New to the forum...love it and not sure this is the best place for this (and/or whether I can describe exactly what I remember)... but here goes... I used to have a trick (I think it was Tenyo) that had a plastic gimmick about the size of a playing card. The gimmick was built in such a way to house a single card and allow the spectator to see right through it... As I recall it had light gray bars running across the face of the card and at a certain point it appeared that you could see right through it... even though there was a card in it. Ring any bells? Thanks!!

Transpavision. Also known as "Illusionarium".

Another company (that also ( ) makes toys) is MB (Milton Bradley). They had some very good magic tricks known as 'Magic Works'. They had the same trick with the name 'Mysterious Queen'.

Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVZtHenNWX8 (Magic Patagonia/Cormatches made the video, I think he shows the MB version (correct me if I'm wrong )

Awesome -- that's it -- thank you!!!

The Magic Works version has a deeper box on the back which I think makes it look suspicious. It's still a great trick and I like that the Magic Works version uses a Queen. But the original Tenyo version is very thin and it looks amazing when the card disappears and then reappears.

David or anyone - have you had both Transpavision and Illusionarium? I'm pretty sure they modified the trick slightly when they changed the name and packaging. The window locks on mine (Transpavision). I had a sealed Illusionarium and I noticed that the window slid back and forth freely. Is that right?

Hi Mark

I have ILLUSIONARIUM. I have, a few minutes ago, performed the trick for my very good friend in the mirror and it does seem to have some kind of locking mechanism (without me knowing it, to be honest! - read further).

Afterward I took my genuine ILLUSIONARIUM manual and, when performing 'step 9/10', it says '...hold the panel in the up position with the left first finger' ... .

So ... my Illusionarium doesn't require me to hold the panel 'up' ..., unlike the manual says to do it. Perhaps I am 'lucky' it works for me, without holding the frame up ...

David

I think my post was confusing. What I mean is the window that reveals the card in the case when in normal position - the window that is moved with the little sliding button. Does the sliding button lock on yours or does it move fairly freely?

I'm confused whether or not it would be better to have the locking mechanism (Traspavision) or not? Which do people feel is the better design?

Mark, I now know what you mean; it has no locking mechanism: it moves freely. A locking mechanism would be helpfull however, as now it sometimes just doesn't feel completely 'in position' as you probably know what I mean.
Also, the MB version (Mysterious Queen) has a 'deeper' case, so it is more angle proof, however, as said, it looks more suspicious.

Definitely look for Transpavision. That lock does help.

All of my "Illusionaria" (which might be the plural) need you to hold the frame up yourself so I think your copy, Tweety, is really something special...

/wrong post/

Perhaps a moderator can delete the post above?

Sounds like it, Nicolino, although it only remains up when pulled up 'all the way' ...

I found this post at http://michelmagie.chez.com/T-157.htm and it was translated from french by google:
Note: For the collection "Magic works, the company Hasbro Canada Inc.. edited this trick under the name "MYSTERIOUS QUEEN" in 1995. In this version, a box was added behind the frame, allowing a child to make the turn (his hand too early would not have helped hide a certain element ...).

you are right killertweety...the video is for the MB version...