I'd like to add the silks off hanger to my birthday party show. I bought one and practiced with it for a day and it was so cheaply made it never really worked right. The hanger itself was so cheap that it barely held together just from the little bit of use. I had to tape it back together and parts kept falling off. Is there a place to buy one that is well made and will stand up to repeated uses and many shows? I've seen an effect I think at Hank Lees that used the silks and a wooden bar for the same effect of silks falling off one at a time but now I can't find it. All the silks off hanger I find for sale are around $20.00 so I'm assuming they are all the same thing. I'd gladly pay more for a quality prop. Any ideas?

Hi,
Mark leveridge magic has a very nice wand which does the same effect, though if you can get one I use an old Supreme magic "Popsy pegs" I peg four coloured socks on it and they jump off in the order selected I also have mine gimmicked as per an Eric Sharp idea so that the last sock jumps off when the prop is on the table and I am some distance away (no threads)
Phillip

Thanks Phillip, I'll check Mark Leveridge web site for the effect. Does Eric Sharp have lecture notes where I could find the other idea?

Eric

Hi Eric

Shame you didn't ask Phillip about this a couple of days ago as we were both with Eric Sharp yesterday at the Bristol Convention.

Eric Sharp is also a member of my local club, the Cotswold Magical Society; so I'll be seeing him next Wednesday. I'll ask him about the 'jumping socks off' for you if you wish.

Meanwhile, I do have some old notes of Eric's knocking around, so I'll also see if there is anything there for you.

Cheers

John Breeds

Thank you very much. "Jumping Socks Off" sounds like fun.

Eric

HI,
The Popsy pegs was put out by supreme magic Eric only came up with the addition to the prop that allows the last peg to pop off without you holding the prop the addition is in his book called "specialised routines for children" However as it was not his prop to expose the full workings of popsy pegs is not there. The original supreme prop came with pegs and coloured ribbons, I just chose to use socks as I think they are funnier for kids. the supreme prop also came with a very useful stand which holds four cards with coloured spots (mine have pictures of socks) anyway a child can remove a picture show it around and replace it in the stand while your back is turned, as soon as you turn around you know the colour selected (it is similar to the Koran billiard ball thing) I like to work it as a build up the first sock is simply the colour called out by a selected helper the second and third remove the cards form the stand as described the remaining one is the Eric sharp hands off climax
Phillip

I have and use a popsy pegs (I bought it second hand, so I assume it was a supreme one). I pretend that my pet "flea" is going to do mind-reading magic. I go through a big deal of blindfolding the flea, etc.

Then, I have a child pick a coloured card. Then the blindfold is removed, and the flea moves along, and pops off the peg with the matching coloured ribbon.

I also do another brief bit with the flea, before doing this routine.

I enjoy performing popsy pegs. I have never owned a silks off clothes hanger, so can't comment on that prop. Sorry.

- Donald.