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scolman Elite user Cape Town, South Africa 456 Posts |
I am looking to make a miniature spirit cabinet. I have seen these on the market but they are quite expensive and very hard to come by.
The effects are numerous with the most common being: a)A ball is moved by a spirit from the floor into a container whilst the doors are closed. b) A ring of sorts is threaded onto a rod or wand whilst the doors are closed. c) Objects are transformed or disappear. d) Notes are written by the spirits on previously blank paper. I have a fair idea of the principle behind these cabinets but could someone please let me know if any plans are available anywhere. Simon |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
I just recently bought a booklet on Ebay called the Miniature Haunted House, by The Great Leon. It was originally published by LL Ireland, now Magic, Inc. in Chicago. Check them for availability. The premise behind this house are visible manifestations, levitations, spirit writing, etc. after the front of the doll house has been removed to expose the interior. It's a cool idea, and I am definitely going to build one. It is set up as a one-man operation, but an assisitant could make a world of difference.
By the way, where have you seen the item you described on the market? I'd like to check it out also.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
scolman Elite user Cape Town, South Africa 456 Posts |
Michael,
I first saw one advertised on the Viking website. http://www.vikingmagic.com (Sheishin No Cabinet - The thing is always on back order though - $325) There was also an old Milson Worth Astro Ball cabinet on auction at the last Martinka Auction. It went for $324 Thanks for the tip on the Haunted miniature house, sounds interesting. I may be able to adapt it to what I need. Simon |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Yeah, I saw the MW Astro Ball Cabinet on Martinka's auction. Thanks for the link to Viking. I hadn't seen this item before. Shouldn't be too difficult to reconstruct the method. The craftsmanship is another thing...
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Hiya, Magi:
I think this sort of gizmo goes back to Stewart James, and Corinda's got a pretty description of James' one-man spook cabinet in "Thirteen Steps To Mentalism." That ring threading part is certainly James' "Sefalaljia." Corinda's description has got some dated humour which I'd leave out, and I'd probably toss in some out-of-the box manifestations (Telekinetic Timber anyone?), but it's a nice bit. Recommended! Leland |
scolman Elite user Cape Town, South Africa 456 Posts |
Hi guys, well I completed my mini spirit cabinet.
I got hold of The mini haunted house booklet (The great Leon) thanks for the tip Michael - it has proved invaluable and has given me some good ideas for some old "cheesy" props. I bought an old smokers/tobbacco cabinet and modified it by removing the shelves and lining it with velvet and sponge. I just need to put a lock on it and some olde handles. I must say, the cabinet presents many opportunities and can be used as an entire routine all on its own with the performer putting a variety of objects into the cabinet, one at a time and having them do some spooky stuff. Requires relatively little skill and a knack for storytelling. Anyway, just wanted to thank those who pointed me in the right direction. Simon |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Simon,
Glad you got your house/cabinet well along. I'd love to see a picture of it if you can share one. I am actively in the pre-construction phase of mine right now. I wanted to make sure I had a "look" for the house that I could work with... more than just the generic house, as described in the book. I believe now I was looking in the wrong direction, and should have been looking closer to home. Last night, the idea hit... I live in Alabama, and there is an author, Katherine Tucker Windham, who wrote "13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey". It concerns specific haunted sites around Alabama, many from the post-Civil War Era. So my thought was to loosely play off that theme and design my mini haunted house in an Antebellum style. After an extensive internet search, I was fortunate enough to find a photo of an Antebellum home that is also consistent with the design necessary to make the Leon House operate properly. So, armed with that photo, I made a cardstock mock-up of the house to study the roof pitch requirements and the necessary angle to construct the gabled porch (I know there's a mathematical formula for this, but it seems to be eluding me!). Anyway, I can now say that the ball is rolling. The theme now also gives reason and credibility for some of the props that will and can be used in the routine. I never wanted to just copy the Leon routine.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
This sounds interesting.
My father is working on making a "Dean's Box" for me. Would the routines for the Haunted House augment this? or is the concept totally different? I found the manuscript for $7.5, is it worth buying? Other than its exterior appearance, would the house be much harder than to build a Dean's Box? Thanks John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Not familiar with the workings of Dean's Box, but more info on the miniature haunted house here.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
John Long Inner circle New Jersey 2826 Posts |
Thanks Michael
Below is a link to a description and video of Dean's Box(which is essentially a box with a hinged front and holes on side and top. It's basic effect are 2 ropes are threaded through holes in the sides of the box, and they end up linked(2 methods), and similarly a ring is tossed into the box, and then found to be on the rope(whose ends were extending out the sides of the box the whole time.) My understanding of Dean's Box is that it is not IT, or electronic, but enough hanky-panky to get the job done. I was interested in augmenting the Dean's Box routine with something that wouldn't take a lot of re-engineering the the box itself. I'm not, yet, the craftsmans you apparently are - I appreciate that. I hope to develop some carpentry skills, and obtain some tools, as/if time allows. Do you know of sources for the haunted house manuscript? I found it for $7.50 at magicInc. http://www.thetrickery.com/?nd=full&key=5452 Thanks John
Breathtaking Magic;
Not Breath Taking |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
$7.50 at Magic, Inc. is good. They are the publishers. I found mine on Ebay and probably paid the same with postage.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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