Hello everyone,



On some old Copperfield specials, he has done illusions (Torn & Restored Baseball card comes to mind) that end with smoke coming from between his hands.



For instance, at the end of the baseball card restoration, he "irons out" the wrinkles on the card, when he does so, he puts his hands together and smoke comes out of the pocket, making it look like he actually ironed it.



Please email me if you have a method for doing this: grasshof@msu.edu



Thanks!



Jason G

It's ages since I've heard anyone mention the DC baseball card restoration. Cool trick, and if memory serves me right it was put out for sale... at $500. It would appear though that this was marketing ploy and didn't really exist in the form DC did it, if at all. It was called Torn Asunder. As to the smoke I think it was some weird gimmick put out by the Camirand Academy... It's all possible to do the whole effect for real though. If you invest in a certain G Hollingworth book (for Reformation)...get some Letteraline by letteraset and smoke 2000. Then learn a good top change...

Didn't Paul Harris market an effect a year or two ago that did this smoke production? Can't remember the name of it though.

Yup DC did do a 'smoke effect' with a lump of coal changing into a diamond... but he also did 'smoke' on restoring the baseball card... honest.

Jay Scott Berry also makes and markets a "certain something" that you can use for this as well.

If someone would like to Email me about this smoke effect, I am sure that I can help. I would post it here but I am not so sure that this would be the place to give up a way cool secret.
Jim

I have heard that this thing you mention is a hoax... because nobody has seen that effect.

If anyone can complete the info, please, post it.

Jorge

Go here: http://www.camirandmagic.com/
and check out Gary Ouellet's "In a Puff of Smoke." Apparently used by DC in the
"Gretsky Card Trick." I just bought the manuscript last week but haven't begun the working process yet...

Regards,
Brett

Gary Ouellet's "In a Puff of Smoke can really burn you and is not safe.
Ultra Smoke 2000 is the way to go and has lots more smoke. Any dealer sells it.

merlinskingdom.com

http://www.hanklee.net/extras/extra0602.html

Wow Zigmont,
Thanks for the info. On my first glance, all through the manuscript it keeps stressing how this is a safe, performance tested, method. What is your experience or knowledge of the danger here?

Regards,
Brett

Well... the Chemical used is an irritant (and has a penetrating acid odor) to the eyes and respirtory tract. It will also react violently to water vapors and create a gas that can irritate skin, eyes, nose and throat and can cause burns.

The second set of chemicals that you can use is worse. With these, the fumes are corrosive. Other acids could be used, but if a drop of water was to fall on/into the acid - a strong exothermic reaction can cause an explosion or the boiling of the acid.

All this right under your arm pit.

This all in the manuscript with all the warning.

It's good for a TV studio with FX techs working the system. But not anything you want to carry or perform with audience mambers around.

I did buy the manuscript and made up the unit and tested it.

Ultra Smoke 2000 can cause a little corrosion on material (shirt cuff) if you don't follow instructions and cap the end. But it is very safe.

Zigmon, you must know that the "Ultra Smoke 2000" has been built by a European mentalist: Ted Lesley.

:hotcoffee:

And the original version has 5 real advantages:

* Cheaper!
* It is always freshly “loaded” before every performance! With a single load you can fire off several dozen clouds of smoke!
* It explains clearly the drawbacks of this chemical! Even if the 1st description of this effect.
* It will explain HOW it works. Then you can make your own gimmicks!
* Of course, it's the original!!!

:hotcoffee:

So, Go to:
http://www.wonderworkshop.de/guest/cgibi......how=1052

I really think we have three different systems here.

1 - In a Puff of Smoke
2 - Ultra Smoke 2000 - is a self contained carriage
3 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Ted Lesley

I think his is talking (below) about, In a Puff of Smoke (at $250.00) not Ultra Smoke 2000.

An American magic dealer copied this system and sold it at an exorbitant price. One “improvement,” however, later proved to be a horrible flaw, because instead of the 500 clouds of smoke that the advertisement promised, the device would only produce, at most, 50 to 70 – and then it was useless! You do not need to fear this any longer with the original method, because it is always freshly “loaded” before every performance!

Several years ago I purchased a like product. The bottle that it came in failed to seal properly needless to say it was a real mess.

The dealer back then took it back and as a favor exchanged it for some Fantasio products. One of the best things that ever happened to me.

About 10 years ago I thought I would give it a go yet again. The same problem persisted, however, this time it ruined much of my magic equipment.

I guess after two times, I should have learned my lesson. Although smoke is a real beautiful addition to any performance, my experience has soured me on the whole idea.

If I am judging this chemical wrong, let me know, because I'd love to add it once again, but not until they come up with something much less corrosive, and safe to use.

Lloyd

Hello Folks,

The first "smoke machine" I saw many years ago. A German dealer sold a big wineglass and had a simple "smoke-machine" built into the thing. The whole caboodle was covered with a beer-mat and a silk, and the performer blew smoke from his cigarette towards the glass. You guess what happened.... (Remember Fred Kaps and his
"Smoking The Thumb-Routine"?

The wineglass was absolutely safe, because there was no dangerous chemical involved.

Our System was built by my teacher and friend the late DANY RAY who used it constantly for a Coin-Routine. It looked beautiful in his hands, but as I asked him for the secret, he told me only that a very dangerous chemical was used, which he got from the little airport in the village, where he was living.

The pilots of the little airplanes sprayed the stuff in the air and made some crazy movements with the plane at the same time and the results were words and numbers which stayed in the air for a few minutes. Mostly the airplanes were hired by big factories for advertising matters.

Dany described his "machine" in a handwritten manuscript, which I found as I and his widow cleaned up his stuff shortly after his death. It was an old, soiled manuscript, which was very difficult to read and I think Dany was the first magician, who used this dangerous, but very effective system. Until I read it here, I had no idea of the Camirand apparatus.

If you construct the apparatus exactly as it is written in our manuscript and handle the chemical accordingly, you will have no problems with it. Before "Lesley´s Wonder Workshop" released the manuscript, the apparatus and its effectiveness was tried and tested many times by a few German magicians, who use the trick since then constantly on stage, in cabaret, but mostly close-up.

If you want to have the manuscript with the title: "SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES" order it directly from my website:

http://www.wonderworkshop.de

Make yourself known as a member of The Magic Café and you will get a discount of 15%. If you order one, two or more items at the same time, you will get the same discount!

More questions? Feel free to ask!

ESPecially and MAGICally

TED LESLEY

I'm looking for a "puff of smoke" effect to use in a routine that involves twin mirror boxes. I don't need the smoke to come from my hands (that's a really cool idea). But I would like the smoke to be triggered by a switch I could rig to a battery perhaps? Thanks for your ideas.
Jim in Los Angeles

Concerning smoke from your hands, is anyone familiar with the item, ELECTRIC MINI SMOKE ($70) offered by Hank Lee's Magic Factory?
Also, I can't seem to find a products section on Jay Scott Berry's website. Can anyone help regarding this?
Thanks, and once again, the coffee has been great here at the Café!!
Marqus

Marqus...

I know I've seen the electric mini smoke in one of my magic magazines, but I have no idea where!

As for the smoke gimmick from Jay Scott berry, just go to http://www.theatrefx.com

It's on there somewhere, write back if you can't find it.

You are correct about the Paul Harris effect which was called portable smoke. I purchased it and used it alot, but actually it was SEVERAL years ago. More kike eight, nine , or ten, or something in that vicinity. I remember because I recall the place I was working at the time, and how I constantly had maintenance running over to fix the machines that had smoke pouring out of them! (Yup! That was terrible, and I'm a sneaky little devil, but it was a perverted bit of fun for me back then.

You had to store the portable smoke devices in the freezer, and eventually they stopped manufacturing them. I believe the devices were manufactured and distributed by either Viking or Vernet. I just remember it started with a V.

I sorely miss this effect.



I believe the effect DC was trying to convey here was STEAM. You know' like when you press your clothes with a steam iron. His hands were supposed to be turned into a portable steam iron, if you will.

At least I believe that is what he was trying to convey.

I spoke to Guy Camirand personally when I first
decided to use the system, it is in fact what Copperfield used, Gary Ouellet was on hand during taping to supervise David's handling of the system.

Zigmont is correct, the "In A Puff System" problematic, it's not for the casual user.

I have used it for some 10 years with no problem, but I can see where someone, who would not respect the chemicals used could go wrong.

It's a system you cant skimp on when
putting it together, if your wondering
the cost to put it together, it's in and
around 250.00 to get all the necessary items
needed to perform it safely. Not to mention
the manuscript, I think it sells for $50.00

Go with Smoke 2000, a lot less hassle