In my opinion, a gentleman by the name of Clayton Canvaness (I think that is correct) offers the best subtrunk plans. It includes a video and a workbook with step by step instructions. It is a clever design, and it has a very nice folding t** t***. It is built from 1 piece of 3/4 inch plywood. I have built the Osborne Subtrunk, and this is a much better plan and design.

Brock Edwards

Brock,

Do you know where we can find these plans you speak of?

Also, I have a question concerning Paul Osborne's material. Should I buy his smaller books like Classic Illusions and Illusion Systems 1-4, or should I just save some cash and buy the Big Black Book? The Big Black Book seems to be a great value. How much of the material in the smaller Illusion Systems books is contained in the Big Black Book, if any?

Micah

Micah

The Big Black Book has many repeats that can be found in the smaller books, I believe I listed them above.

Classic Illusions has a variety of the same illuions but with different design methods, some look easier than others to build. If it is just the Sub Trunk you are looking for go with the Classic Illusions. If you want lots of illusion plans go with the Black Book reprint.

Definately NOT all of those illuions plans in his smaller books are in the black book. My guess would be one or two from each appear in the Black Book. Right now these books are packed away because I am moving stuff around in my house because of the new addition, however, I did do a research on this and wrote it in the cover of my books. and on the pages of my Big Black Book cross referencing them.

The Haunted Illusion book probably has more within the Black Book than any of the others, if I recall correctly.

Go to the first page in this section, and on your browser go to Edit...Find (on this page)... and type in one key word like "trunk" in the "find field" and it will find every Osborne book which has the word "trunk" in it. It should answer your question on which book is better.

Has anybody seen Osborne's plans for the aga? I just saw they were added to the plans list. The description says it is a 40" lift and will break down to fit into an suv. Can anyone provide more info? Whether it is electric/hydraulic/man powered?

Micah,
I just noticed that Clayton posted earlier in this topic. I would try to contact him to purchase his plans. They are very good, and worth every cent.
Brock

I have recently aquired the blue prints for the Paul Osbourne Sub Trunk illusion and took a trip to the hardware store where I was only able to locate a Tee Nut.

Does anyone know where I can get a pivot bolt and a sliding bolt?

Dennis and Richard, thanks for the compilations of the illusion lists. They should become a reference source for sure! I also beleive that Osborne plans are not that easy to interpret at first, but after some thorough reviews, they get clearer. (Of course, I never took carpentry at any level!!)

Thanks for all terrific posts!

A BIG thank you to you all!!!

Thanks to all of this I have bought both The Black Book and the Classic Illusions.

Does anybody know were I can find Rand Woodbury´s book with "Jam". Which dealer?



Once again,
Thanks!



-Johan Ståhl-

Here's an incomplete list of Illusion Books:

• Abbotts: Nite Club Illusions and Illusionettes - Abbotts
  
• Abbotts: Tops Treasury of Illusions - Abbotts
  
• Ayling: The Art Of Illusion - Will Ayling
  
• Caveny: Servais Le Roy - Monarch of Mystery - Mike Caveney and William Rauscher
  
• Charney: Magic (Great illusions) - 1923 David Charney
  
• Christopher: The Illustrated History Of Magic - Milboure Christopher
  
• Clark: The Worlds Greatest Magic - Hyla Clark
  
• Dart: Conjuror's Book of Stage Illusions - Edward W. Dart
  
• Dawes: The Encyclopedia Of Magic - Edwin A. Dawes
  
• Devant's - Secrets Of My Magic
  
• Devant's Delightful Delusions - Sharpe
  
• Fitzkee: Magic By Misdirection - D. Fitzkee
  
• Forzetting: Paragons and Paradoxes - Milian Forzetting
  
• Genii Illusions - Bill Larsen
  
• Griffin: Illusion Show - Know How by Ken Griffin and Roberta
  
• Hades: Illusionseseme - S.K.V. Kumar/Mickey Hades
  
• Harbin: The Magic of Robert Harbin - Robert Harbin
  
• Harbin's - Magic Of Robert Harbin
  
• Hilliard: Greater Magic - Hilliard
  
• Hopkins' - Magic Stage Illlusions and Special Effects
  
• Hull: Stage Illusions for 1-2-3 Performers Show - Burling Hull
  
• Jarrett's - Jarrett Magic
  
• Kaye: Handbook Of Magic - Marvin Kaye
  
• Lewis: A choice Of Miracles - Eric Lewis
  
• Lewis: A continuation of Miracles - Eric Lewis
  
• Lewis: P.T. Selbit A Magical Innovator - Eric Lewis & Peter Warlock
  
• Lewis: The Genius of Robert Harbin - Eric Lewis/Mike Caveney
  
• Magic (special f/x & trick photography) - 1898
  
• Maskellyne: Our Magic - Nevil Maskellyne & David Devant
  
• Mayne: Illusion F/X - A. Mayne
  
• Mayne: Illusionbook - A. Mayne
  
• Mayne: Solo-X - A. Mayne
  
• Mcgill: Magic Of Lee Grabel - O. Mcgill
  
• Nelms: Magic and Showmanship - Henning Nelms
  
• Olson: A Tribute to Howard Thurston - Robert Olson
  
• Olson: Illusion Builder To Fu Manchu - Robert Olson
  
• Osborne: Haunted Illusions - Osborne
  
• Osborne: Illusion Systems I - Osborne
  
• Osborne: Illusion Systems II - Osborne
  
• Osborne: Illusion Systems III- Osborne
  
• Osborne: Illusion Systems IV - Osborne
  
• Osborne: Illusions (Evolution) - Osborne
  
• Osborne: The Black Book -Osborne
  
• Owen: Keep the wheels Turning - Owen Magic Supreme
  
• Owen: Owen Magic Supreme Catalog
  
• Reminding and Deceiving
  
• Sharpe: Conjuror's Mechanical Secrets- Sharpe
  
• Sharpe: Conjuror's Optical Secrets - Sharpe
  
• Sharpe: Conjuror's Pneumatic/Hydraulic Secrets- Sharpe
  
• Sharpe: Conjuror's Psychological Secrets- Sharpe
  
• Sharpe: Encyclopedia of Suspensions & Levitations - Sharpe
  
• Steinmeyer: TArt & Artifice - Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: TDevice & Illusion - Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: The Complete Jarrett - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: THoward Thurston's Illusion Show Notebook - Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: TModern Art and Other Mysteries - Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: TThe Jarrett Book - Guy Jarrett, Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Steinmeyer: TThe Magic of Alan Wakeling - Jim Steinmeyer
  
• Tarbell: The Tarbell Course In Magic - Harlan Tarbell
  
• The Science Behind the Ghost Discovering Invisibility
  
• The World's Greatest Magician...
  
• Walker: The Master Illusionists - Mark Walker
  
• Warlock: Buatier de Kolta Genius of Illusion - Peter Warlock
  
• Wells: The Great Illusion of Magic (2 -books) - Byron G. Wells
  
• Wilson: Mark Wilson Course In Magic - Mark Wilson
  
• Woodbury: Diversions - Rand Woodbury
  
• Woodbury: Illusionworks I - Rand Woodbury
  
• Woodbury: Illusionworks II - Rand Woodbury
  
• Woodbury: Illusionworks III - Rand Woodbury
  
• Woodbury: Illusionworks IV - Rand Woodbury
  

Nice list Den thank you.

Many of the books on Den´s list are very hard to find. Especially the older ones. Anybody knows which sellers specialize on hard to find books?

Try here. They have old magic books

http://www.mickyhades.com

or

http://www.magicauction.com

Thanks for the tip. I will take a good look.

You can search here too; http://www.barnesandnoble.com Try the used and out of print section.

Thanks again laci200. I will. I have checked it before with no much luck on magic books. But then again, one has to be checking constantly to see new additions.

I was surprised to see a copy of "Keep the Wheels Turning" on e-Bay last week. More surprising was that it did not sell, apparently not too high a reserve, but no (zero) bids.
I seem to remember an Osborne book of easy-inexpensive illusions in the Mark Wilson vain.
I'm still hoping someone will do a series on building magic, in the style of Wood/ Popular Woodworking articles.
Haunted Illusions has the most bang for the buck. " Bride of the Blades" is a hidden treasure.

I would like to see more videos/DVDs of the building process. Woodbury is the only one I know of who has done this, and it really helps address questions and problems for builders. Since he's really doing it, on camera, you know it works and isn't just a "pipe dream." I would recommend it very highly.

I have the "Bases and Stairs" video. Are there others out there, either by Rand or others?

May I know what are the contents of the Black Book? Is it a compilation of the Osborne Illusion Systems I-IV?

I would like to congratulate Dennis on his outstanding behaviour...For a person to take up his own time in order to help others is just an incredible act of good will.

The Black Book is a compliation of the Genii Magazine illusion articles from 1980-to 1992 (I think that was the range. Yes, there are a few similar ones and some updated ones, but not many.

The Black Book on Osborne's web site is worth the price. It's about 75 cents per plan. Well worth the price.