In the card museum in Cincinnati, which is closed for some reason, I read there is a "Gambler's Case" featuring cheating devices used in the late 1800's. Have any of you seen this case and if so can you tell us what is in it please.

A deck of cards
A copy of Erdnase
A nailfile
Lipstick
A box of kleenex
And a copy of Razzle.

And a small, freeze-dried frog wearing a tiny sombrero and playing a little wooden mariachi guitar... but no one is quite sure why that was in there.

Erdnase! That did not come out until 1902. Are you sure that features? Everything else is standard cheating equipment: The frog is for hopping.

Isn't there also a rambling from Harry Lorayne inside stating that the Erdnase book "was just a rip off of something that he'd written years before when he was a poor street kid but he still hadn't been paid a dime for"?

Also the lipstick is the same shade as his - "just two great minds thinking alike"!

Owen's brothers Magic Co. Used to sell a case with equipment for a gambling lecture. This included marked cards loaded dice a hold out and a few other things. I think Rolland Hamblem wrote the instruction book for it - but I could be wrong. Rolland Hamblen also invented Jailed card that Owen (Thayer) also put out.

I thought the frog had a top hat and sang "Hello, My Baby" to whomever found the box, eventually driving the owner insane and into financial ruin.

Please... That was a horrible rumor created by Marlo who in fact held the poor frog captive in his basement for over 30 years. The horrors that poor frog witnessed. Not ANOTHER version of oil and water!"

Owen sells the Merv Taylor, Bob Haskell Gamgling act (I have one of the originals) that was a complete act with gaffes, deck switches built into the table, etc.

I take it that none of you have been to the Card Museum in Cincinnati. I would have thought any card guy, close enough, would have been interested in what they have there. No wonder they closed it.

Thanks for tips the Gambling act case.

So what do think you think a real cheat would have in his case today.

Tommy

Money, lots o' money.


A.

Actually they use cheque books in real high stakes games believe it or not.

With equipment comes the possibility of getting caught with it. Good as they are - shiners, marked cards, hold outs, bugs, the punch - all of this can be spotted in a game or at a show.

The use of belly stripers made by a card cutter with a corner rounder or with a deck press and sandpaper or a sharp piece of glass can be spotted as well. People that use these things run the risk of getting caught.

I think that that is why I like the stuff in Erdnase because it is skill and the magician doesn't need the above equipment. But I do like collecting the above equipment and playing with it and trying to find a magic use for it.

What I have in my cigar box is a punch, one hold out bug, two card presses for making stripper decks. And a nail file. But the only things I use once in a while are the nail file and the card punch. Depending on the show and what effects I am doing.

Cool Glen

Your right. Have you seen that film "Shade" and seen The Deans case. I was just curious and wondering if that was the case from the U.S. Playing Card Museum or maybe it was Jasons as he seems to have an interest in this stuff.
I know a couple who have your DVDs in their case today.
Maybe they would have Fortes, Ortiz, Turner and Ortize DVDs and books like Forte and still Erdnase and RCT and ECT Phantoms. In fact all they would need is a lap top and a camera for practice and they might put all their books on discs for staying in hotel rooms. I would like to see what the Gaming Board in Vegas as siezed over recent years from card cheats.

Tommy

Thank you for the complement. Wait till you see the new stuff it rocks!

Thanks again Tommy...