Al Mann - Pandora's Box II

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(201) 431-2429

POST OFFICE BOX 144 • FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728

tlOORA

AL MANN tifa:c/mJe~ POST OFFICE BOX 144 •

201-431-2429

FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY 07728

FOREWORD to PANDORA II copyright by Al Mann gxclusives This book is a sequel and part to "Pandora's Box" the first book ever written on the magician's prediction chest and its art. A lot of time and effort was spent in completing this book, although the subject matter may not be yet eXhausted. Many letters were written and received. Many long distance phone calls made. Much inquiry, investigation, research and testing, besides the years in experience and the money spent in equipment. Nevertheless, every moment was a pleasure and no doubt that this book will reflect the gratifying feeling that comes with belonging to a small exclusive group within a small group of people called magicians. The whole world loves the pseudo-prophet and it is intriguing to sit amongst laymen and listen to their comments in regards to 'headline' predictions. When the magician is caught in trickery, the world laughs it off. When all goes well, the world is awed. Therefor AME salutes this pseudo-superman who enchants the world in these troubled times, today, tomorrow and forever.

Fraternal~~~'

AME thanks Les Smith, proprietor of Owen Magic Supreme for his permission to include the photos of his amazing

(201 ) POST OFFICE BOX 144 •

431-2429

FREEHOL.O, NEW JERSEY 07728

1 3100 OWEN ANNIVERSARY PREDICllON CHEST (c. 0_0·

L Smith)

A handsome copper bound natural wood chest furnished with brass key is entrusted 10 a committee for safe keeping for a considerable time before being opened by the committee. Inside the chest is found a small brass strong box with another key. The strong box is opened and therein is found a prediction of the current events. Some· what smaller than the original Owen pre· diction chest but using the same prindple and even more mysterious and efficient. This when properly presented creates a sensation and leads to more bookings! Chest beautifully made with natural wood grain antiqued and bound in genuine hammered copper. The "Prediction Chest" was first designed. invented. and built by Carl Owen. All others are but plagiarized attempts.

The highest standarts of craftsmanship were used in building Owen's Anniversary Prediction Chest. This is by far the most beautiful and perfect of the 'key' boxes today (1979). This box resembles the Loyd and Stillwell boxes but is superior by a number of qualities not found in any other box. First of all. the Owen Anniversary Box is fashioned after the original Thayer-Owen Ghost chest in that the chest has a sunken base into which the miniature brass box fits so that it will not move out of Fig. 1 alignment. NOTE, This box has been in continuous production since 1965 and has never been out of stock!

2

PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

OWEN ANNIVERSARY PREDICTION CHEST ....... cont. The CHEST. is made of beautiful natural woods, Spanish style treasure chest bound in hand hammered copper fittings with an antique finish. The LOCK, on the chest is a multiple tumbler lock. The KEY, therefor has multiple tumbler cuts instead of the flat-bit key of other boxes. This means that the box cannot be opened without the key except by an expert lock picker. The trick key uses a floating piston which is superior to the more vulnerable spring keys. The piston key accomodates a pellet one-inch long using a paper Ji by Ji (onion skin). THE MINIATURE BRASS STRONG BOX. looks quite formidable in that rivets show all around but what is more important the box does not have a front door which will dispell any suspicion, although there should not be any, that anything may have been ejected through the front with the key. The brass box has the door on the top as seen in Fig. 1. When the tiny key is turned the top springs open revealing the contents. EXPERTISE AND TROUBLE

SHOOTIN~

Detailed instructions for handling and caring for the 'key' boxes is not included in this book since it is assumed that any one who buys the expensive boxes has received detailed instructions with it, HOWEVER it often happens that a magician may buy a prediction box at auction or wherever and receives no instructions with it. If any reader owns a Loyd or Stillwell box without the instructions, send us a request for it and we will send you xerox copy of same. Your prediction box will not fail and it will do exactly what the builder says, providing the box is handled and operated properly. Unfortunately, your audience may not know the proper way of handling it. A recurrent story is about the magician, who is not an expert in operating a 'key' box, nor a mentalist, who is called upon by his agent to do a prediction for the sake of publicizing his show. The magician either borrows a prediction box or rents one and then proceeds to prepare the box and mail it without having practiced enough with it beforehand and without having become thouroughly acquainted with the tools. The end result is a familiar one. After all the ballyhoo, the committee opens the chest and then the brass box and finds inside --- obsolutely nothing. The apparatus failed to work as expected. WHY??? Close examination will prove that there was nothing wrong with the apparatus. The error was in handling.

PANDORA II EXPERTISE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING

J AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

... . .. contI

Let's take a close look at how the 'key' prediction chests with the brass box inside work. Under correct handling during presentation, when the trick key is turned a number of mechanical events take place like clockwork and all in correct sequence, one after the other as follows I 1. The loading key operates the lock on the chest. 2. The swivel tip of the key swings open. J. The plunger in the key ejects the message pellet through the key hole and into the brass box through the secret trap door. 4. The lock on the chest opens. 5. The lid of the chest springs open upwards releasing the catch on the secret trap door of the brass box and locking the prediction pellet inside. All of the above moves work with precision during a split second of time BUT they must work in correct sequence one after the other. IF any one of the moves is delayed then you will have trouble. Under normal handling, the action never fails. The boxes are designed so that the loaded key can be given to any person to open the chest. That person supposedly does the trick for you, unknOWingly of course. Why then do the boxes fail? And what are the correct conditions and handling to avoid the failure? The apparatus will fail if. 1. The message pellet is too thick and becomes jammed in the key slowing down the ejection. 2. The miniature brass box moved out of alignment. J. The opening of the chest was slowed down due to mishandling, slowing down the entire mechanics of the box. Letts examine each one of these conditions separately. 1. Due to unattention to instructions, the magician wri tes out a lengthly prediction On a piece of paper that is too big to be folded small enough to fit into the key easily. The magician, depending too much on the excellent mechanism of the box, jams the pellet into the key. When the swivel tip of the key opens, the pellet moves out too slow thereby getting caught between the wall of the chest and the trap door of the brass box that has already closed before the pellet had time to eject. This can result in breaking the key resulting in a costly repair job. Por proper operation, the message pellet must move easilly out of the key barrel. This is best done by using a medicine capsule as outlined in "Pandora' s Box. If

4

PANDORA II EXP~~TISE

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING

. . . . • .. cont.

2. Brass box getting out of alignment, Once the prediction chest is mailed or handed over to a committee, the performor has no way of knowing what will happen to it. It may falloff a table at the post office or from the mailman's hands. It may be tossed around in someone's office etc. So care must be taken to make obsolutely sure that the little brass box will not move to the sides of the chest therby getting out of alignment causing failure on presentation. With the Loyd and Stillwell boxes, the best course to take is to place wads of paper or foam packing on both sides of the brass box. That way you can be sure that it will not move. Oddly enough the Owen's Anniversary box presents the same problem even though the bottom of the chest has a recess to hold the brass box in place. There is a 1/4 inch space between the top of the brass box and the inside-top of the chest. If the chest is turned upside down. the brass box will come loose and move to the side of the box. So to be on the safe side it is a good idea to place wads of paper or packing on the sides of the box. This condition on the Owen's box will no doubt be remedied in due course. ). On two separate occassions (which resulted in headlines anyway) this author had the problem of the prediction pellet getting caught by the trap door. This was not seen by the spectators fortunately. A considerable amount of study had to be done to discover why . it happened. CORRECT

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Fig. 2 Fig. )

Fig. 2 shows the problem. The spectator has placed his hand heavily over the top of the chest to open it. As the key shoots out the pellet it also releases the top of the chest, but the chest does not open sufficiently to release the secret trap door. The pellet has enough time to fly to the far end of the brass box and bounce back and gets caught by the falling trap door which has been released a bit too late. Fig. J shows the correct way of holding the box so that the top of the chest will be free to spring open at the right time. One way of getting the spectator to hold the box correctly is to tell him not to cover the top of the box because it will spring open under tension. Another way is to place the box on

5 PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

EXPERTISE AND TROUBLE SHOOTING

... . . .... cont •

a high shelf so that the rest of the audience (if any) will see the operation. NEVER ADMIT DEFEAT Never admit defeat in public when something goes wrong with the operation of the prediction box or with the operation of anything else in magic. Very often, or shall we say too often. a magician will tell his audience that he has failed when the audience does not know of any failure. One professional magician told this author that when doing the prediction stunt with the Loyd box. the mechanism failed and the committee found nothing inside the brass box. The magician then looked inside the chest and saw the pellet sticking out of the key hole and said, "Here it is." and handed the pellet to the committee. Since the magician did not admit defeat, the audience did not know of any and the effect took its toll resulting in good publicity. In another occassion involvong a 'headline' prediction, this author noticed that the trap door had not closed properly. It was opened about 1/16 of an inch. To the magician who knows the secret of the box. this kind of opening looks like the Grand Canyon, but to the lay audience who has never seen the little brass box before and doesn't know what it is suppose to look like when properly closed, the opening is never seen. In this occassion, the lady who received the brass box carried it in her opened palm for hours and never noticed that there was an opening in the back panel. For the presentation. all attention was directed to the front of the box and the wax sealing. This mishap came about for the reason shown in condition J. The trap door closed a bit late. hit the pellet and did not close with the correct impact. CHECK YOUR TOOLS Before using your prediction box, be sure to check it. You may have done a successful stunt with it last year. But since then the equipment has been laying on a shelf rusting. The key is made of brass and has a tendency to corrode with time. This makes it necessary to clean the inside of the key with size 00 steel wool. Use a soft piece of plastic rod to clean inside the key instead of a metal tool. The key must never be oiled except for a tiny drop of oil on the swivel pin outside the barrel. See page 7 in "Pandora's Box." The little springs in the trap door of the miniature brass box must be cleaned and oiled and tested. If the springs are dirty or rusty, the trap door will not close properly.

6

AN AL MANN

PANDORA II

~CLUSIVc

THE GHOST CHEST

£".

The most ingenious

_________________.__ ... ________

prediction chest II No. 709. Th e Ghost Chest Mystery ever designed and (KARSTON) invented was, Thayer's Improved ".,---";;----"-=;:------.,,.----:,-;:;-;;:;-, Ghost Chest Mysteryl" In 1926 Floyd Thayer drew the plans for the chest that had been designed and invented by Carl Owen from a request by magician Joe Karston. The 'Improved' chest was an elaboration of Owen's own original conSensational "Store Window" Publicity Test Suppose that you are billed to open in the town oL ....... _._. __ ... ______ ._.one week from today. cept. At a certain store window of that town a large crowd has gathered, wherein there rests The chest was on display a small antique brass trimmed chest. A nearby card hears the fDllowing in· scription: years ahead of its "This locked and sealed chest contains another smaller chest which is also time. Its mechalocked and sealed. Inside the second chest there is a certain message, written nical concept was and placed there by.... _. __ . __ ... _............... _........... , who opens with his great show perfect and failof wonders at the local theatre for one week, beginning next Tnursday eveproof! ning at eight o'clock. If there ever "This message is a definite written prediction of some special incident of was a seer's dream local, national, or world-wide importance which __ ,,,,,,_ ... ___ .. _, __ -. come true, this has prophesied will happen between the time when it was sealed in the chest, chest was it. It is little and next Thursday evening when this cheit will be opened on the stage by a wonder that this committee of well-known officials. The chief of police now has the key. chest was so dearly "Watch the newspapers. Read what happens between now and the opening held by those fordate of this special feature attraction, thus proving conclusively as to whether tuna te to own one. or not this great man holds the hidden secrets of revealing the future." Rumor has it that The chest is never again seen or touched by the performer. It is brought upon the stage and opened by the committee themselves. Yet the message when read, correctly only nine (9) of relates some celebrated incident of head-line importance which has happened-perhaps these chests were that very day. Positively no confederates are employed. $250.00 built. Al Koran preferred the Ghost chest to the Loyd's box. As will be seen. every square inch of the apparatus is a marvel of magical engineering that leaves nothing to be desired. The Ghost Chest was the first of the double and "key" prediction boxes that was ever conceivedl t!

7

PANDORA II THE GHOST CHEST

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

.......

CONT.

On Sept. 26th, 1977. the AME offices received a most pleasant surprise. The mailman delivered a mail tube with a rolled up paper inside measuring 18 by 22 inches. It was a true copy of a blueprint for the Ghost o Chest that " was drawn by o .~-----Floyd Thayer o· in 1926. of' The scale ", B was 1/2" to "I 1" and with L o some sections o o in life-size! The copy tv "'t .. was sent by II,. C o Marty J. Grams from Baltimore and was a true copy of the original! I Fig. 4 shows i :i : only a small reduced section of the plans. The outer chest measures approximately 14 inches in length, 9i high and 8 wide. This size was considered small at the time but of course it is big compared to present day standards. f

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THE OUTSIDE CHEST The Ghost chest is a sight to behold. It is made of good hardwood, gum, walnut or mahogany and stained to a beautiful antique finish. The binding is sheet brass with a hammered finish. The nails are gilt head upholstery nails properly finished to simulate real metal. The chest is fitted in the inside with strips to hold the inner box in place. The lid is hinged on and the ends are fitted with handles. (Fig. 4, A and B) Chest locks with spring bolt lock. THE INNER CHEST The smaller inner chest Fig. 4. C and 0, is constructed of thin plywood with opennings in overlay-panels as shown in Fig. 4 C. The panel marked "N" is faked in that it moves down under spring tension to form an opening to receive the message tube. The trick is done by the two pilasters marked "R" in Fig. 40,

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8

PANDORA II THE GHOST CHEST

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE •• • •••

cont •

The two pilasters "R" are attached to the moving panel tiN" so that when the pilasters are depressed the panel moves down also. The base of the inner chest is mortised to allow the secret movement of the pilasters and the pane1. The panel only moves down 1/2 inch but that is enough to allow the message tube to pass. The amazing concept of this mechanism is that the secret panel is never seen in the open position as it is kept closed by spring tension. The inner chest can be locked into the outer chest right in front of anyone. The secret panel will only open after the inner chest is locked inside the outer chestl The inside=tid of the outer chest is gimmicked to push down on the two pilasters and open the secret panel as the lid of the outer cnest is closedl . This means that when a spectator opens the outside chest it will automatica1ly close the secret panel in the inner chest and when the inner chest is removed by anyone all is in proper orderl There is no danger of the inner chest closing ahead of time and trapping the message tube I since the panel stays Dp.en all the time as long as the outer chest is locked I This inner chest may be painted and lined wit~ cloth. '.WE KEY

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FULL SIZE D£TAIlS OF K£ Y

Fig. S The"key' is an eye catcher indeed. It is almost twice as large as the later 'keys' and has double bits. It makes a good conversation piece having an antique look that goes well with the beautifu1 chest. Please note that a message capsule or tube is used. When. a tube is used to contain the prediction. the possibility of the message paper getting jammed inside the key is nil. It is amazing

9

PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

THE GHOST CHEST •••••.• cont. that Carl Owen who was the first person to design and build a gimmicked 'key' had the best idea in using a 'capsule' to contain the message. Present day users of the prediction box have discovered by actual practice that a capsule is the best trouble-free way of secreting the message pellet in the key. (see Pandora's Box, page 12) The key is made of brass tubing 5/16 inch 0.0. and reenforced at both ends with short sleeves to receive the key bits and handle. The key does not have a 'swivel tip.' The message tube or the 'follow tube' show at the tip of the key and act as the tip. The message tube is made of brass tubing closed on both ends having grooves at the ends for the release catch and separates at the center to remove the message. When the message tube is in position in the key it is held by the spring catch Fig. 5 I. The tube rides inside a sleeve at the end of the key. The sleeve also acts as a stop to hold the follow up tube after the message tube is released. (Fig. 5 J) The lock in the chest is fitted with small lugs 1/16 inch thick that release the spring catch when the key is turned. The release or tripping tip of the spring catch Fig. 51 can be seen sticking up between the key lugs, Fig. 5 X. This writer knows only two proud owners of the Ghost Chest, Mike O'Dowed of O'Dowed Manufacturing Co. and Marty Grams of Baltimore. Marty bought his Ghost Chest in July of 1972 from Frank Thompson. The box was built in 1931. Frank Thompson who worked for Thayer as a demonstrator and later at the lath, retired in the 'JO's. He was considered the grea~est card man that ever lived by those who knew him. Frank died in 1977. THE FORERUNNERS, The original hand drawn 1926 plans for the double-box Ghost Chest were titled, "Thayer's Improved Ghost Chest Mysterfl" The word Improved' tells us that there were other 'Ghost Chests' 'to improve on. No doubt that Owen's 'key' box was at first a single box. It is also known that before the advent of the 'key' boxes, Thayer built 7 Ghost Chests like 'watch' boxesl These had a swinging panel. THE BILLET KNIFE, About 1912, Floyd's father, Mr. Merritt Thayer (who died in 1918) was eXperimenting in loading a billet into a locked chest with a 'billet' knife in the act of cutting the strings or removing the wax. This eventually evolved into the amazing Thayer billet knife which is very thin and loads a 6 by 6 inch folded paper. Only a few of these were made and are today collector's items.

10 PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

THE GHOST CHEST •.•••. cont. The billet knife was already known by Theo Bamberg who, in an article written for the Sept. 15. 1917 of the Sphinx, stated that he invented the billet knife for his bill-in-lemon trick in 1899 in Amsterdam, Holland and used it in his show that same year in the Theatre Van Lier. DR. ge s PREDICTION CHEST The Dr. Q prediction chest was also invented and designed by Carl Owen back in the 1950's for Bill Larsen. Sr. This box had a swinging panel at the bottom. Only half of the bottom opens, while the other half must slide to one side. This box is beautifully made and inexpensive costing 1/10th of the price of the Ghost Box. THE DELUXE RING BOX An improvement in the right direction is contained in this watchbox type box. Called the De-Luxe Ring BOX, it is sold by the International Magic Studio of 89 Clerkenwell Road, ~ondon England, EC1, for about $30 plus $3 postage. Fig. 6 This box could be called "The Instant Watch Box" as it has a panel that springs open when the box is touched at a secret spot. That means that the box can be secretly opened with one hand to either extract a ring or any small object or insert a small pellet for the prediction effect. This is done right under the noses of the spectators! The box is finely finished in polished wood, has a lock and key and measures about 4 by J by 2 inches. With this principle anyone can lock the box inside of a nest of boxes for example, any ungimmicked nest of boxes! and the performer can insert the prediction after the box is taken out and examined I Mr. H. Penn of Manhattan owns one of these boxes and they are a thing of beauty. The box has round corners and is lined with felt. Fig. 6 is a copy of the ad that appears in Catalogue No. 77 of the International Magic Studio.

11

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

PANDORA II O'DOWO·S AUDACITY

Mike O'Dowd of O'Dowd Manufacturing is a great showman besides the fact that he is also a great magic manufacturer and an all around great guy. Mike has spent much thought and gone to a lot of expense to present his headline prediction effect. He uses the effect to drum up business & publicity for his shows. Mike hired an expert plastics worker to build him a gorgeous display box for the prediction chest. Fig. 7 is a rough outline of the display box showing the Stillwell prediction chest inside. The display box which is transparent is made of plexiglass and beautifwlly finished with polished brass fittings. The box measures approximately 18 inches across by 12 deep and 12 high.It has a front door so as not to topple the chest when the box is opened. It is secured by two petit padFig. 7 locks on top. The prediction chest sits on black velvet and is anchored in place by proper fittings on the base. This beautifUl display is placed in a store window weeks before the show with proper poster cards announcing the show and the performers, plus the fact that the chest contains predictionsl Mike says that besides drumming up business and expectation it also keeps the spectator's hands off the box. The hinges and all fittings are secured with rivets instead of screws for the same reason. The bottom of the box has tiny legs to keep from scratching the bottom panel. The velvet cloth can be royal purpler Another fabulous 'bit' of showmanship that Mike uses is that he puts the tiny key for the miniature strong box on a 10inch metal ring, Fig. 8 and gives this key to the Chief of Police. Now everybody assumes that this key is to open the chest and the story in the papers goes along with itl The During the show the entire audience can key ? see the big metal ring with the keyl ~ Mike also does on-the-spot predictions with the chest by having an assistant pass Fig. 8 the loaded key to him while he stands next to a side curtain to assist a spectator from the audience on stage. The key goes into Mike's tux pocket!

12

PANDORA II THE MYSTERY BOX In 1971, your author had the pleasure of visiting Joe Berg's Magic studio in Hollywood. I had met Joe before in his Chicago shop many years before. Prediction chests were mentioned and Joe said, wI have a box full of them." Joe then pointed to a large cardboard packing box, filled to the brim with small prediction boxes, The spanish chest type. "How much, Joe?" "They will sell for about $100." said Joe. "But I have to get them ready first. I have to find the right keys." Joe had just bought these boxes from someone and I never asked him from who or what the name of the boxes was. These boxes used a gimmicked keyl

162 '

No. M420

NATIONAL

MAG 1 C

COMPANY

MENTO-CHEST

Beyond question Mento-Chest is one of the most remarkable mental effects in the history of magic. Its secret has been so well guarded that only a few professional magicians in the world know it. , Almost any effect invoh:ing a prediction is possible with this wonderful piece of apparatus. There is almost no limit to the wonderful effects that you can produce with this chest and one of its many advantages is that it cnn be used equally well. before a small group or several thousand people. As a specific example here is only one of the many effects possible with Mento-Chest. You can give the locked chest to the. editor of a newspaper on Monday and tell him that on the inside you have written a prediction of what the headline will be in his own paper on Thursday. The editor can place the che&t in his own vault and keep it there until after Thursday's edition has appeared. It never leaves his possession, nor 'do you touch it at any time. On Thursday, after the paper has appeared, the editor opens the box in your presence and to his amazement finds that you have actually written on the paper inside the box the headline of Thursday's edition. For publicity purposes there has never been anything to equal it as you can predict the outcome of a prize fight, hockey game, baseball game, football game or any other national event. The publicity possibilities are unlimited. Mento-Chest can also be USE'd to equal advantage as a stage trick predicting the objects that spectators in the audience will name, historical even~s, quotat.ions from famous authors, etc. For the home, you willnnd it a most thrilling way of entertaining your guests by telling them that written on a piece of paper in the chest are names of objects they will name some time during the evening. The chest can then be given to one of the spectators and is never touched by you until it is opened and the prediction read by the spectators. In all of the above remarkable effects positively no confederates are used-you never touch the chest-there are no switches-no sleight of hand. Although the effect is that of a miracle, there is no skill required for its performance as it is self-working. The chest itself is of antique finished wood and metal bound as illbstl'ated, measuring G inches long, 314 inches high and 314 incheB deep. Mento-Chest comes complete with full instructions and numerous routines for publicity purposes-the stage--and entertainment in your home. Price Postpaid, $165.00

In sept. of 1977 Marty Gram wrote about his collection of prediction boxes. He sent along an ad for the Mento-Chest which is reprinted here. The name was entirely new to me. Marty stated that the original National Magic Mento-Chest was a 'key' box. But that he had two others which were identical to the National box, one worked like a watch box and the other was ungimmicked?l

1.3 AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

PANDORA II THE MYSTERY BOX

..........

cont •

In August of 1978, Dan A. Dorsey of Atlanta Georgia, called to say that he had enjoyed reading "Pandora's Box." And also sent a photo copy of the Mento-Chest Ad from a 1947 catalog which was priced at $165.00. He asked if I knew where to get the Mento-Chest. I informed Dan that the chest in the ad looked very much like the chests that Joe Berg had in his shop in Hollywood in 1971. Dan called Joe and Joe told him that he had sold the boxes to Marvin Berger in SanFrancisco. Dan then phoned Berger and sure enough they were the National Magic company boxes but were now selling for $295.00. The National Magic Company has been out of business for many years. They were on State St. in Chicago. Jim Sherman was president, Vic Trosberg, General manager and George Boston on sales. MARTY'S MINIATURE PREDICTION CHEST In the author's prediction-chest collection is a tiny chest that measures 1t inches high by 1t wide by 21 inches long. It is indeed a miniature chest. It was built by Martin J. Grams of Baltimore. The chest is totally ungimmicked. The prediction is inserted into the chest with a chute gimmick. The gimmick is quite clever in construction. It holds the chest open while it is criss-crossed with rubber bands and it slides out easily. In Marty's hands, the presentation leaves little to be desired. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS? Perhaps the reader may be thinking that our civilized world is flooded with prediction boxes. Let me assure you that that is not the case at all. In a letter from Loyd in 1960, I was informed that only two boxes existed in the New York area, population 11,000,0001 At this writing it is not known just how many boxes Loyd made. Dennis H. Evans from Shawnee, Oklahoma, wrote to say that Stillwell only made 12 of his now famous boxes. To my knowledge only 9 Improved Ghost Chests were made. Of the Dunninger type Pirate Chests, probably only about a dozen were made if that many_ I own box number 31 Marty Grams thinks that only 20 of the Mento-Chests were made. Seems to me I saw more than that at Joe Bergs. Bob Mason says that in 1976 he had sold close to 50 of his boxes. John D. Pomeroy says he will only make 10 of his $1000 strong boxes called "The Strong Box!"

14 PANDORA II STRENGTH IN NUMBERS?

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE ••••.• cont.

INFO FOR THE COLLECTOR. Owen's Anniversary Prediction Chests are stamped "Owens" and numbered. The miniature box is also stamped and numbered. The two keys are numbered. This author owns box number J. Loyd's Chest and miniature box is stamped "Loyd Made" but not numbered. Keys are not marked in any way. Stillwell's box is stamped "Stillwell" on the wood but the miniature box and keys are not marked. The Pirates Chest (Dunninger) is secretly marked with "dots" for numbers. The author's box is marked with J dots and the two keys are also marked with three dots. That is the reason I assume that only a few were made. The Mason box called "The World's Greatest" is stamped "Arturo" but not numbered. This box was originated by Harry Roydon who gave rights to Arturo. The box was then perfected by Bob Mason. The Thayer Ghost Chest owened by Marty Grams is not numbered but it is marked with the letters "F-T" which stand for Floyd Thayer. The Owens Watch Box sold by Nelson as the Low Budget Prediction Box is marked "Owens" and numbered. I have box number 5. The Dr. Q box is secretly stamped "Owen Brothers." Please note that all the numbers mentioned above are single digits which means that these boxes are indeed rare. Readers who own prediction boxes are urged to write to AME and tell us the marks on their boxes. These marks are very important as time goes by. Richard Himber's Diamond Prediction Chest is indeed a mystery box. No one seems to own one. An ad in the Linking Ring asking for the box was not answered. The collectors who own all of Himber's instruction sheets do not have the instructions for the chest. Ed Mishell who had the instructions lost them and does not remember what they were (at this dat~ 3/79). The Mento-Chest by National Magic is stamped with an "N" inside a circle. THE PROPHETS. Prediction chests are of course not new. They are as old as the prophets. Joanna Southcott (1750-1814) started writing predictions by automatic writing in 1792 and putting them in print and had them all sealed in a box. This remarkable English Prophetess then gave instructions that the box was not to be opened until 100 years after her death and it must be opened by order of the Government who should designate 24 bishops for the revealing. The box remains sealed to this dayS

15 AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

PANDORA II

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Fig. 9

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Here is an interesting watch box worth mentioning. The mechanism is quite By Agosta l\[eyniel' simple and if the reader is handy with tools, he can build the box or have it built for him. The box was contained in an article in the Sphinx Vol. 32, No. 5 for July 1933. In effect, the box is nailed shut, sealed and Fig. 10 tied with ribbon or string. A borrowed watch or a prediction is later found inside the box that was supposedly sealed years before like Robert Houdin's Cagliostro's Casketl Fig. 9A shows the nailed and sealed box. Fig. 9B shows the swinging panel which uses one of the nails as a pivot at its top-center. Fig. 9C shows that the swinging panel is actually a double panel that encloses the secret mechanism. Fig. 10 shows the secret mechanism in a better light. The mechanism is attached to the center of the board by a small brass horizontal bar. To this bar is pivoted a longer vertical bar and to the second bar are pivoted the locking arms, Fig. 100. When the panel is in position for locking the box, the spring at tOE exerts a pull on the lower arm and locks it into a small groove in the back panel of the box and at the same time the upper arm locks into place into the front panel. To open the secret panel, the operator inserts a pin through a pin hole at the lower back of the back panel, Fig. 10F which pushes on the lower locking arm and releases both arms and the panel swings open. For the presentation, the secret panel is left slightly open. During the show the magician inserts the watch or prediction and then closes the panel until he hears a click. The nailed and sealed box can then be handed out with safety. With a little thought the box can be fitted with a lock.

16 PANDORA TWO

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE THE LIPPINCOT'1'S

The tiny Lippincott boxes that are used to vanish or produce a quarter, are great for on-the-spot predictions. These boxes measure 2 inches long by 1i high by 1-314 wide. They use a tiny pad lock and have a swinging secret panel exactly like the larger watch boxes. This boxes are made in various qualities and come in many prices. The imported ones are inexpensive selling for around $5.00 made of wood. Some local ones are finely finished in wood and sell for around $20.00. The metal boxes are finely machined and sell for around $75.00 each. For obvious reasons, the metal boxes appear to the lay mind as more formidable and impregnable and least suspected of gimmicking. All the boxes, however, are hard for the lay public to detect any trickery • The size of these tiny boxes, makes it easy to exchange one for another, with a bit of misdirection, that is. Three Lippincott boxes will be needed for the following effect. EFFECT. Performer places on a table two tiny boxes that are secured with tiny padlocks. The boxes can be shown all around and examined by anyone, although that is not encouraged. Performer states that he has placed messages inside the two boxes and that he will soon allow anyone to open the boxes and read the messages, but first he asks anyone to callout any word in any language. A record is made of the word called. Next he tells another spectator to take a deck of cards and deal cards as many as desired and to look at the last card dealt and to call out its name. The name of the card is also recorded. Performer next passes out the two boxes and also the tiny keys and has someone open them and read the messages inside which prove to be predictions of the two chosen items, the word and the card. The effect is strong to any audience. THE PREPARATION. Three boxes are used but the audience sees only two. The two boxes placed on the table are sealed and can be shown all around and passed out for inspection although that is not necessary. The box on the performer's left hand t

17 PANDORA TWO THE LIPPINCOTTS •••....

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE co~t.

contains the message about the card (to be forced). The box on the right hand may be empty. The third box is hiding behind a cigar box or inside a brief case where performer keeps his writing pads and pencils, etc. The box has its secret panel open and ready to receive a tiny message. The third box may be secreted in the performer's coat pocket. Also instead of forcing a card, a number or another word may be forced, or a design with a deck of ESP cards. THE PRESENTATION. After the patter about the two tiny boxes and the messages inside, performer has anyone callout any word in any language. Performer then reaches into his cigar box or brief case and takes out a pencil and writing pad and jots down the word. He may ask how to spell it or what it means. At the same time the performer writes the word on a small piece of paper secretly behind the writing pad. It is recommended that the word not be written exactly alike unless it is a common English word. The small piece of paper is then folded over into a small pellet and palmed in right hand. A second person is then told to take a deck of cards, one that the performer has placed there before and which is a forcing deck, and to either cut it or deal out cards until desired and then to look at the last card and to call it out. Performer again makes a record of the card called and then, placing the writing pad away and dropping the pencil behind the cigar box and secretly droping the palmed pellet into the hidden box and closing it, turns and gives out the left hand box to anyone to open. At the same time he picks up the second box with his right hand and then reaches behind his cigar box to get the tiny key and exchanges boxes. The key is passed out to the first spectator to open the first box and to read the message about the chosen card while at the same time the performer passes out the swi tch.ed box to someone else. The trick is now done except for the dramatics. Performer must tell the audience what has been done to emphasize the impact of the effect. A beautifull red ribbon attached to the key helps with the miSdirection. NOTE, Bill Dodson of Lyndon, Kentucky, designed the Lippincott 'Quarter Go' box in 1953 and Don Redmon manufactured it. Bill Dodson also built Nelson's Secret Invention. NOTE. The tiny keys for the Lippincott boxes can also be placed on a 10-inch metal ring as recommended by Mike O'Dowd.

18 PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE BLOCK RR-4 Manufacturing rights reserved by Jerry Fulton RR #4 Caledon East Ontario Canada

This is the greatest idea for the use of the billet pencil since Corinda released the secret in step four of his 1) steps to Mentalsim in 19581

(

~

BLOCK RR-4 Fig. 11

On May 27th, 1977. Jerry wrote to say that he had an idea about. "A solid wooden block with a hole drilled through it." Predictions are written on paper and then the paper rolled up and stuck into the block and sealed. (the holes in the ends of the block are sealed with cork, sealing wax or paper stamps). The block may then be mailed or locked into a see-through plexiglass chest. etc. On the day of the show the committee head is asked to open the chest and take out the block (which may be gift-wrapped) and take out the predictions. Of course he can't, because the rolled up pieces of paper are out of reach of the fingers and no amount of shaking will dislodge the paper messages, SO the performer helps out by pushing the papers out with a pencil which he holds at his finger ~ tips. Performer uses a Dorinda billet pencil of course! ~ The block as shown in Fig. 11 meaFig. 12 sures 1i inches high by 2i wide by 6 long. Back in 1977, this was only an idea in Jerry's head. since then Jerry has sent the block and billet pencil which he had made to the AME offices. (March Sf 1979) Gentlemen, we have tried this out and it works. Jerry has built the block so that it works almost automatically. As shown in Fig.12 (a crosss section) the hole drilled into the block has two dimensions. So that as the pencil is stuck in through the right side to push out the prediction pellet it also disgorges the secret pellet in the pencil while taking the pencil out as the gimmick catches on the inside ledge! Just think of it. You let the spectator read the first billet predicting anything else or with the date of the sealing of the block. while you put away your gimmick pencil which has already done its work. Then take out the ungimmicked pencil and give it to the spectator and tell him to take out the other message inside! If you don't think that is practical then please throw this book away. FLASHll!l Just as we go to press, Jerry has released his "Block RR-4" through AME. The package includes the machined block. special pencils and instructions for the price of $25.00 pp.

19 PANDORA II BLOCK RR-4

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE • • • •••• • •

cont.

Jerry also has some good ideas for getting a laugh while seriously doing headline predictions. For example one of the laugh getting predictions may read. "Across the top of the front page the follwing words will appear, 'The New York Times' (or name of local paper). " Another.

"On a back page will be found a column headed BIRTHS."

Many ideas were banded around between Jerry and myself about the 'block.' At first I suggested using a piece of petrified wood from the petrified forrest in Arizona. Later I came out with a plastic cube one half black and one half transparent. The black half supposedly hiding the headline prediction. That is not a bad idea but later another idea came to mind. -- A seethrough plastic block with a tube of white paper (like a cigarette) showing through the middle. The white paper tube is opaque. One section of it is empty to accomodate the prediction pellet from the pencill Jerry's original idea is by far the best. A block of wood intrigues when used magically. A legend can be attached to it. Could be the timber off a ship or a totem pole, etc. As we go to press, Jerry is preparing to market this effect which is highly recommended. The block, which is two pieces cemented together will come with a special billet pencil. Fig.l) shows the proper way to prepare the billet pencil and how it goes into your coat pocket. The pencil clip "A" is upside down and on the opposite side to the gimmick plunger "B." That way when the pencil is taken out of the pocket it is held by the point with the finger tips and the gimmick is hidden from the spectator's sight. The beauty about using the gimmicked block is that you will have no need to push the plunger with the thumb, something that is not easy to hide. The ungimmicked pencil must be prepared in the same fashion with the pencil clip upside down. NOTE. The best way to fold both prediction papers for this effect is accordion-fashion. The billets will expand inside the block and will have to be pushed out with the pencill

Fig. 1)

20

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

PANDORA II THE BOXES FROM BHUTAN

This section will detail J types of boxes, mostly inexpensive which the reader may already have at home. Two of the boxes that may be used for doing on-the-spot predictions and also headline predictions, are totally ungimmicked. The third box is only slightly and unnoticeably gimmicked. In 1946, this writer visited Karachi in Pakistan which was then under the British flag. A beautiful, although inexpensive souvenir box was bought there which came from the Bhutan region. The box measures 2i inches high by 5 wide and 8 long. Fig.14. shows the approx. shape of the box. Only the back is shown since the front shows nothing as the box has a hidden lock. Note that the two back hinges are well separated with a clearance of almost 4 inches. It is this box which gave birth to the effect that follows, although the principle has already appeared in print. it is used here in a much disguised form.

Fig. 14

THE PARIAN PARCEL EFFECT, Performer standing before his audience exhibits a parcel. He states that the parcel, which is wrapped in white paper and fasten with masking tape and string (or red ribbon), contains a sealed wooden box. Inside the box is a message sealed in an envelope. Performer promises to shortly reveal the message by having some one in the audience open the box. Next, performer asks anyone to please callout any name of any person, or a word in any language, etc, The parcel, which has been in sight at all times, is next given to anyone in the audience to open. In order to open the package, the spectator must firs'· cut the string or ribbon, then remove the masking tape and the white wrapping paper and lastly remove the sealing wax from the lock on the box. An envelope is found inside the box with the same name or word·. called out by the audience I wri tten on a business card inside the envelopell Gentlemen. that is a very strong effect and it can be done with almost any wooden box you may find around the house providing you ha~e a clearance of about 2i inches or slightly more between the hinges. However the best type of box to use is one that apprOXimates a cube, something like the watch box in magic. The lid top of the box should be about one inch high. The inside of the box should be large enough to accomodate a business-size card or slightly larger.

21

PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

THE PARIAN PARCEL ••..•••• cont. Let's assume that we have a box like the one shown in Fig.1S.This box measures / 7 inches long by five wide and 4 tall, I--c:~---:--c::!l'-f~ I I or any dimension around those figures. I I THE PREPARATION. Fig.16 shows the I -inside of the box-with the top reV moved for the illustration. A business card is prepared with Fig. 1S the sentmce, "The word chosen (or name) will be leaving a spa ce for filling in the correct word later with a swami gimmick. The card is partially inserted into a coin envelope. The envelope must of course be of a size that is not longer than the box is wide as shown in Fig. 16. Note. Fig. 16 shows an empty box except for the envelope and card. In actual practice you must fill up the box with cigarettes or preferably wrapped candy. That way the envelope will rest on top of the contents and not become crimped. Another sealed envelope with the date of sealing can also be placed in the box. Fig. 16 Next the top of the box is closed and part of the business card is left sticking out. The card is neatly folded down as shown by the dash lines in Fig.1S.Seal the lock of the box with wax. Next, take some plain white wrapping paper, same color as the business card. and cut a slit in it just large enough to pass the business card through. Then with the /" / card sticking out wrap the package. .I Next take some red string or ribbon and 'j. tie it around the box going over the edges of the business card. The ready Parian Parcel now looks like in Fig.l? The "x" marks the part of the business card that lies outside the package and ready to be Fig. 17 written on with the swami gimmick "or what have you." THE PRESENTATION. Is now quite obvious. When the name or word is called. Pick up the parcel and call someone to come forward. While person is coming on stage, write in the chosen word on the card, dislodge it and shove it into the box. After the parcel is unwrapped and the box opened ask the person what he sees inside. He will of course say that he sees some envelopes, candy etc. Tell him to open the envelopes and read the message or messages. Of course one of the envelopes I

1...-_ _ -_-_-_' _ _

It

, ,

~

22

PANDORA II THE PARIAN PARCEL

........ cont •

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

is not sealed. But only the spectator with the box will know that if he notices it at all. The rest of the audience will see the illussion of messages sealed in envelopes inside a sealed container. NOTE. When tying string around the box, make about three or more turns over the same place. If using ribbon, only one ribbon is needed to anchor the card in place. The box can of course be shown all around before it is unwrapped as there is nothing to hide, as the string or ribbon hide the edges of the card and the card looks like part of the wrapping paper. Do not worry about the small slit in the wrapping paper. It will never be seen. The paper is destroyed anyway. Performer may place his own business card in the box among the candies. At the conclusion, the candy is given to the assistant. The box may also be given out assuming it is inexpensive! The Parian Parcel is a stunnerl

23 PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE THE BOX FROM LISBON

The prediction box to be described here is about the simplest gimmicked box that can be imagined. The box can be inspected and even taken apart without finding any trikery. If anything, this box proves that a master magician depends more on his own showmanship, presentation and cunning than on clever mechanical apparatus. On Sept. 24th, 1977. mentalist Martin J. Grams of Baltimore wrote in to say that in 1971 he bought a prediction box in Portugal while on high school vacation. The box is very beautifully made in polished fine woods and inlaid with mother-ofpearl, onyx, walnut, cherry, ash, ebony and what-have-you. It measures 8 by 4 by 4 inches. (Fig. is a good facsimile of Marty's box) In his own words, Marty says, "I was in Portugal in 1971 and had bought the chest in what appeared to be a magic and novelty shop. Novelty. I say, since I saw the old doggie-do item (rubber) laying allover the place." tiThe guy had me pick a card, then took the chest from off a shelf and placed it on the counter and opened it to reveal the card now inside!" "I not speaking Portugese, and he not speaking English, we pointed back and force argueing about the price. He then pointed to a newspaper and placed a piece (headline) in the chest and held his forehead. From this I gathered as much as it was a prediction chest. He then showed me how the card (palmed) was placed in the chest through the sides." "We then together laughed in mutual laughing tones, my American greed wondering how much the chest was going to cost me and his greed wondering how much money I had in my pocket to spend. We argued about the price for about 20 minutes and he eventually won out and I managed to get the chest for $20 US." THE GIMMICK. The lid of the box is held by two hinges on the back. The left hand hinge in ungimmicked BUT the right hand hinge is a bit loose and so is the hasp on the lock in front of the box. Now if the box is held with the hinges facing the performer and the right finger tips push up on the side of the lid, the lid will open up about 1/16 of an inch, hardly perceptible but large enough to slip in a palmed sealed envelope or card! In the presentation the back of the right hand is kept to the audience. Marty has a better ruse for inserting the prediction. He makes believe the box is dusty as it sits on the shelf and takes up a velveteen cloth, which has the prediction envelope in its folds, and inserts the envelope into the box while dusting and polishing itl After some practice Marty has performed the effect 8 times. Several of these boxes have been sold. They are quite popular among European magicians.

24 PANDORA II

AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE OKITO··S LOAF by Martin J. Grams

Marty is a young mentalist from Baltimore who does headline predictions about as often as other magicians do card tricks. In the following Marty uses the Okito Coin Boxes for the effect. In his own words, "Another type prediction I have been using for about J years (Sept. 16, 1978) is with an Okito Box. I write out my prediction and place it in the box and have someone place the lid on it. I then secretly do the one-handed turnover move as I shake it near their ears eXplaining that since it is just paper it will not really rattle but they should be able to at least hear it scrape along the in.ide a bit. Sometimes I avoid the shaking altogether and turn it over in talking and moving my hands about. I then have the dupe-message palmed in the fingers and reach into my jacket to get the tape. After depositing the billet I tape the box around the edge thus sealing the lid to the base. I then place it in a plastic box with hinged lid that just holds it height-wise. I painted the bottom of the plastic box black to avoid anyone seeing the opening, as the box has been turned over. This is then sealed in a file box and bound in all directions with masking tape, AND BAKED BY A LOCAL BAKER IN A LOAF OF BREAD I The bread is kept on display. An X-ray can show all to be fair. On the day of the show I open the original billet and write my prediction on another the same size (apparently the original billet can not be used as it has some writing on it, Ed). I then fold it like the original billet was folded and place it in my jacket pocket. After arriving on the stage, the bread is broken open, the file box opened and the plastic box removed (I usually have the plastic box sealed with label circles an inch in diameter and initialled by spectators). After seals are removed, verified, the Okito box is removed and placed on my palm over the billet. I then peal the tape away showing my hands to be empty and free of trickery since the billet is already loaded. I then recap what has happened and at the same time perform the turnover move thus placing the box in regular closed position and prediction inside! I allow anyone to open the box and hand the prediction paper to an official for reading. It comes over very nicely." NOTE. U. F. Grant advertised a see-through Okito Box. No doubt that someone can come up with a way of using it to do headline predictions.

25 AN AL MANN EXCLUSIVE

PANDORA II ~OTES

THE BILLET PENCILS. Billet pencils have become identified with Corinda as it was Corinda who made them popular. but Carl Owens was probably the first person to conceive and design one. Although Carl never released or sold the Billet pencil he did design one probably in the 1920's during the hey day of the mindreaders when he was building props for Alexander. Carl's billet pencil was a winner. It was made in the fashion of an all-metal mechanical pencil complete with lead and metal cap on the gimmicked end. An improved billet pencil is being manufactured today. It has a spring in the propelling gimmick so that when the catch is released. it shoots the pellet out. We do not know at this writing who is making it but it is about time that the billet pen and pencil got fitted with springs. Jerry Pultom's billet pencil as used in Block-RR-4 is made different due to the need. It is a wooden pencil. WHAT PRICE GLORY? We hear that a young magician found a 'key' for a predIction chest but no chest so he uses the key to open prediction envelopesl?#?1 ADRESSES Owen Magic Supreme. 7)4 N. McKeever Ave •• Azusa, Calif. 91702. sell various types of prediction chests. Owen Anniversary Prediction Chest Dr. Q Prediction Chest The Chest of Sybil and some others Gem Productions Inc •• 1900 Franklin Avenue. Seattle Washington 98102, sell three chests. Clear View Prediction Chest about $50.00 50-50 Prediction Chest. This one sounds great as the two-way prediction is very popular with audiences due to the national interest in elections, prize fights, etc. $115.00 The Strong Box $1000 Bob Mason, 99 Fernwood Ave., Dayton Ohio, 45405. sells the "World s Greatest Prediction Chest" about $)00.00 The House of Magic, 2025 Chestnut street, San Francisco, Calif. 9412). may still have some Mento-Chests. "Pandora's Box" still available at the pre-inflation price of $12.50. (book only)