talkmagic.co.uk

For anyone looking to try and age the battery, I've been doing a bit of googling. Apparently the 9v battery was first created by Eveready Battery Company in 1956. I guess claiming the lamp is old isn't far out if someone questions the fact that it has a battery.

Can you tell I want one of these?!

Having seen with my own eyes and demoed both The Spirit Lamp and the Monte Box at House of Magic, I can honestly say they're both well made, with that 'jaw dropping factor'.

My own personal opinion is not to worry about if the bulb is too bright, or the apparatus is too light. These are things that a lay audience wouldn't give two hoots about.

stu, the brightnes of the bulb is an issue in some situations.

If you are sitting in a dark seance, as in the case i refered to, when the thing lights up, you , and your audience are left blind for quite a while afterwards.

and as to the age of the prop. If it looks brand spanking new, and you are pattering about apparent historical events, the audiences will not accept what you are saying, any where near as much as if it had a bit of age.

A new device would be shiny, metalic, or plastic. Not wood. and digital.


like an emf meter for example.
The thing is, this device is theatrical dressing. It isn't a trick, and as such
needs to cosmeticaly fit.

Hi guys
I have read both private and public comments concerning the weight and look and bulb comments.
I do have in stock some older bulbs which if anyone wants one I would be happy to supply. if you email me ill post a pic of one.
Now as far as the design goes in the new and shiny dept, when we were making this at the onset we made them with holes in and made it battered and old looking, only to be told make it look newer, so we did and changed the story a bit, so that the lamp was rebuilt to the plans that were bought at an auction in the year 2000 when the hospital closed, hence the newer look to the lamp and this can explained before any performance.



I welcome all suggestions, as you have all been so kind with them. Anyone that wants a custom job doing just email me. Dale if you want an older looking lamp just return your lamp and ill do whatever you want doing to it no problem at all.
If I have missed anything out please pick me up on it, I am happy to answer any questions you have concerning the lamp
Kindest regards
Simon

The Spirit Lamp I demoed the bulb wasn't that bright, maybe the bulbs are different

A quick trip to B & Q or Wilkinsons and you should find something to coat the box with to make it look 'ye olde'.

I for one can see why Simon makes them look new. He sells across the country and some people would actually complain if it looked old and battered. Trust me there are few numptys out there The same kind of people who complain that 'their ID was open' or 'I brought this IT off you and I can see it, it's not invisible!' these people would actually complain if their lamp was old and battered. Trust me these people exist, bless their cotton socks.

A new looking lamp is quite good as it means a magician can tailor the lamp into looking like the box they want.

I would make this from plywood and hide the 9v battery....

otherwise the concept is nice and the 'distance' is suitable....

Hi
Yes I will look into making this from plywood and other materials in the future and will make some covers for the battery too. I have had requests for it to be made with a D Cell too, all of which will be taken into consideration.
Thanks again for the feedback
Regards
Simon

Hi Guys, right balsa or plywood, we stained some quality plywood this morning and to be honest the stain while taking to the wood didn't leave much to be desired in way of grain or look, also as it is really hard, the ageing process would require a lot more work, thus increasing the price somewhat and weight wise there is only a few grams in difference in total.
If in the future people want it making in heavier wood we will do this but please email for a quote first as the tooling and time will be considerably longer. To be honest in all tests and prototypes that were sent out no one ever really questioned the weight as it wasn't the type of prop that would passed about like say a deck of cards would be and was treated with the kind of reverence in performance that one would expect it to be as a method of communing with the dead. I do appreciate all comments and suggestions and would love to hear about your experiences in performances with this
Kindest regards
Simon

Is it possible to use PWM to merely dim the bulb or make it come on very weakly and slowly in response to questions?

Hi Tomo
I suppose you could use a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit but I think may increase the depth of the overall unit, again we can look into this as well.
Regards
Simon

No probs with the base wood, just infer it's made from old coffin wood used for paupers' funerals..... very few would know exactly what kind of wood is used for them !

whats wrong with just saying its a replica of an original, and that they used to be sold in travelling side shows in the 50s and that they never worked anyway...

i think the trouble with bizarre magick is that it can go too OTT at times, just make it sound a little more believable and the interest in the story and plausibility will go up...

IAIN wrote:whats wrong with just saying its a replica of an original, and that they used to be sold in travelling side shows in the 50s and that they never worked anyway...

i think the trouble with bizarre magick is that it can go too OTT at times, just make it sound a little more believable and the interest in the story and plausibility will go up...

Very true Iain,
I like the angle that it is a replica and that it has never worked anyway, useless piece of junk,............and then a flicker of life.

Hi guys,
just saw this and well I have to agree with Iain, the actual backstory does say quite clearly that this has been built to the plans of the original that were bought from the auction of the hospital when it closed. It was not supposed to be the original item. I think in all of the performances that have given using this we have never had anyone question, what it is made from, why there is a 9v battery in it, why does the lamp glows too brightly or too dimly. etc etc. With the correct showmanship and presentation it really does hit the audience right between the eyes, it is not a trick that can be really performed down the pub for mates, it is a set performance piece but of could that is just my opinion and I am open to anyone elses. That said we have customised a few units for people and will continue to do so at your request, we are working on a version that will work without a battery being connected as someone has requested this too.As well as having exposed wires.
I would love to hear of any other suggestions and thoughts for it you may have for it and may I take this moment to thank the people that have emailed with thanks and praise as well as suggestions privately. You know who you are!
Kindest regards
Simon

daleshrimpton wrote:stu, the brightnes of the bulb is an issue in some situations.

If you are sitting in a dark seance, as in the case i refered to, when the thing lights up, you , and your audience are left blind for quite a while afterwards.

I have only had the chance to use mine once so far but im thinking that a dark coloured hank draped over the top would dim the omitted light and may even add to the mystique of the performance?!

Alec