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Julie Inner circle 3948 Posts 
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Speaking of "improvement"...the ever-inventive U.F. Grant developed a very clever prop he called the A.B.C.THRU SUCKER BLOCK BOX. This was a really
l-o-n-g time ago (relative to us youngster magicians  ).
The apparatus consisted of a large yellow block with A.B.C. letters and a rectangular shaped container with two large round see-thru holes in the back (one on each side) and an open front (no attached doors at all). Picture a die box with no doors and a large hole in the back wall on either side. There was also a groove in the front (top & bottom) that served as track(s) for a separate (just one) sliding door. Now it's showtime! Ingeniously, the wooden block was placed into the open cabinet and the loose door was placed into/upon the track and the block vanished! Just as easy and clean as that... Of course, there was the byplay of the loose door being slid over the front of the die (hiding same). Next the cabinet was tilted and the door--supposedly with the die hidden behind it--would slide over to the other side of the box. All the while the large holes in the back of the cabinet could be seen through; the two sides were NEVER covered at one time. When the audience had been worked up to a suitable frenzy, the magician would remove the sliding door and show the large die had truly vanished, only to reappear somewhere else at his discretion. 'Not a bad effect for four or five decades or more ago, is it? Julie & Co. |
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts
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I once (1965) had a small all plated metal die box, About 2x4 inches with a red block. Never seen another one.
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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Julie Inner circle 3948 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 10, 2021, ringmaster wrote: I recall there was a discrepancy with this set because the red block was a small solid red cube with rounded corners about the size and general appearance of a regular dice/die and made of Catalin(sp?) or other hard solid plastic material (no spots); but the shell was made of straight edged metal with no rounded corners. Because the apparatus was small, it was considered a close-up trick, but the difference between the regular red dicey-looking ungimmicked piece and the feke was easily noticed by close-up spectators. On the positive side, it was a pretty set with the shiny chrome looking Die Box. Julie |
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Magical Moments Special user 872 Posts
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Quote:
On Sep 11, 2021, Julie wrote: I own one of those and Julie is correct. The you know what does not match the actual red cube with the rounded corners. What in the world were they thinking when they made it!? Lol There is one which was available a few years ago which is just terrific? It is black plastic with tiny brass knobs on the front doors and made just as it should be. The die is black with white spots and the you know what is a perfect match and extremely deceptive. Surprisingly good to be honest. It even has the sliding sound! I carry it around quite often and perform it. |
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bobmag56 New user 61 Posts
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I have heard that the John Dahms Die Box is very good. He was not a magician, but instead a wood-worker. I have his Nest of Boxes which is excellent.
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CDenys New user 56 Posts
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts
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On Jan 15, 2022, CDenys wrote: Thanks!
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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wwhokie1 Special user 513 Posts
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On May 27, 2021, Julie wrote: |
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johnmagic Regular user 13419 fitzhugh road austin tx 78736 110 Posts
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I bought a beautiful four-inch Die box from Mel Babcock . He custom-made it for me in black and gold which he said he had never made one like it before .quality is not as good as Owen Magic but very excellent. I have Owens magic oriental Die box .The very best they are no longer in business so you’d have to find a used one.
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Julie Inner circle 3948 Posts
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Quote:
On Mar 14, 2022, wwhokie1 wrote: |
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rs-magic New user Texas 20 Posts
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I realize this is an old thread, but Mel Babcock made a SUPERB See-Thru Block Box (with a yellow block that vanishes). He made one for me a few years ago. Both blocks look identical. The block design looks like a Rubicks cube that is all yellow. Its a real stunner. I prefer it to the Die Box.
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Julie Inner circle 3948 Posts
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On Dec 21, 2023, rs-magic wrote: As a point of interest: Mel makes (made?) this style die box as a solid yellow "pineapple" block and also with little black divider lines between the squares painted (magic marker) with the block showing a a Rubik's-type design. I think it just depended upon his creative mindset at the time of manufacture. |
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David Todd Inner circle 2552 Posts
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I'm happy to say I now own a Mel Babcock Die Box. It's the model that has the "double feke" (not to say too much , but those who know what it is will know what I'm referring to ...) which allows for performing the Robert Gunther routine that appeared in Charlie Miller's Magicana column in Genii Vol. 30, No. 9 , May 1966 , and the Gunther routine was also used by Roy Benson and it is covered in Levent's essential book "Roy Benson By Starlight". Gunther's routine is different than the usual die box routine. If you have a subscription to the Ask Alexander database look it up in Genii, Vol. 30, No. 9, May 1966 , or if you own the book "Roy Benson by Starlight" see page 541 - 547 "The Dice Box". (and the Benson book is also available on Ask Alexander for Silver Level or Gold Level memberships.)
Levent writes: "This effect, entitled simply The Dice Box, was published in the May 1966 Genii in Charlie Miller’s “Magicana” column. Its creator was Robert J. Gunther, a magician and Disney animator who worked on Fantasia, Bambi, and other classics. As I studied Gunther's routine , I realized that it was the best Die Box routine I had ever encountered." ------ Summary of Robert Gunther Dice Box routine (from Genii, May 1966) - A small box is shown with two doors hinging outward. The doors are opened to reveal a PAIR of large dice in the box. ONE of the dice is removed from the box and placed in a hat. Now the performer states that he will cause the die in the hat to magically return to the box. He opens first one door and then the other revealing a die in each compartment. The audience is quick to detect that each time he closes a door, he tilts the box toward the other door sliding the die to the other compartment. The audience soon begins shouting, "Open both doors at once!" The magician complies and both chambers of the box are seen to be absolutely empty! Picking up the hat, the magician says:"Because you were so unimpressed with one flying die, I made them BOTH fly back to the hat", removing TWO dice from the hat and placing them both back in the box. (It is more logical to have TWO dice in the two-chambered box at the start and a better effect is obtained at the finish when both dice are revealed in the hat.) ---- Here is the Babcock Die Box I just purchased (would have preferred a white die with black spots , but I may refurbish it to change to white die with black spots) It's a beautiful prop, as are all of Babcock's props. In a moment of weakness (and unemployment!) I sold the Babcock ABC Blocks that I owned. Wish I still had it.   I also own a standard die box made by a company called Old Time Magic Co. , which is smaller than the Babcock box . I quite like it as well , but it doesn't allow for the Gunther routine. Overall, I would say the Babcock box is better,although the Old Time Magic Co. die box has the white die style that I prefer. I appreciate both of them.  I also like that the interior of this one isn't flat black.  . |
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Posted: Sep 5, 2021 06:10 pm 
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