in a balloon with minimal sleights makes this one worth it at any price. My new favorite effect.
Card Star (Delal) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	A faithful reproduction of the classic effect of having five selected cards appear on the points of a large metal star displayed on a thin stand. The prop breaks down into three pieces for easy packing like the Card in Balloon. The star is brass with chrome plating, and the hinge and trigger mechanism work OK. You'll probably need to tape your duplicate production cards into the clips for some insurance or they may fly out or get left behind the star when triggered. Considering the workmanship, it would have been nice if they had built a one-handed release into the base instead of relying on the pull of a "hidden" thread. You'll need an assistant for this one.
Silk Streamers, Multi-Colored (Daytona Magic) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: N/A Method: N/A Value: High	Beautiful, well-sewn and the dye job is great, too. Caught this item from one of Daytona's 50% off sales and it is a bargain even at full-price.
Dag's Ultimate Card Sword (El Duco) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: OK	Selected card appears on tip of sword as deck is thrown into the air. Signed and numbered by the creator, this sword is in use by The Pendragons and The Moretti's, to name a few professionals. It is beautiful. Chrome-plated with a nicely wrapped handle. Same old method. If the gaff breaks, it will take an hour to fix. If you have the money ($450), this is a collector's item you will use all the time.
Superior Appearing Cane (Tannens) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: Good Method: Fair Value: Fair	These canes keep getting more expensive. Why? About the only difference from the one I bought for $20 twenty-five years ago is the release mechanism (spring instead of a slide). Sharp metal able to cut through fingers in a single appearance.
The Clatter Box (Delal) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	I read a routine using this effect combined with a Breakaway Fan and Wand over 20 years ago and always wanted to have one. For a period of time they were difficult to find. India has once again revived a classic. This version is made from thin maple, stained with splashes of gold, black and green trim to make for an attractive little silk cabinet. I love the effect and this one works well. You vanish a silk with the aid of a clumsy assistant who breaks your fan, wand and then finally the box, but as it falls to pieces in their hands the vanished silk is found tied to the lid! Not bad. Like to see a metal version.
Night Club Magic Table (Top Hat Motif) (Mak Magic) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: OK	Black laquer with gold drizzle paint and standard top hat with white glove motif. Opens to full height table; closes to bulky suitcase. Wouldn't want to drop this puppy. Heavy. While well constructed with pop rivets and good hinges, the sides of the case are 1/8 inch thick masonite while the other surfaces are usually 1/4 inch. Casters are wheel -- not ball. Handle is plastic not padded. Could be used for either kid shows or stage act. Hole in front of case to accomodate handle is a bit awkward; surprised Mak doesn't make a cloth or wood insert to cover this up. Inside of case accomodates a lot of smaller items but my Run Rabbit Run and Deceptive Square Circle do not fit. Bummer.
Drum Head Production (Morrissey) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	Was not sure which method would be provided. Acceptable, inexpensive and showy prop for the production of silks.
Instant Magic Table (Delal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	Yet another misadvertised prop. Supposed to be like the Appearing Tables of Harbin, but comes across as a kludgy production. It is nicely made, but a tad disappointing in its appearance
Color-Changing Streamer Rating: 4 Stars WOW: Good Method: OK Value: Good	Saw this bundled with a children's painting effect 20 years ago. Loved the color change but hated the painting trick. Now available after some time off the market, this streamer works OK but not as smooth as I remember it. Probably from India. Needs some work.
Fantastic Flotation (Fearson) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: OK	It's ingenius but seems obvious. I bought it based upon the photo in the ad; look at the photo and use your imagination and you'll probably come close to the gaff. It comes as a kit (gimmick with instructions) which requires a great deal of work to assemble. Seems very dependent upon angles. A little costly considering all the work you have to do to make one. This one may go in the drawer.
Multiplying Candles (Delal) Rating: 1 Star WOW: Ugh Method: Ugh Value: Ugh	These are modeled after the Nestos candles, but they have very small metal tabs on them -- supposedly to help you hold them. They appear to be modeled for someone with smaller hands than the average US adult male. While solidly made, the candles are awkward to handle. I'll probably remove the tabs. Stick with Owens.
Crystal Cube (Ickle Pickle) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Well-made version of a classic box trick where a silk appears inside a transparent cube. Good value. Will hold one 18" silk or several smaller ones. Good value for $25.00.
Chinese Sticks (Empire Magic) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Small enough to fit into your jacket pocket but sparkly enough to be seen from a distance. Black with chrome tips to look like a wand. Silver tassels and strings. Good value for $14.00.
Transformation Tube (Ronjo) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Surprisingly well-made aluminum change tube. This one has two rubber gaskets to make both compartments water-proof. Good value for $39.00 and is small enough to be used close-up.
What's Next (Tenyo) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	A classic jumbo card effect where the spots on a card grow in number. If you want to do this impromptu with blank playing cards and stickers, visit Meir Yedid's My Magic web site and look for my effect "Flip Side."
JTL Die Box (Mak) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: Fair	There was a time when good die boxes were affordable and came in nice wooden finishes. This box is nicely made in red with a white die. It has a good loud sliding mechanism. The shell, though, does not fit well in the box and appears obvious to me in its design. Certainly less expensive then an Owen box, so the value is good, but the shell was a disappointment.
Breakaway Fan (Delal) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: OK	What can be said about a classic like a fan that breaks on your command? It's still fairly inexpensive. This one is smaller and lighter than my original one, but it achieves its effect. Why don't they bolt these things together instead of using pop rivets? Eventually, it's going to fall apart.
Breakaway Wand (Delal) Rating: 3 Stars WOW: Ok Method: OK Value: OK	Ditto about their wand. It's a little smaller and thinner than what I remember, but it works.
Day at the Circus (Delal) Rating: 2 Stars WOW: Ugh Method: Ugh Value: Ugh	The only reason I bought this is because I used to get a lot of mileage out of the one I had from Tannens. This one is silk screened rather amateurishly with horrible colors and artwork. It came with an envelope with a circus tent on it. Why, I have no clue. I used to use a bamboo mat which worked better. Not worth $32. Look around for something better.
Educated Duck (Delal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Flosso had the best routine with a Card Duck, and I quickly made it my own. This effect works well for kids or adults and uses a mechanical wooden duck which plucks selected cards out of a deck. Delal's creations are rather irregular and unreliable in their design and operation. Cheap labor usually produces cheaply made effects, but this one is actually worth the money, though mine arrived with many paint chips. Ya gets what ya pay for, right?
Holiday Hats Jim Jayes) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	A bag which can be turned inside out to reveal four different hats (Santa, Wizard, Bunny w/ears, and Clown). Good value and well-made, though mine arrived with a few open seams which needed to be resewn.
Magic Sketch Pad Rating: 4 Stars WOW: Good Method: OK Value: Fair	Handling is a little awkward. Extra sheets need edges prepared to make them look like they got ripped out of sketch pad; why didn’t they make them this way to begin with? The ink on the extra sheets does not match color of the sketch pad at all.
It’s Alive (James) Rating: 2 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: OK	Great comic illusion gone commercial. Manufactured for someone with enormous hands and wrists. Flimsy. No documentation included.
Copenetro Deluxe (Kline Kraft) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: Fair Value: Fair	Expensive, nicely turned wood props, but firing gimmick is difficult to load and not surefire for coin reproductions. Manufacturer supplies half a tongue depressor to set spring devices. This makes an otherwise wonderfully crafted illusion look shoddy. Surely, he can supply something better than a broken ice cream stick.
Silk Wonderbox (Dalal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: Good Method: Good Value: Good	Small box capable of deceptively large loads. Manuscript provided tons of performance ideas. Well made. Removable gimmick so box may be fully examined (need large hands).
Tote Bag Deluxe (Ickle Pickle) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Nicely constructed and well priced.
Omega Card Fountain (Dave Powell) Rating: 2 Stars WOW: Good Method: Fair Value: Ugh	A nicely crafted wooden box with poorly mounted electronics. The climax card is visible from the front of the box rendering the surprise somewhat questionable. Handling is poor. I needed to take it apart and remount the electronics with velcro.
Water Funnel (Loftus) Rating: 1 Star WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Good	The old standard in plastic. It does not work very reliably (drips a lot), but what do you wants for four bucks?
Run Rabbit Run (Mak) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Mak does it again with this remanufactured classic kid’s trick. Doors do not stay closed. Added some business card magnets to keep them shut. Otherwise, colorful and sturdy. My kid loves it.
Metamorpho Spots (Dalal) Rating: 2 Stars WOW: Fair Method: Fair Value: Fair	Good effect ruined by shoddy workmanship. Sliding gimmick is made of thin plastic film just waiting to tear. Silks came partially hemmed. Rip-off.
Ultimate Airborne (Doug Malloy) Rating: 1 Star WOW: OK Method: Ugh Value: Ugh	$62 for a wine bottle, a Norm Nielsen vanishing champagne bottle label, a fishing weight, and a cheap plastic glass. The manufacturer also provides a repair kit for your bottle for an extra $5 should it ever be damaged. Mine came damaged. Stay away from this one.
Vanishing Champagne (Nielsen) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Well made latex bottle. Oddly enough, you need to apply the label yourself, and you only get one chance as the adhesive takes hold fast. Careful.
Vanishing Bird Cage (Dalal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: OK Value: High	Considering the cost of alternative cages, this one is affordable. Will stand on its own. Holdout is a little awkward, but in the hands of Blackstone, Jr., it looks wild. Needs practice. Included feather bird sucks. Buy a rubber one.
Multiplying Bottles (Dalal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	A classic effect at the right price. You receive 9 bottles, no glasses. You need to apply the tube’s decals yourself; I’d do without them. Nicely machined.
Hoffman Mini Birdcage Hat Production (Dalal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: High	Another good value from India. Well made. Their metal products seem to be of consistently good workmanship.
Standard Botania (Dalal) Rating: 2 Stars WOW: OK Method: OK Value: Ugh	India does not make good feather flower effects. Springs have lost their resiliency. Flowers shed feathers quickly. Flat.
Deceptive Square Circle (Mak) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: High Value: Good	A little pricey, but large, colorful and makes for a wonderful display. Holds large load (spring rabbit plus tons of silks, etc.). Load tube is poorly flocked and sheds like crazy. Needs some spray lacquer to set it.
Triple Bloom Bouquet (Dalal) Rating: 4 Stars WOW: High Method: OK Value: OK	Better made than their Botania (see above), but still sheds. You get 18 blooms for three sets of appearances making this a good value. Sliding gimmick is a little rough. Needs to be worked in properly.

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