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When I was a kid of about 15 a pal of mine used to get a catalogue that was full of practical jokes / magic tricks etc. Emphasis was more on jokes than tricks but it was the same sort of thing.

The catalogue was made by a company called Ellisdon's if I remember correctly. Whatever happened to them? Did they go out of business or something?


More importantly I've only posted two topics to this forum both around the subject of "Does anyone remember...?"

Am I getting old?

Well I can't comment on wether you are getting old uless you tell me how old you are! Have you considered including your age and level of experience in your location tag? Details can be found HERE.

On the subject of the magazine, I am probably far too young to remember it myself!

Oooooh memories - I bought my very first magic trick from Ellisdons - the finger chopper!

I was browsing around the web last week and I saw a place advertising souvenir copies of their 1950's catalogue - can't remember where it was though as I'm getting old and feeble! Anyone with the spare cash and initiative could probably resurrect the name and start another incarnation - does anyone have Richard Branson's phone number?

PS: No idea what happened to them but have a look at http://just-what-i-wanted.com/itm00291.htm for a hint of nostalgia.

That's probably where Ali Bongo got his act from.

daleshrimpton wrote:That's probably where Ali Bongo got his act from.

You're dissing a master, Dale!

Actually, I have a catalogue from the 60s (bought in the 80s) from the Inzani-Henley Magic Company, which Ali illustrated.

Anyone know what happened to them?

If you put 'Ellisdon's' into a Google search, there are loads of links to magcians who bought their first tricks from there (Like me!) - so perhaps Dale may not be so wide of the mark!

Part-Timer wrote:

daleshrimpton wrote:That's probably where Ali Bongo got his act from.

You're dissing a master, Dale!

Actually, I have a catalogue from the 60s (bought in the 80s) from the Inzani-Henley Magic Company, which Ali illustrated.

Anyone know what happened to them?

Far from it.The chinese disguise kit shown, looks identical in every way to an early photo i have of Ali ( who i hold very dear).
And, Ali is a self confessed junk a holic.

Now as far as Inzani-Henley goes. I will fill in a bit of Background monday for you.

I have a couple of bits of theirs which very nice.

daleshrimpton wrote:Far from it.The chinese disguise kit shown, looks identical in every way to an early photo i have of Ali ( who i hold very dear).

I was joking too.

And, Ali is a self confessed junk a holic.

Aren't most magicians?

I look forward to hearing from you about Inzani-Henley. I used to belong to their magic club when I was a kid. I've still got a Rudy Rabbit badge, somewhere.

I sincerely hope you guys realise that, with your mentions of Inzani-Henley and Rudy Rabbit, you've paved the way for a whole new topic of conversation?! Please tell all - in a new thread would be nice!

You can get a small booklet of a sample of the old Ellisdon advertisements from http://www.cards4magic.co.uk/ (do a search on "ellisdon").

Ellisdons was run by 2 elderly gentlemen. One used to call in, regulary at The Sign Of Four Theatre shop in Nottingham. He would often chuckle and tell the owner, " This is our latest wheeze" Expressions from the 20's and 30's flowed. One of the brothers invented a plastic cigarette called Apal. This contained a herbal substance which replaced nicotine & 'stopped you smoking'. They had a store in High Holborn near to Davenports 111, High Holborn. Eventually they both dies and i don't think there was any family.Their catalogues were so intriguing to magicians. I gave my last one (and now regret it..oh the past!) to Phil Temple (USA) at the Southport 1993 IBM. Yes the little selection from their old catalogues is intriguing. I got mine from Harper's Bazaar catalogue who really carry on the Ellisdon tradition. Our local Woolworths, in Cradley Heath, North Worcs, (where I was born) had an Ellispodn's counter in the 40's and early 50's. I haunted it and must have bought everything from the Pound Note Machine, the Snowstorm tablets, card tricks galore in single packets or in sets. (Oh I gave Temple a set of these as well) to the Buddha Papers, and my first Egg Bag, which was red; I've hated the black ones ever since. Black against a black dinner jacket!! I used a real egg carried in cotton wool..it was war time.There was also a card with a pink metal clip on the back which enabled you to vanish it without the back palm. Erratic card vanish. And much, much more. How I wish I could get hold of a 30's 40's catalogue now.
Allen Tipton

I have just been rumaging around, as we are soon to move, and guess what........I have found an Ellisdons catalogue. I have no idea of the date but it says 15p, and I must have been 8 years old or so, so I would expect it to be 1970 or so,


Any offers?

You may find that collectors of magical memorabilia will offer a tidy sum for it. Keep it safe!

I was just cleaing out for the move. It has no use to me now. I found loads of my DC comics Superman, The Green Lantern, Swamp Thing, Tales of the Unexpected etc.

I am open to offers on it if you think it is worthwhile. If you think it is a good idea and acceptable with the forum I will accept bids via Personal Messages or via a thread I will create, and set a date for all bids to be in by? Does that sound a good idea or would you have a better suggestion.