talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if this effect (Swadling - Sympathetic Matchboxes) is still available? If so where?

Many thanks

I need a new set as well.

As far as I know, Bob Swadling never gave retail rights to anyone, so you could only buy them direct from him.

Problem is, last time I saw him (South Shields convention, march 2009), he told me that he was about to retire and move out to the States. If that's happened, we're sunk, mate.

I'll dig and ask around.

Pete

Bob's doing all of JB's coin work now, so maybe it would be worth contacting them.
However, Ive not heard that hes moved out yet. Being a staunch home counties member, Im sure that a card would of been passed around for us to sign.

Hi Bradderz123. Have you heard of The Magic Supply Company ? I hadnt heard of them till today and have never dealt with them, however, they have the Sympathetic Matchboxes for sale.

Elmwood Magic also has a version of it called Matchbox Mambo. It sounds the same as the Swadling effect but is completely examinable at the end. jim

Hi Jim,

No I haven't - i'll give them a try.

I did ask JB Magic to go to Bob direct which they said they did but to no good effect. Suggestion was Bob would be bringing them out again.

Thanks for your help.

Just spotted this post as I was posting another. JB Magic are now selling these. I was looking for a review - do you have any thoughts? Especially in comparison to some of the cheaper versions?

Hi there,
The magic supply company are very cheap,so doubt they will work as well as bobs version,also the OHIO blue tip matchbox may be a popular talking point amongst most laymen.
Mark mason is selling bobs version for £20
so i will be purchasing yet another set,the reactions you will get whilst performing this routine is easily worth the money.
I would strongly suggest JB magic.

Deano

thanks guys - I had given up all hope! Ordered one today.

Thanks - I think I might succumb since I have seen the reaction on lay-folk. I also have an idea for patter/routine which might work...

They've arrived. First impressions good. Will review this when I have 'road-tested' it...

Really looking forward to a review of this. Any chance soon? Quick impressions will do. Thanks

I use these all the time and reactions are very good from lay people, I have even had magicians comment on how this is a performance not just a trick as I have even done this in competitions.

I don't have time to do a proper review but you can tell a good 3-4 minute story while doing the routine and the look on peoples faces is brilliant when I do this.

The boxes can not be examined but the routine ends up with you putting them away in the supplied box, I can't recall the last time anyone asked to see them as it appears they are handled very openly.

When I knew Bob was retiring I bought an extra set as mine were a couple of years old at the time, they are now about 4 years old well used and still look good.

Handling is quite easy once you learn the routine which has a few phases to it.

Stay away from the cheap rip offs they are nothing like the quality, don't come in a really nice box to keep them looking good and don't last as long.

By the way its all self contained and instant reset ready to go again.

10 out of 10 from me.

Thanks Mark, that's goo enough for me - much appreciated. Next stop paypal.....
cheers Will

I've been using Swadling's matchboxes for a few years now.

The whole effect is utterly stupid and absurd. I love it.

There are some points to consider, though:

The boxes can't be handed out for examination - although this is taken care of by in the routining, as you explain that the matchboxes need to be returned to their box before both drawers will close. That done, you drop it into your pocket and move on with another trick.

They're real matchboxes, made of card, and even though they're stored in a nice sturdy box of their own, they still get old-looking quite quickly.

Plus, the gimmick is fragile, and once broken, it's almost impossible to repair.

I'm on my fifth set - but that fact should be enough to illustrate that I think the pros outweigh the cons.

Lighting conditions can work against you. While the trick is normally angle-proof, you should keep your eyes open and adjust your angles according to the performing conditions.

On the plus side:

It's beautifully visual - which is a godsend when working in noisy environments. You don't need to give any complex instructions, and the spectators don't need to choose or remember anything.

While the boxes can't be handed out, I find it's fun to have spectators push the drawers themselves. This in itself makes the trick a brilliant ice-breaker when faced with shy kids. They usually end up in fits of giggles.

When getting spectators to push the drawers, you'll sometimes encounter a Mr Smarty-Pants, who pulls the drawer out instead. That's great fun, as it breaks nothing and ruins nothing. It gives you the opportunity to take it back from them, put it in the sleeve the other way, push in a different direction and still make the darn thing work.

It takes up very little pocket space.

I've styled a nice presentation around the Sympathetic Matchboxes, that I'm very proud of. It gets great reactions, and suits my Daft Pete persona down to the ground.

Hope that helps,

Pete