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Nate The Magician Regular user 159 Posts |
Ok, so I've looked at some simple thimble routines, reviewed the sleights, practiced with a cheap set I found at the thrift shop and I look online to see what there are for sale and they're all plastic. Or polymer. I don't know about you all but that seems a little odd- most thimbles I've seen are metal and shiny.
My questions are: 1) is a metal thimble set feasible with more advanced routines moves? 2) is there any specific reason why plastic/ polimer is so prevalent in production of.... (Shoot. No "P" words mean "Thimbles") 3) I believe Cardini had a set of metal, rhinestone studded thimvles- does anyone know his thimble routine? Thank you, Nate. |
Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
I used to do Rosini's thimble routine. I used metal thimbles. I painted red the tips and a band around the thimble, leaving two silver metal bands. Thus, from the bottom: silver band, red band, silver band, red tip. I liked using metal thimbles because I could get two different sizes, so I had particular thimbles for particular fingers.
However, I think plastic is better. Plastic thimbles are lighter and adhere to your fingers better. I used metal just because I was unable to find plastic thimbles that fit my fingers right. I also think that red is not the best color. I believe white, followed by yellow, is the most visible. I believe Jeff McBride also expresses that opinion on one of his DVDs. Paul Rosini's Impromptu Thimble Routine is a good one. It can be found in the "Dai Vernon Book of Magic." |
Nate The Magician Regular user 159 Posts |
Aha! Thank you for the information, Ray. I shall keep that in mind....
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
There are some really nice wooden thimbles, ready for paint, on eBay
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
When I was 14, I had learned the th**b p**m. I borrowed my mom's thimble (metal) and practiced "disappearing it". When my English teacher pointed out that 'disappear' is an INTRANSITIVE VERB, and therefore cannot 'take" an object, I switched to VANISHING the thimble.
Then, at the DIME STORE (!!!) I found PLASTIC thimbles, in different colors!!! I shouted "EUREKA"!! (I've found it! --in Greek) I could do (mirabile dictu!--all the old magic books used words like "voila", "voici" & "mirabile dictu") simple color changes! I even(using Abbott's #7 catalog)tried to make a thimble h*ld*r, so I could produce EIGHT thimbles! GRAVITIY, was my enemy! --and gravity won! Then at 15, I decided that thimbles were a prop for GIRLS! (Years later, Mike Caveney proved that I was in error!) Incidentally, someone above mentioned "ROSINI". The ROSINI, whom I knew was CARL ROSINI (born: ROSENZWEIG) Carl was a real old PRO! PAUL ROSINI, (born Paul Vucik) apparently "borrowed" Carl's name. This did not lead to an amicable relationship! Back to the thimbles: About 50+ years ago, a European magician used cane "tops" like thimbles. I believe he even played ED SULLIVAN! As mentioned, Mike Caveney "hit" with a thimble act, in the early '70s. (Mike's finish with a coin pail size "thimble" produced from a 24" silk was a "killer". (Only thing on stage was an undraped tripod table) The very BEST (IMHO) THIMBLE ROUTINE,(in print) is in one of Karrell Fox's books. BRIEF, SIMPLE, WITH A SURPRISE FINISH, and no chance of GRAVITY "WINNING"! If I ever decide to do a thimble routine, Karrell's would be IT! COLOR? WHITE, or YELLOW.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RS1963 Inner circle 2734 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-12-21 10:40, Dick Oslund wrote: That was Viggo Jahn from Denmark. I seen him lecture in Las Vegas in the early 1980's |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
RS1963 Thank you!!! I'm a SCANDINAVIAN! I cudgeled my brain and could NOT think of his name. I never saw him work, but heard many comments of "EXCELLENT" !
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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RS1963 Inner circle 2734 Posts |
You are welcome. His name doesn't come up too often. I would assume that somewhere the footage of Viggo exists where I don't know however. I have looked a couple of times on Y.T. and hadn't found anything. I'm a quarter Danish. Doesn't seem like hear of Scandinavian magicians too often unless their name has the initials of L.G. But obviously we are around:)
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Does anyone know the Karrell Fox book Dick Oslund is referring to above?
"someone above" |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi Ray! Joel Ray (New Orleans) has my Fox books. I'll ask him go look up the thimble routine. I'll write up a brief description from memory...
Karrell got tired of droppers,etc. He drilled 4 holes in a piece of lumber that fit in his coat pocket. Four thimbles were "installed". I think the other 4 were in various pockets. He produced one, vanished it and reproduced it (?) from a pocket. He did this two more times (I think--I can't recall the exact routine. Anyway The last time he repro'd a thimble it was one of the 4 in coat pocket. (He had finger palmed the other three.) Then he did the classic transposition from one index finger to another. The finish was, he would say, "I imagine that you think I have two thimbles. No, I have eight!" Joel owes me a favor--as soon as I hear from him, I'll post it here. I really liked it.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
Thanks Dick. Much appreciated.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hellol Ray!
My buddy in New Orleans found "a" thimhle routine in one of the Fox books, but it's not THE one! (I never should have sold him the books!!! I'll ask around among my friends. Sorry!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Ray Haining Inner circle Hot Springs, AR 1907 Posts |
No problem. Just curious when an accomplished magician mentions a particular version of an effect they like.
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Donnie Buckley V.I.P. Cleveland, Ohio 1123 Posts |
There's so much plastic out there...
When I do coin magic, I use Peace Dollars: almost sterling silver at 90% silver. They are bright and shiny, easy to see, and make a great sound when they clatter together. So, I've always wanted a set of thimbles in sterling silver. Looks good, looks bright, sounds good, looks classy for close-up. My first set of thimbles were Berland's. They were made from wood, painted red, came with the dropper for stealing them from your coat and included a giant thimble for a finale. Also, check out Geoffrey Buckingham. His thimble manipulation act is on his DVD. |
Nate The Magician Regular user 159 Posts |
Wow! I'm amazed at the great responses here! Thanks to all for posting!
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malaki Elite user 490 Posts |
I have always used metal.
After reading about David Devant, I started experimenting with adding rhinestones. This is really easy, but requires a bit of patience and Epoxy! I now use the "slip-stop" thimbles, for they have divots all over the thimble that will offer a good grip for the glue. First I run a set of larger, colored stones around the rim. This acts as the thimble's rim, allowing you to back palm. Set a large, colored stone into the top of the thimble - as large as you can get to fit within the upper rim. Use small, clear stones to fill in the remainder of the thimble. Stagger them like the divots on a golf ball. Only set two or three rows vertically to keep the weight of the stones from pushing the stones down toward the rim. Apply glue top only the area you will be able to fit with stones, to keep the divots from getting filled with glue before their time. Keep setting stones until you reach the top. The spacing will change as you progress - just go with it and line them up as evenly as you can. Use the regular Epoxy. Do not use 5 minute Epoxy. This 5 minute blend is capable of being softened if set into water. Position the stones with a toothpick or a pair of finely tipped tweezers. You would think that this would make it difficult to hide the thimble, especially under bright lights. NOT SO! The shadow of your hand will shield the thimble from the light, even on stage or in sunlight. These thimbles show up quite nicely! Do not use the plastic rhinestones. They scratch and become non reflective quite soon. Glass is the way to go! |
malaki Elite user 490 Posts |
Addendum:
I have used the plastic rhinestones, but only in specific situations. Faceted stones are not period for the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, I have never found any rhinestones in a cabochon styled "cut", but found that if a thin coat of clear fingernail polish is applied to the faceted plastic, the plastic rhinestones will melt on the surface, reforming into a cabochon. The same fate awaits it though, for the plastic will still scratch with use over time, but the fingernail polish does delay the degradation a bit. |
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