talkmagic.co.uk

Hello one and all,

I'm looking for a jolly decent human gasometer effect. Does anyone know of one explained either in a book or DVD? Cheers.

I don't know exactly what you are looking for, but I occasionally do a routine for students, involving someone dressing as a gasometer, while someone else stands on a chair, with their *rse hanging out. It is a mind-reading effect. I have a fart machine hidden back stage, connected to a microphone, and I have the remote control in my hand. I force a card or number or whatever, and the number and strength of the farts gives us the object chosen.
It sounds silly, but students go for it.

Quite.

No not the effect I was after no. I was enquiring for a friend/customer who was interested in performing The Human Gasometer such as the one performed by Alan Shaxon. The only other magician I have seen performing the effect lately is 'Piff the Magic Dragon' at the Endinburgh Fringe this year. Basically he takes a straw and blows into it creating a small jet of fire.

I'm a bit stumped as to where I can a book or DVD explaining the effect and routine.

If anyone knows of it in publication anywhere feel free to reply.

There was a good book out called Chemical Magic. It will give you everything you need to create this sort of effect. Some chemical that will burst into flame when you blow on it (there are a few) and some lycopodium powder in the straw. That could be made to work.

Cheers TonyB,

You would have thought I would have looked in Chemical Magic being as I have four on my shelf

Had a quick flick through, should be able to cobble something together from it. I think the original used a piece of equipment from a gas tank!??!

But as you say something similar should be able to be found in Chemical Magic. Thanks again.

Pete Firman did this last night at the Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton! The tube was just a section of curved transparent polythene tubing, about 12" long or so. He used a Clipper lighter to ignite the flame and both the lighter and the tube were handed out for inspection before performing - a volunteer used a small Maglite to check that Pete had nothing in his mouth at all.

Pete's locally at Leicester, Oxford and Nottingham later in this tour so if there are tickets left, go see him!

if you can find places that sell gas mantles these days..good luck!

there is a very good routine in ibm introducing Bills Magic, page 243.

daleshrimpton wrote:if you can find places that sell gas mantles these days..good luck!

Caravan accessory shops may still sell them. "Lummee, it must be a Veritas'"

See http://www.wilmond.co.uk/hard_mantles.htm

Cheers for the help guys! Have passed on your info to my friend

I have the human gasometer props somewhere - haven't performed it in years, doesn't really fit my persona now - used it years ago on promotional shows for British Gas - kind of a gift for that, really.....

As far as the lamp mantles go, my kit came with a converted propane gas burner like you'd use for heating a kettle when you're camping - the burner focusses the flame and makes a satisfying roaring sound so it works nearly as well as the lamp mantle.

I'm quite impressed, that Pete Firman did this with a clear tube, the method for my old kit definitely needs an opaque tube......

If there are any details I can help with feel free to drop me a line.

Chemical magic as in Leonard A Ford?

Oh dear--magicians.
It has NOTHING to do with chemicals.
Nothing more lethal han lighter fuel.


I don't think it's in either of Alan Shaxon's books--certainly not the first.; My Kind Of Magic.
I'll check his old lecture tape.

Allen Tipton

would Alan of lectured it? Its not his, and he more or less performs it exactly as written in the Bill Strickland book.

The Video is lying here oin my desk. Not had time to look at it yet.

I also remember a version put out with a transparent tube not the usual rubber one. I think Max Andrew's Vampire Magic in the 1950's
Again-- I will look in his old catalogues sometime.

Allen Tipton

Again thanks for all the help.

If the effect is on the Alan Shaxon lecture tape my friend (Al Rudge is his name) can hunt it down with a bit of luck.

Cheers.