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dsalley13 Elite user 465 Posts |
Charlie Miller's use of a Thornton Reel for a card fountain is in the October 1968 issue of Genii, in the Magicana section. It's on the "Magicana" disc (CD) if you have or can buy one. Charlie references it as a "Thornton Card Reel". I'm not sure it is the same one that is called a Thornton Windlass or if indeed they were all called windlasses.
I just bought a new in the box, unused Thornton Windlass (100 foot capacity with instructions included) on eBay. It has a mailing label on the box that shows it to be from the LeRoy Magic Emporium in Connecticut. When it arrives I'll see if it is suitable for use as Miller's Card Fountain effect. I'd like to research it and find if there were other models. If anybody can point me in the proper direction to accomplish this research, I would be very appreciative. Here's a link to the Thornton Windlass that I purchased: http://tinyurl.com/29cg4sb I love reels and am trying to get at least one example of each of the more popular ones throughout the years. Martin Breese has released the "Repro" brand reels from decades ago. They are built simplistically in comparison to a modern reel like the El Duco version, but the sheer horsepower is amazing! Your hook-up can really hurt you if it comes back too fast, even with a load on it. Amazingly quick little buggers too. I have re-loaded one (the "Repro" Locking Reel") with #4 (0000) silk suture and installed some flat Teflon bearing surfaces (Tango-Magic Teflon disks on top of playing card stock). That kicked the speed and power up a good notch or two. It became a bit quieter too. dsalley13 |
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David Alexander Special user 623 Posts |
Dsalley13
What you bought is a Thornton Long Pull Reel. It originally sold for $2.50. This is the device that Charlie was referencing when he wrote up his Card Fountain in Genii all those years ago. With its counter-balanced springs it delivers a steady pull at three feet or fifty feet. It is a wonderful device. Instead of the fountain coming out of a box Charlie's version happened in a clear glass that was held at the magician's fingertips. All the cards poured out of the glass except the selected card which the spectator could remove. There was nothing to see as the gimmick removed itself. It requires a bit of prep but produced a far more magical effect. Congratulations on acquiring a rare piece of apparatus. |
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