Hello all,

I need some help / advice. I looking to add to my seance a "telling device". I saw both Andino's hand from Hocus-Pocus and the Ultimate Spirit Bell from Stephen's magic.

I like the idea of the bell that looks ordinary versus a hand that can maybe be more obviously gimmicked. But on the other hand, the hand is quite creepy. I have'nt really thought of the impact of those from a spectator point of view and I would really like to hear you opinions on both device. Is the hand very strong or is the simpler bell more effective.

Thanks for your thought on this.

Ben

Not having either of these items, my remarks may be taken as odd ramblings from me!
How many people are you seating, 12-13, or a larger group? consider visibility for the venue, and the ability for the guests to participate- like with a Ouija.
Are you wanting a continuous indicator, or a finale big bang sort of item? I could see the bell as a stand alone item, if placed strategically and lit carefully, it would be both a clear visual as well as audible response.
Kay

I was thinking that Andino's hand could be used with PK Touches and all kinds of other effects. The price is waaaay steep but may be worth it.
Buy both!

When the Spirit Bell was introduced there were some problems with the power -- but it is my u8nderstanding they have been licked.

It is MOST powerful because it brings a sense of sound into the Seance....and can work both dark AND light...

Tom,- who makes these -- is a master craftsman and a kinda perfectionist. Since it can be done under glass -- priceless.

However if you want an Olde Timey seance feel - Andino's hand does look likle that type of prop, IMHO.

If you can find one check out the Spirit Glass from Michael Fraughton. Totally examinable and very effective. His company is called Deja Vu, I don't know if he has a web site but I think Yendor's world of magic carries it. 440-585-2463

I hope this is true, but in two instances that I know of (different performers' bells) the bell failed. It is a complex modern device that is inherently prone to possible failure. If you are dependent on the bell for your presentation, you need to purchase at least two so as to have a backup unit.

I much prefer to use Ed Fowler's idea. It is simply a bell handing from a thread. You can carry it into the audience. It is expecially effective for groups of up to, say, 20 people. You can contact Fowler to purchase instructions: carlyle@cox.net

Fowler, performing as Carlyle, originated the seance at the Magic Castle.

If you use a rapping hand, consider getting an old Thayer or similar. No electronics, threads, virtually nothing to go wrong.

Thanks for your all your thoughts.

For those who use a rapping hand, don't you have difficulties to have it pass as a medium's item and not just a gimmicked prop ? Isn't it too uncommon for people not to think too much about it and forget what we are trying to achieve ?

As for the bell, I think I'll pass on the ultimate spirit bell if it is like to fail and go for a simpler version with thread.

Maybe you can get your spectators schnockered before the seance. Anything is possible in that state but you'll probably need a liquor license..

The method of Ed Fowler's (Carlyle) spirit bell is the same as Michael Fraughton's. I believe Michael tips his method (not 100% sure), or at least his presentation in his newly released (and HIGHLY recommended) eBook called "The Dark Waltz" and avaiable from Lybrary.com.

The method is undetectable, but only good for a small number of sitters, as the "ring" isn't very loud. Also, it is easy to put together and will only take a little hunting at flea markets or antique stores and an investment of about $10 for all the materials.

Magickally,

Dave Birtwell

Thanks Dave,

I have just bought the Dark Waltz, which routine is the one with the spirit bell ?

Ben:

You can find it described under the "Light Seance" starting on page 35. There ARE details on how to make the bell as well.

Dave

Thanks Dave.
I also read his toughts on the rapping hand, very interesting.

A couple of months ago I made an AMAZING purchase from Lebanon Circle in the UK. It is called 'The Ghost in The Machine'. This is loosely based on Edison's Machine to Communicate with the Dead. It outshines a spirit Bell or a hand rapper in my opinion after putting it to the test in front of a decerning audience of Politicians at a impromptu Seance that I held a couple of months back.

Here is the story of how the night went from my BLOG.

2 nights ago I was given access to the old Train Station in St.Thomas, one of the largest and most important Stations in the early 20th Century. A relic from another time period. This station is now closed and boarded up. - *Sidenote- St.Thomas was the infamous town that Barnum and Baileys Incredible Gargauntuan Elephant 'JUMBO' was killed. Hit by an oncoming train! The Ironhorse Society has access to the Station and I decided that it would be a good idea to try an impromptu Seance on the site. They agreed with my idea and 13 people from the Society went with me at 11:30 pm to the Station. Now, there is an area at the very top floor of the building that was called the 'Black Porters Station Area', this was the area that the Black and Chinese workers slept during thier stay at the station. (not even Canada can escape historically from the old world segregation policies) I felt that this area would be ripe with energy and so I proceeded on setting up a table and chairs to commence a Full-Blown Seance. I had the forsight of bringing with me to St.Thomas a new device acquired from across the Atlantic in London. This device was invented by Thomas Edison (the inventor of the Lightbulb) and it was a machine to communicate with the dead. This machine was placed on the center of the table and the way that it works is, when Electro-magnetic Energy crosses between two copper poles it sets off an alarm (a buzzer). The only way that the buzzer will go off is if the two poles are breached. A brilliant piece of equipment for testing for Spirits. At midnight I began the Seance and at first had no real luck with the device..... but then after a few questions put forward to the Etherial World... success! The buzzer went off! Over time we divised a way of using a simple morse code with the entity and had it eventually answering questions. Its name was Ben. He died in 1912 and he did not go naturally... during the Seance we did some Telekenetic tests and actually had a penny move about 4 inchs and also an old Skelton Key started to rotate on its own accord. Everyone was holding hands in the circle, and there was no close contact by ANY of the spectators or myself. What we witnessed was a very successful test of Paranormal Activity!


Now understand that this BLOG entry was written for my fans, so I wrote it as an essay of the night for laye people. I make it sound like we were all working together to try and find a way to communicate with the spirit... but I was just baiting them with a psychological carrot to keep the Seance feeling as impromptu as possible.

All in all, I felt that the evening was a HUGE success and it was thanks to the Great effect from Lebanon Circle. If you have never heard of this effect, you can check it out at http://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk

I hope that this helps as an idea that sits just outside of the realm of Spirit hand or Bell routines, its nice because it is different from what people are used too, at least historically.

Scott McClelland
Carnival Diablo
http://www.carnivaldiablo.com

Also, as a side note: I was not in character or make-up like my avatar.

Nice post doctorrigormorto! Do you use a rapping hand or a spirit bell?

Thanks for the post, Doc. This is very good news for me since I recently purchased one of these boxes myself, but have not as yet tried it out with spectators. I do, however, have a seance coming up in a room of an old building where many ghostly occurences have been reported. As for the rapping hand, there is an effect described in Borodin's book Sheherazade that uses a homemade rapping hand. I don't use it myself, but it seems like it would be effective. The book is definitely worth checking out.

Thanks a lot doctorrigormorto, great idea and great avatar too ! I love your website.
As for Borodin's book Sheherazade does anyone know where I can find it ?

Hi JAlens, I own a Rapping Hand and a Nodding Skull (1930 Thayer I think, from my grandfathers Seance Act) and for the longest time I wanted a Spirit Bell, but this effect is the most effective for parlour situations... and it CANNOT be detected.

Prof. Pabodie, have fun with the Box... it has Great potential!

Thanks Ben G for the compliment!

Scott McClelland
Carnival Diablo

Here you go, Ben G: http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=7103

A word on Andino's Hand. The prop is exquisitely designed except for one HUGE thing. The click that you can hear on the video is very hard to cover. I'm finding it difficult to do so. Turning the music up loud enough to cover the click would let the sitters know something is up beside the music. Maybe a glass case with some sound damping material would work. Or, disregarding how much this sucker costs, mabe some IT will fix the click problem. If nothing else, Andino's Hand is a beautiful collector's item.. (Same problem with the "Balsamo").