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In London today hunting down Davenports and international magic shops....... IT IS SO HARD........I asked for directions but no body knows they even exist so I am stuck here in an internet cafe searching the net........Once I have found it I then have to ifnsd my way back up North.......


I know Magic is a well kept secret but this takes the mick........If they are shut I am going to cry.

davenports, is in the concorse at Charing Cross tube station.
if you find the charing cross hotel, the stairs to the shop are directly opposite.
or if you find teh statue of Oscar Wilde gazing at the stars, just go down those stairs, and follow the signs.
Internationals are in Clerkenwell, Easy to get to, but a bit of a treck from Davies.

I assume you checked the addresses before setting off and didn't just arrive in London and ask the nearest passer-by if they knew where they were?

Well I did check the address but I sat on the train and as it was empty I decided to practics some magic just select a card ones.


anyways I am finally home......the shop worker confused me with several tricks such as i dealt two poker hands and picked one then he let me take an extra jack and a king from the deck so that with my joker i had 4 of a kind jacks with a king kicker then he turned over his royal flush whitch i did not seeh im touch..

I picked up a few things.......

1) D-light.....nice little trick i thought that does not require much practice other than timing.

2) Jeff Sheridan volume 2 ---- card manipulation (ITS IN BLACK AND WHITE????) (they did not have the other suggested DVDs and this guy was meant to be the guy who taught many modern day proffesionals.

3) 2 packs of bycycle cards and 3 blank bicycle cards.

4) Roy walton's classic cascade.

5) 10 m rope

6) SHARPEE MARKER.

7) An invitation to join the London's magician guild....but I want to practice my manipulation allot first.

So all in all a good day out...when I get payed again I will be back

Crikey, they had all that at Davenports? You must have bought all their remaining stock.

Replicant wrote:Crikey, they had all that at Davenports? You must have bought all their remaining stock.

Are you not a fan.



um by the way replicant....did I make any bad puchases and being a magician youself if I send you a video clip of a performance (I am an amateur) could you let me know if it is goof enough to pass an audition with the london guild.....

I would like to take magic very seriously as when I go off to the RAF It will be put to good use for morale and also if the military does not work out I have an awsome carreer to fall onto (with lots of practice).

My aim is a little bit of mixed magic but mainly card manipulation.

MagicalSmithy wrote:Are you not a fan.

Not particularly. There's at least one other thread about Davenports on TM so I won't go into details, but suffice to say that Davenports do not place a high priority on customer service or holding sufficient levels of stock. Just my opinion based on my experiences, of course.

um by the way replicant....did I make any bad puchases and being a magician youself if I send you a video clip of a performance (I am an amateur) could you let me know if it is goof enough to pass an audition with the london guild.

I'm afraid that I am not familiar with most of the items you ordered. I am more into the mentalism scene than close-up magic, but there are plenty of other TM members who are far, far more qualified than myself who can offer a critique on your performance video. All the best.

The last time I was in London I went to International. As I got out of the train in Liverpool Street I asked a guy what was the best way to get to Clerkenwell. He said that the bus was far better than the underground. The bus driver told me he would let me know when I got there. He told me I was there, and I got out. One of us had made a mistake. He had let me off at St Paul's Cathedral. I must say I was delighted with the mistake. A magnificant building, and I spend a few happy hours. The upside of it was that I didn't buy a pile of magic stuff I would never use.
I've visited Davenports a few times, and their catelogue seems to be more a statement of aspiration than a list of products. Nothing seems to be in stock. And I find International very friendly, particularly if Jerry Sadowitz is there. I know he is a vicious b***** in a comedy club, but behind a counter he is a gentleman.

To get to International Magic I always used to go to Chancery Lane tube station and walk for about 15 minutes or until I got to the shop.

I would walk towards Leather lane which was only a couple of minutes walk away. Then I would walk down Leather Lane right to the bottom of the street. International used to be at 99 Leather Lane and I think they are still there. Just round the corner is 89 Clerkenwell Rd where the shop it.

I must say that I am preening about my brilliant memory. I still know the address and phone number after all these years. Mind you the phone number hasn't changed in over 40 years.

In the early days I travelled all over the UK and Northern Ireland working for International Magic. I am not sure if they have quite recovered from it yet.

Davenports was the first that I came too but I must say I was pleased with the service and they had everything I want but as a manipulator or cards its hard for any shop not to have the required items for that.....

Cards......Cards......oh and when they get busted........more cards.

Davenports was the first that I came too but I must say I was pleased with the service and they had everything I want but as a manipulator or cards its hard for any shop not to have the required items for that.....

Cards......Cards......oh and when they get busted........more cards.

I must say that magic shops all over the world seem to be very badly stocked. In Toronto however the local magicians have no idea how lucky they are. They have two of the best stocked magic shops I have seen anywhere. I would be amazed if you couldn't find what you were looking for between the two shops.

Friendly and efficient shops both of them. I think you have to be this way in these days of internet competition. Those shops that haven't learned this lesson will go under if they aren't careful. Economic recessions hurt magic shops as well you know.

So did witch burning.......Sorry....I am so sorry.

davenports have a reputation for being expensive. but then, i guess thats whet you get for being in central london.

i doubt that the walton effect was over priced, since roy has connections with the davenport family.

sharpies, ill never buy them from any magic dealer.. get them from staionery shops in packs, as it's much cheaper.
Jeff Sheridans one cool magician, and very clever.
Its in black and white, because it's artistic, as well as magical.

delite.. well to be honest, there selling them in Hamlys at the marvin magic stand for next to nothing..

next time your in london, go to the magic cave in covent garden.( its a market stall type of shop)

tell them i sent you, and see what response you get.

where ever you go, always support the bricks and mortar shop where possible.. because you will only miss them when they have gone.

why oh why oh....

spells yo-yo...