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I'm sure things like this exist but I've had no luck finding it.

Trying to be brief I've been using Christian Chelmans 'Zodiac' routine for awhile now, but I wanted to streamline the process as well as reduce the table space.

What I've come up with is a box holding 18 small stones or pendants 12 representing the zodiac plus a moon and sun stone.

What I'm looking for is a box that will allow me to know which of the 18 stones has been removed.

I seem to remember a box like this being mentioned in a book but I've got a nasty feeling it was in practical mental magic, which I've lost.

I would prefer something non electronic, it has to be examinable but doesn't need to be completely clean (I consider marked cards examinable). The items don't have to be stones either, they can be rings, coins, small figureines, wood or metal medalions etc. However I would prefer the items to be laid out and labeled so the participants won't get confused as to whats what.

Any help would be appreciated.

Slightly different way of doing it, but would this work. Have the stones laid out. One is placed in the box. The rest go in a bag out of the way. Bit suspicious maybe, but I think these two boxes could be used.

http://www.martinbreese.com/trickpages/boxxed.htm

http://www.martinbreese.com/trickpages/cyclops.htm

I do want to keep it simple, so that wouldn't really do. I do like boxxed II for something else anyway but its out of stock.

Thanks for the links though and any thoughts on alternate presentation are appreciated.

You may be thinking of Box Office in Mind, Myth and Magick by T A Waters. I'm not sure it will do what you're looking for, though; it's a way of showing a written prediction of the selected object rather than a reveal.

Barry

No I wasn't thinking of that. From what I can remember (if I'm remembering it right at all) it was an ornate box with holes hidden in the design. I'm fairly sure it was in a book like banachek.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:No I wasn't thinking of that. From what I can remember (if I'm remembering it right at all) it was an ornate box with holes hidden in the design. I'm fairly sure it was in a book like banachek.

There is an effect with diagrams in 13 Steps called Corinda's money box (page 150) which has hidden lights that show which coin has been removed. The effect called be altered to use a pressure switch I suppose, might be worth PMing Tomo?

There's also an effect (which I believe is a marketed effect so I couldn't comment on the method) which involves different coloured billiard balls in a box.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:No I wasn't thinking of that. From what I can remember (if I'm remembering it right at all) it was an ornate box with holes hidden in the design. I'm fairly sure it was in a book like banachek.

That's in MMM too, but it only covers a few objects.

Barry

I suspect you were thinking of Corinda's money box from 13 Steps. If I remember the details, it used the coins to complete circuits. That said, you could use microswitches underneath each stone (something not available to Corinda) to get the same result.

Actually, done up right, it would be far more believable than Corinda's coins. I'm picturing a nicely fitted box in which you store these highly special talismanic stones, each in its own little compartment. Something like this coin collector's display case:

Robbie wrote:I suspect you were thinking of Corinda's money box from 13 Steps. If I remember the details, it used the coins to complete circuits. That said, you could use microswitches underneath each stone (something not available to Corinda) to get the same result.

Ahem, already said that, ahem....

I think corindas money box is what I was remembering, unfortunately I want to avoid electronic methods. Or I was thinking of something in M,M&M but if it only works for a few items then it's no good.
Heckler I remember seeing the billiard ball effect on P&T F U, but I assume it's limited to 6 colours not to mention billiard balls, if I'm wrong and it can hold up to 18 small stones and isn't electronic could you P.M me where I can buy it?
Also shame on you Robbie stealing hecklers answer like that.

The problem is the number of objects you are looking at.
technicaly you could have a non electronic version that would take 9 items.( Or 10, if you had 2 longer boxes, one in each hand)
Think Tuckers Visa caberet in box form, and you should get the gist.

Look at Mind, Myth & Magic Waters offers two or three different display case type ideas that work great, are very simple to make. One of these displays is exactly what you're describing, possibly even a bit more impressive given how the message or premonition is delivered.

I've used one particular device from that book for close to 25 years now in my Murder Mystery shows that is akin to what you are asking about. No electronics whatsoever and it works every single time.

Would you be able to give me a page number or title?

Also I just realised I've been a complete idiot it doesn't need to be 18 items it was 14 (or 16 as it's easier to divide something into a 4X4 grid) I have no idea where 18 came from.

Ok. There's something by TA in MMM, which can surely be used the way you want it to, although TA actually does an effect out of this. I'll give you the page number, hold on, I have the good stuff saved in a file... its page 5. Box office its called.

Well thank you, I've forgotten about this effect.

Apologies to Heckler! I saw he'd mentioned the Money Box, but missed his mention of microswitches.

I really ought to stay off the internet until I'm fully awake...