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I've been watching an old Larry Becker lecture from 1989 (and very good it is, too), and one of the effects he performs uses a Lippincott box. It's a great trick and I was wondering if a) anyone uses a Lippincott box and b) if anyone knows any UK suppliers. The only one I can find is Top Secret Magic; they have a lovely metal version by Joe Porper called the Porper Strong Box. Problem is, it cost £150 which is a little over my budget. It's a real beauty, though...



eBay have a few but they are all from the USA or Europe and look like they might be cheap, economy versions (about US$10). I don't trust them!

It is indeed beautiful.

Do you not think at that price you might be willing to risk it being an el cheapo version?!

You could always flog it on again on eBay

I once found some nice wooden ones on website. I'm not quite sure what the web address was, I'll search for it again and post it.

Replicant wrote:eBay have a few but they are all from the USA or Europe and look like they might be cheap, economy versions (about US$10). I don't trust them!

I think part of the problem is that you've seen the metal version (and its price tag) and now think that inexpensive ones can't be any good.

It's a bit like seeing one of those special commission egg (ball) vases that cost thousands of pounds, and thinking it must work in a different way from the little blue and red plastic thing in the kids' magic set.

Then again... they might be rubbish.

The Lippincott box is often just referred to as a "watch box" (which isn't terribly easy to find using Google).

I didn't know it was also known as a watch box, so thanks for that. I've had a bit more success searching for watch box; here's a couple of links:

http://www.magicnevin.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ud00880
http://www.colinjohnmagic.co.uk/store/n ... mN289.aspx

I'll do some more searching and see what comes up.

(Part-Timer, thanks for the PM and the links).

Alakazam sells one for £9.99...

DrTodd, do you have a link? I always end up with lots and lots of irrelevant results when searching Alakazam.

EDIT: Ah, I found it, thanks. Just had to narrow it down by price. Thanks for that.

the one from alakazam is ok for the money...a little squeeky if you catch my drift...but its from basic timber and thin metal...good value if you just want to tinker...

i even handed mine out to a very skeptical friend once...

In the early 80s it seems everyone used the Lippencot... it was an awesome utility device used in Seances, by the coin man as well as the con guys...

I like the little metal one you have in the photo, the two I've owned were made of wood and cost much more than the $20.00 some of these links are suggesting for them now days... that just boggles the mind.

Craig Browning wrote:...the two I've owned were made of wood and cost much more than the $20.00 some of these links are suggesting for them now days... that just boggles the mind.

That's what worries me. I know they are inexpensive but if the gimmick can be easily seen, then they're of no use to me regardless of how cheap they are.

I think the Lippincott/Watch box is much more versatile than my bill tube because it will hold larger objects - I have a few uses for the box in mind and a bill tube is simply too small to accommodate, for example, a coin.

I just read an effect in 'Hauntiques' that uses one, so Im interested in getting one now

Even "cheaply made" it wouldn't be too difficult to conceal the gaff... I just can't believe anyone would try to pass something off that was blatantly obvious at least. The one Mark Toiful made for me was beautiful... cost about $80.00 in 1984... the biggest problem with it was how well is would "lock" once you did the dirty work... it could be a stubborn little bear if you needed to get back into it once set.

I think I'm going to get the one from Alakazam and see how I get on with that. I'll post a review unless someone beats me to it in the meantime (highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened). It's inexpensive (sounds better than "cheap"...) and looks pretty good from the photo, anyway.

Replicant wrote:I think I'm going to get the one from Alakazam and see how I get on with that. I'll post a review unless someone beats me to it in the meantime (highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened). It's inexpensive (sounds better than "cheap"...) and looks pretty good from the photo, anyway.

Have you bought this yet as my local magic store has one that looks like that. Its £14, which I feel is a fair price. But I'd still like to know if it's any good.

I've got that (for sale) (like my subliminal messages?) It's pretty good, I think...