I have two of the half dollar boxes purchased directly from Dominique back in the day. Actually I bought the first in 96 and liked it so much I bought a second a couple of days later before I left France. I've used one or the other fairly regularly since. They work exactly as intended with no issues.

Given the problems mentioned above I doubt if I'd buy one unseen by mail. If I was going to buy by mail I'd probably have to know and trust the seller (for example John Mendoza) or know the dealer well enough to call them, have have them inspect the box. and insure that it works as advertised (for example Denny Haney).

I love the brick and mortar shops just for this reason.

Thank you, Harry. Nothing like an unsolicited and unexpected compliment to make my day! And, speaking of Duvivier's Box, I do have an original that will be on my list (provided it doesn't get sold before that list comes out.) Thanks, again.

John

I bought many years ago in FISM, Dresden Germany.
Verygood effect....nice and quite rare.

I bought one from someone on the Café years ago after seeing the demo. I also picked up the DVD with the routine on it. I paid $100+ in total.

Mine too fell apart when I was practicing with it. I tried to repair it but I was unable to fix it just right.

I too was disappointed.

Now it sits in my drawer.

-Nick

Thanks for boboshempy's kindness, I now own this wonderful piece. I've been experimenting with it for the last day since I got it, gone through all the stuff Dominique has with the coin box on his dvds and in his book. I know that the new version that started selling in November has a dvd that comes with it; any new routines or ideas that isn't in anything previously released?

Rick

I have been contacted by a few folks about this box based on this thread, and there is another thread on this as well.

Again, I feel the method is very clever. Based on the method, the best working scenario for this box is if it is not handed out for inspection at the end of the routine. if you do not plan on using this daily, you will most likely have less to worry about.

After cycling this box about 50 times, I now have some mechanical issues with it. And this has nothing to do with "a knock-off box." Unfortunately, seeing the box before one buys it.......will not help. This is purely about mechanical engineering and physics. For $100, the design and manufacturing of this box does not support extreme high usage. I would like to see this box designed with magnetics, tighter tolerances, and a higher box weight ratio as compared with the "you know what." Again, that type of design would be sold for several hundred dollars and well worth the money. However, if one only performs with this box once in a while, he/she may be quite happy with the low end $100 version and may not see the longer term issues that I have already seen.

As for the "falling apart", folks who have purchased the box can PM me for a quick fix.

caL

As I was talking about another Duvivier product somewhere else in the café it made me remember that I never added my two cents to this thread. This product is astounding. Can't say much about the quality of the props of the newly made boxes as I have the original version with 5 francs coins but I perform this very regularly and it always slays the audience.
I used it again at a gig a couple of weeks ago and the look on people's face as they inspect the solid bloc at the end (remember: NO SWITCHING OF THE BOX !) is priceless.

And the Okito box can also be used for any of your "traditional" routines.

11 out of 10. This one's a keeper.

J.

I'm glad. You obviously never bought one of mine.

Great info!

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but wondered if anyone could help me. Earlier in the thread someone mentioned Ken Brooke's routine with three boxes. It's not in the Ken Brooke Book (unless I've missed it!) - so I'm wondering where I might track the routine down please?

PS - From a little more research I think the routine might have been called the One Twenty coin box routine - but I don't know if it was only released with the props or whether it was published anywhere else. If anyone does have the routine and were able to send me a scan to try with my own set of boxes, that would be AMAZING! Thanks.

Ken put out a series of booklet titled "The Ken Brooke Series". Booklet number 1 is titled "The Magic Box" and is the complete routine as mentioned above.

Stevens Magic carries the entire series. BookletNumber 1:
https://www.stevensmagic.com/shop/ken-br......olume-1/

Hi Harry, thanks for a quick reply. Can you confirm - does this definitely cover the routine with the three boxes? It sounds from the description as though it might just cover the one box routine which is in the Ken Brooke Book.

And one final related question (!) - I have recently acquired a Duvivier Box. Is there somewhere I can access instructions? I can obviously work out the basics from watching the performance, but more detail would be really helpful. Sorry for all the questions! Thanks.

Yes I can confirm that the booklet definitely covers the routine with the three boxes. All of my books, pamphlets, DVDs and most props are presently stored away (renovating the house) so do not have ready access to it or to the Duvivier Box instructions.

Thanks Harry. That's really helpful. If anyone else knows of a source for the Duvivier Box instructions I'd be grateful.

I have inherited the Duvivier Box. How can I tell if it's the original or the newer version.

Best

Steve

It's been 10 y4ars since someone said that the prop was poorly made. Are there any current opinions on the quality? Surely they have improved it by now. Amazon seems to have one for $30