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Does anyone think it is possible to have a playing card signed, torn into two rings and then have the two rings linked together... and then have it given away as a souvenir - still linked?

It has long been thought impossible to be able to take one card, tear two solid rings from it and link them together without it being torn or a ripped somewhere, of course you can create the 'illusion' they are linked and still solid. The problem being with these methods is that that people often ask to see the cards whilst they are linked, in which case you have to unlink them and do your funny business and then hand out the solid rings for inspection. This is ok but there is always that 'ah, you can't do it' aspect from the spectator, even though they have no idea how you may have linked them there is still the knowledge that they weren't properly linked in the back of their minds.

Sixten Beme played with the idea for years and created One Card Link - a limited supply DVD that taught how to create an examinable linked card, the only draw back was (without exposing anything) that the card could not be signed (and if you know it it wasn't a true one card link). Not really a problem? Maybe, maybe not; but I have always wanted to be able to link a single playing card to itself and then have it given away as a souvenir TO A COUPLE.

Joshua Quinn also released Conjunction last year, a great one card link for a business card, great idea and execution, but for some reason I keep coming back to playing cards. Ideally to perform the effect for the couple at a wedding, or even for a couple at a restaurant, to me to have the names signed on each of the card rings, then have them linked together and given away linked, provides the polishing for a classic magical plot. I believe that having the names on the card rings and then to have them given away provides great opportunities to make the routine make sense, offers many options for patter and it also frames the moment forever, as opposed to being a routine that happens then has to be unlinked before examination.

This is a long round about way of telling everyone that I devised a method to achieve this impossible sounding routine. The routine pans out like this:

A card is selected and folded in half, the performer removes a pen from his pocket and offers it to the spectator. The card is then torn, removing the centre of the card, making a cardboard ring. The centre piece is then torn to make another cardboard ring, the two rings (no switches) are then signed by the spectators. The magician takes them in his hand and gives them a rub, they are then placed into the spectators hands and the spectator is then told to press them together. When the spectator lifts their hand the card rings are lifted off of their palm and they are now perfectly linked together, they can be shaken and examined and given away as a souvenir.

This I believe provides a perfect effect for a couple, such as the Anniversary Waltz, where they can take the souvenir away and it MEANS something to the spectators. 'Look honey, the cards are linked together just like we are! Aaaahhhh how sweet!' (sarcasm mode off!)

In all seriousness this does give the spectator a wonderful keepsake and is also not hard to perform.

Watch this space my friends,

All the best,

Ben Williams

Wow, sounds very exciting, i'll keep my eye on this one.

Sounds fantastic...video?

Hi,

Thanks for your interest, I have a low quality shot of what the cards look like linked here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN7DCOaIlec

As far as a proper demo, that is being edited together now and I will let you guys see it as soon as possible, I am really excited by this release.

Shouldn't be too long,

Thanks again,

Ben

One question. Can the cards be unlinked without ripping them in any way. In other words if the cards can be unlinked, can you then hand them to seperate spectators and the cards are unbroken rings? If not I am pretty sure this is a kirkigami thing. I'm not sure I'm spelling it correctly its like Origami only you can tear the paper. I say this because I seem to remember something similiar in one of Robert Langs or Robert Neal's origami books.

Of course I could be wrong.

Hi Bmat,

The cards cannot be unlinked without tearing them, I believe that is the strength in it as they see their signed rings separate then linked and they can be immediately inspected. I have a couple of other methods of linking cards that you can show very fairly the signatures whilst linked , then unlink them and hand them out for inspection, but I believe OCL is the most direct and strong way to perform linking cards, for me anyway, it is as direct as tearing two rings from a card, having them signed (the card can be signed over its face when it is still whole too) so you are showing them separate, then linking them together, if done quickly, well and smoothly you can easily have it linked before anyone has a chance to understand what is going on, you can then place them in the spectators hands and step away, when they lift their hand they are linked and you never have to touch it again should you not want to.

Ah ha! That was the point of my post! Sorry Bmat, this definitely isn't origami, you have to make a simple gaff that is surprisingly easy to make, but that is all covered in the DVD!

Thanks again for your interest,

Ben

Could you get a vid up showing the linking of the cards?
I like your effect chain btw.

Hey guys,

As soon as the editing is finished I will be able to show you the demo, I am not editing or doing anything post production on this one so we shall have to see what Mr Dave Forrest of Full 52 comes up with!

cheers,

Ben

Ben,

This looks great! I cant wait to see the demo of an actual performance.

Big D

a couple of years ago i came up with (what i thought at the time) was an ingenious way of linking the cards so one could hang off the other. a spectator could also hold this to see both cards linked one dangling from the other (but very close scrutiny would be possible). needless to say i abandoned it after a while as the gimmick was quite fiddly to prepare, the handling less so but it still took a fair bit of practice to get the handling right, and this caused problems as i had to make the gimmick again

obviously though this wouldnt be as you suggest where the spectator could keep the cards, but they could be signed.

cant wait to see it

Hey guys,

Thanks for your feedback, just so you know prep time on OCL is about 3 minutes, I also have a super quick link that isn't examinable that I came up with on my journey to OCL that is taught on the DVD so you can choose which to perform when.

Thanks again,

Ben

Just so you know I am in the process of uploading a performance clip with a close up on the cards. There is the performance up already, just without the close up here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLckqjsf5qg

Thanks guys,

Ben

nice!

Hi guys,

Here is the link to the video with the close up at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZlkf5-9 ... re=related

Thanks,

Ben

Looks great!