Table Top Magic Tricks - Fun, Simple Magic Tricks for all Occasions

By Anon

This comprehensive introduction to table top magic tricks will enthral the magician of all ages. A wide variety of tricks are described in layman's terms - this book contains a card trick for everyone. Extensively illustrated with explanatory diagrams. This book contains classic material dating back to the 1900s and before. The content has been carefully selected for its interest and relevance to a modern audience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Oct 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781447491583

Book preview

Table

TO SPIN A PENNY HELD BY TWO PINS

EFFECT

This is a little feat of dexterity. The conjurer borrows a penny and places it on the table. Then, taking two pins, he grips the penny between them and holds the penny near his mouth. Then, blowing on the penny he causes it to revolve.

EXPLANATION

This feat only requires a very little practice. See that you have pins with good sharp points. When you lift the penny with the pins they should be exactly opposite to each other. Then hold the penny about four inches from the mouth and blow gently, either at the top or lower part of the coin; it will soon revolve and when once it has started it can easily be kept in motion.

PATTER

Will someone lend me a penny, please? Thank you. I propose to give you an imitation of a wind-mill with this coin. Of course it doesn’t look much like a windmill yet; it looks very much like a penny. I hold it up with these two pins because it is so difficult to do this and because I couldn’t do what I want to do in any other way. Now, please imagine that this is the windmill. I blow on it and the mill goes round.

TO PASS A COIN THROUGH YOUR SLEEVE

EFFECT

The conjurer openly drops a coin down his sleeve and immediately takes it out of the elbow although there is no hole in the sleeve.

EXPLANATION

The conjurer is prepared for the trick by concealing a coin similar to the one he is going to use in the trick, between the two buttons of his coat sleeve. He then openly drops a coin down his sleeve and, running his hand up the sleeve secretly gets hold of the hidden coin and produces it from his elbow. Naturally, the conjurer must keep his hand slightly raised while he does this trick; directly he lowers his arm the hidden coin drops into his hand. The conjurer can then pretend to take the coin from his pocket and can go to do another trick with it.

PATTER

This is a very easy trick. It is done with this coin. I place it in my sleeve. It is well known that when a conjurer makes a thing disappear it always goes up his sleeve. This coin has gone that way but it is coming back another way, for I have a little invisible hole in the elbow of the sleeve and through that the coin passes, and there it is.

TO SPIN A COIN INSIDE A HAT

EFFECT

The conjurer borrows a coin and places it inside a hat. He then moves the hat round in a series of circles and causes the coin to spin round the interior of the hat.

EXPLANATION

If possible borrow a half-crown for this trick, because the larger the coin the easier the feat. Place the coin inside the hat and then move the hat round in a circle with a movement from the wrist. When the coin moves round widen the circle and quicken your movements. The coin will run quickly on its edge round the hat.

PATTER

This trick was suggested to me by a lady. She was an adept at making money go. Unfortunately she made it go altogether. This coin cannot go farther than the hat but it goes as well as it can inside the hat. Please look inside and see it on the move.

THE PENNY AND THE HANDKERCHIEF

EFFECT

The conjurer places a penny on a handkerchief and folds the handkerchief up into a narrow parcel. He then shakes out the handkerchief and shows that the penny has disappeared. He then produces it from his elbow.

EXPLANATION

The penny is placed in the centre of the handkerchief which is then folded in half by bringing one corner over to the corner diagonally opposite to it. It is then folded again in the same direction until the handkerchief is in a narrow parcel. It will be seen that the penny is imprisoned inside the handkerchief, but in the course of his patter the conjurer allows the coin to slip down into his palm. He then shakes out the handkerchief and produces the penny from his left elbow.

PATTER

Another trick with a penny and a handkerchief. I place the penny in the centre of the handkerchief and fold the handkerchief up in this way; of course I could fold it up in another way but then it would not be this trick. There is nothing much in this trick and nothing at all in the handkerchief because the penny has gone. When you weren’t looking I slipped it up my sleeve and I’ll take it out again. I have a