talkmagic.co.uk

Cost: $10
From:The Magic Warehouse
Difficulty: 2/5

Effect: A direct 3-card Monte routine where the spectators simply cannot keep track of the ace. In the final phase, the ace jumps inexplicably to your pocket! (from advertising blurb)

I wanted a few antique style effects and this seemed to fit the bill nicely. I found it a bit dissapointing. The cards look 'old' and have good colour. But there is quite a big problem with them IMO. The indices are TINY (about 6mm!!!)

I wanted this particularly to perform for older people, only to find I am struggling to read them (the indices) myself. I can't imagine an older person with less than perfect vision being able to see these clearly enough to make the trick workable. Consider that a spectator may be 3 feet away from you as well! (depending on the routine you perform)

The pictures in the instructions actually uses a completely different set of cards (probably for this very reason). The included routine makes use of the spectators hands, but has the idea of an ambitious card rather than a gambling display or slight-of-hand cheating.

If anyone owns Skinners Ultimate 3 card Monte, these cards are 'compatible' with that. I would actually recommend that you buy that insted and artificially 'age' the cards. If you are going to use these, I also suggest you take them out of the plastic packet trick holder that is included.

Rating 3/10 Nice quality printing and card stock but awful impractical design!!!

lozey wrote:I would actually recommend that you buy that insted and artificially 'age' the cards.

Sorry, I realize this was not the basis for you post....however I am curious as to any suggestions you would have re: artifically aging a deck...any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

PM if you wish

over brew some tea, get some tissue and rub along the card very lightly seems to work

What were they thinking? It's a shame they don't think practically when designing these things. Six millimetre high indices is far too small for most people to read comfortably, especially when they are supposed to be keeping track of certain cards.

moodini wrote:

lozey wrote:I would actually recommend that you buy that insted and artificially 'age' the cards.

Sorry, I realize this was not the basis for you post....however I am curious as to any suggestions you would have re: artifically aging a deck...any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

PM if you wish

I would suggest lightly dunked in tea then sprinkled with just a few grains of coffee while still damp. Someone once told me you can bake the cards in an oven but Iv never tried that. You can also singe the edges of the card

A bit of fine wire wool can be used to make the ink on a card appear faded to age it. Needs to be done with very fine wool though and carefully. rub across the card slowly and lightly and take it down to the point you want. This can affect the handling of the cards, but then most aging techniques do in some way.

I would like to point out at this time the 'E' sells the 'Vintage' deck, I know it is 'E' and all but if you want some then you could do a lot worse.

Chris

The cards in question are gaffed so the 'E' deck wont work for this particular routine

Pips were that size at the time so they are accurate. As for ageing, our own Tom Lauten will advise various kinds of abrasive...tea will warp the cards...

I have never tried "aging" cards myself, but a friend of mine told me he made a few "aged" cards by applying some brown shoe polish. Just thought I'd throw that in as food for thought.

When it comes to gaffed cards á la carte, I have ordered mine from The Card Shark. Excellent quality and quick service by Christian (which is a member here on TM). He's got an excellent Online Card-Builder.

DrTodd wrote:...tea will warp the cards...

That was what I would have thought.