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CarpetShark Special user 576 Posts |
For a couple of years now I've had this in the back of what little mind I have left: doing Roth's routine where a g**** coin is dropped into a g**** of water... sorry, can't remember the routine's name. So, ordered a few half-sized disks from China, waited three months for delivery, but each time the effect I was after was not created.
Does anyone know of a solid material, (glass, polymer..) with a refractive index = that of water, i.e. 1.33 ? Or should I be looking at this from the other side, that is, find a liquid with a R.I. = borosilicate or pyrex, etc. ? Thanks for reading |
jim ferguson Veteran user Ayrshire, Scotland 386 Posts |
Hi there.
When you say that the effect you were after was not created - can you be more specific ? The effect you are talking about should work with any standard glass disk - but you also need the correct type of glass to drop the disc into. The disc should be almost the same diameter as the bottom of the glass. The idea isn't Roths, and goes back a LONG time. Years ago the props were available as a set (disc and glass), but the sets seems hard to find these days. Its nice to see you interested in this as its a lovely effect, yet it seems to be rarely used these days. Jim Ps. Paul Daniels used a nice version of this effect, but with a ball instead of a coin - check out his billiard ball routine. |
CarpetShark Special user 576 Posts |
Thanks for the reply Jim. The effect, to clarify, is to make the coin invisible. I was not aware that Roth did not originate the trick, having seen only him perform it, and sadly I can't recall where it was I saw it!
I get a kick out of the more esoteric effects such as this, 'cooling' a half (also done my Roth) and moves where a coin 'pops' into view I feel more than a little silly now that you mentioned the diameter of the glass. [face reddening] Still, I think I'll keep at this from the RI pov. If I ever come up with something that works, I'll let you know. Cheers |
jim ferguson Veteran user Ayrshire, Scotland 386 Posts |
Hi again, thanks for the reply.
Regarding your last sentence - if you want to experiment using that approach I may have an idea. Bear in mind this is only from memory and may be wrong, but I'm sure the correct details could be found on Google somewhere. Anyway, on an episode of Arthur C Clarkes Mysterious Worlds they took a look at the famous Crystal Skull. One of the tests the scientists did was to test if it was genuine quartz crystal. To do this, they placed it in a glass tank filled with a clear water like solution - and the skull almost completely disappeared. Now it is the solution that I'm not 100% certain on - I THINK it was pure alcohol. If you find out for sure what the liquid is, it may be interesting to see what would happen if you could find a disc of clear quartz to use. Jim |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Temperamental optics or physics is not usually practical magic method... but could work as patter.
Here's a method: have a few pennies soldered together into a spread about two coins in diameter. Have this gaff ready. Openly drop in a few pennies as you talk about how coins have changed over the years. Then show a silver half or dollar coin and mention that we don't use silver anymore. You know what happens when the gaff plonks into the glass and sits on the loose coins. Onward?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
If you are still interested in matching the refractive index (RI) of a liquid to that of some solid, I seem to remember that a mixture of water and glycerine works well. As said above, doing a search on the internet could give you specifics (or you can try trial and error.
further, there are other ways to make the solid visually disappear - by changing the location of the disk. John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
CarpetShark Special user 576 Posts |
Wonderful responses, thanks Jim, Jonathan and John
Jim, yep, that's exactly what I'm after. Just need to match up a clear, colourless and transparent liquid with the appropriate solid. In the meantime I'm looking for a glass with the appropriate bottom inner diameter. Thanks muchly for your advice. Jonathan, I would personally call physics 'temperamental'...it has laws and everything ! Love the penny idea, onward! John, something like that may work, as pyrex has a very close RI to glycerine - but it would likely be too viscous to pass as water. Luckily I have 35 years of lab experience so this is not going to be rocket-surgery |
Signet Loyal user 257 Posts |
The trick you are speaking of is called dissolving coin. It's the first trick taught in Tarbell. If you download Dan Harlan does Tarbell vol 4, it's on there. He says to use a votive candle holder, not a glass. The diameter of the bottom has to be the same as the disc. He uses plain water and it seems to work well. I tried to get the discs to no avail. A member on here said to buy the mirrored ones and scrape the silver stuff off. I think this would do the trick. I have yet to try it.
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jim ferguson Veteran user Ayrshire, Scotland 386 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 11, 2018, Signet wrote: Hi Signet. The trick is also in the Sachs book, its the eleventh coin item and is called "The Coin Dissolved in a Glass of Water". It also mentions its use with the nest if boxes. While a votive candle holder could easily be used (and many of these are essentially small glasses), any glass of the proper size will work. The glass discs can easily be found on eBay, and come in a variety of diameters and thicknesses. Jim |
karnak Special user Connecticut 747 Posts |
Glass discs of quarter and half dollar size are also readily available at Chicago’s Magic Inc: http://www.magicinc.net/glassdischalfdol......ize.aspx
For a supernatural chiller mixing magic (prestidigitation, legerdemain) with Magic (occultism, mysticism), check out my novel MAGIC: AN OCCULT THRILLER at http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Occult-Thriller-Reed-Hall/dp/1453874836
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Fussing with a glass and water is less practical than you might want. But the premise of a glass having just the right index of refraction to make a coin invisible is pretty good.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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