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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
What is the origin of the effect shown here, where two strings threaded through a ball in a plastic cube penetrate the container (and the spectator's fingers, depending on how it is performed)?
Penguin Magic sells it for just a couple of bucks here under the name "Oddball". Is that its original name? Does anyone know anything about the history of this effect, or who its original creator was? Here's a video demo showing how it looks in performance, where it is also referred to as "Houdini Ball Escape": There's another video demo here and here. |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Grandmother's Necklace.
-Mary Mowder |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
YUP...Mary told you! Grandma's Necklace is the principle, and, you'll find it in Scot's "Discovery of Witchcraft, printed over 500 years ago.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
You can trust Dick on that. He was there.
-Mary |
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
It well worth looking into this principle.
I used on stage for a coat escape. were I had two metal rings and two metal mugs tied on as well . When the ropes were pulled and the ropes passed through my body and the rings I was holding and the metal cups crashed to the ground creating a audio and visual wonder. so much opportunity go explore get creative!
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
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dcjames Special user 577 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 5, 2017, Yellowcustard wrote: This is how I learned the principle as well. The effect was called a coat escape and the principle was referred to as "The Cords of Phantasia." That was many, many years ago...
“Magic is very easy to do - poorly.”
Tommy Wonder The Books of Wonder Volume 2 |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Remember John Calvert's "Lazy Man's" presentation of this trick?
Julie |
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EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 5, 2017, Julie wrote: I'm not familiar with that - can you share more about it Julie? |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
As I recall, he sat on a chair near the front of the stage and directed his assistants on the placing of the silks (I think) on the ropes and the tying etc. culminating with the removing of the wand and the magical release. etc.
Perhaps someone else with a better memory can supply additional details on Calvert's presentation. Julie |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
A really great effect with this principle is Dean Dill's NANA'S NECKLACE.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
I remember the Royal Tube 'n Cord using the same methodology being a popular item in magic shops. This sold for the princely sum of 50 cents. It's components were a short length of ribbon, 2 cords and a metal tube with a single hole in the side to allow the ribbon to poke through.
The precursor to the item Pete mentions above was the venerable Hindu Beads. This sold for around 50 cents, too. It included 3 differently colored wooden beads (large, not the cheapies that pop-up in magic sets) and two quality nylon(?) cords plus a practical wire hook for easily threading the cords through the beads prior to performance. Those were the days! Julie |
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dcjames Special user 577 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 5, 2017, Pete Biro wrote: Very nice indeed! https://youtu.be/yJTIptGnQgo
“Magic is very easy to do - poorly.”
Tommy Wonder The Books of Wonder Volume 2 |
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docguitarman Special user Thousand Oaks, California 888 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 4, 2017, Dick Oslund wrote: Also, but not quite 500 years old, is "Grandmother's Necklace" described on page 320 of my Eleventh edition of Modern Magic by Prof. Hoffmann. He points out that it is a "very old one." |
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Jdansti New user 2 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 6, 2017, docguitarman wrote: (I'm new here, so I hope the following is ok and keeping with the rules of the forum.) I had a weird feeling I'd seen the Oddball/Houdini Ball Escape somewhere, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Thanks for the reference to Hoffman. Many years ago I made a set based on Hoffman's description using three two-inch wooden balls purchased from one of the craft stores and then painted. The standard Hoffman version uses the three balls side by side with the loop going around all three balls. The three balls fall off when the cords are pulled. He provides an improved version where six balls are used-three of one color and three of another. The balls of one color are contained in the loop and the cords are passed through the other three with no loop. The spectator is asked to select a color, and his/her color magically falls off or stays on the cords when they are pulled. I like the idea of the ball being placed in a container, though. It definitely adds to the effect. One could easily make a larger version with a two-inch ball or larger.
Regards,
John Danna |
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Yellowcustard Inner circle New Zealand 1334 Posts |
I have one of these I have a story of it begin believed it was part of a spirt cabinet. If you are intrested in getting one contact Colin they do offer diffrent versions of it. https://www.fiveofheartsmagic.com/the-vi......ord.html
Enjoy your magic,
and let others enjoy it as well! |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Love the trick! The problem I am trying to solve is the setup. They examine all components. You thread the ball and put it in the little box. Proceed normally. I know there has to be a way without the distraction of a space shuttle launch for misdirection. I have a way I've been doing, but think there must be an even better way. This one really is a trick for more experienced magicians due to the difficulty in setup.
Doug |
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docguitarman Special user Thousand Oaks, California 888 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 7, 2017, Dougini wrote: The Royal Tube 'n Cord version was fully examinable and required no set up, IIRC. Instead of the usual configuration of the cords, they were visibly tied around a ribbon then inserted in the tube with the ribbon protruding from the hole in the side. The cords are cross tied as in all versions. Pulling the ribbon out the tube escaped and fell. |
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John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 5, 2017, Julie wrote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6EHHwhmoA
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 5, 2017, dcjames wrote: d.c.....The "effect" has had a gezillion different "names" The most common is Grandma's Necklace. Many, if not most of the beginner type books have described the PRINCIPLE, with whatever the author called it. HOWEVER! You should be aware that while GRANDMA'S NECKLACE OR THE COAT ESCAPE USE THE SAME BASIC PRINCIPLE AS THE LAZY MAGICIAN, the 'gaff' involved in Grandma's Necklace or Coat Escape, is entirely different from the gaff in THE LAZY MAGICIAN. I don't remember who FIRST presented the Lazy Magician, but, I do know that Dante was doing it in the 30s, and possibly the 20s, and, I'm sure that John Calvert picked it up and used it. I didn't particularly care for the girls' handling of the silk knot tying, in Calvert's presentation. To me, the best thing about the Lazy Magician presentation, is that THERE IS NO "SET UP"! (no thread tying) For many seasons, I have carried in my prop case, several spare silks, and a length of rope duplicating the long rope used in the professor's nightmare. If I needed an extra 5 minutes!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Oddball was not originally a Fun Inc. item. I was sold to magic shops in the late 1970's. I believe an Indiana magic manufacturer made this item originally. Our local magic shop still has some stock left, in the original plastic sealed bag. No manufacturer on the instructions.
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