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I need to tip over a candle in a blatantly fake seance. Ideally I'd like to use a remote controlled reel. Reel Ghost would probably be perfect but for a one off use I don't want to spend that sort of money. Alternatively I could use a timed device that will reel in the thread along the lines of the clockwork mechanisms described in seance magazine.
Is there anything on the market that might do this for me or has anyone got any ideas on what could be made?

your being blatantly fake,so don't use any magical methods.just tie a bit of fishing line to the candle, and give it a hard yank.

For starters, if you want to do a gag seance instead of delivering something that's more real, why not just kick the table and knock the candle over as a gag?

Sorry, but I loathe "safe, family friendly seance shows"

There are other, inexpensive methods for doing what you wish but I'm more concerned over the fire hazard of tipping a burning or hot candle, things can get out of control very fast.

When it comes to "electronic" anything in a show you really need to think twice because of Mr. Murphy's famed laws. . . I've seen far too many effects fail where electronics are involved . . . I have a $300.00 spirit bell that rarely works properly and I won't even get into how clumsy the Real Ghost devices are . . . horridly impractical in the real world given what we have in technology and the prices asked. Go to Radio Shack and for about $60.00 on the outside, you can make your own. . . including a take-up motor as small as would fit into a pen. . .

That said, I'd suggest you go primitive. . . A Plate Lifter will more than likely do the job for you when all components are properly placed. Baring that, you can use your own thread pull using a locking reel which, just like the other, gets rid of all evidence; this would be my preferred method because it's simply more reliable and I can trigger it whenever I'm ready for things to happen, even controlling a time delay based on how much thread I let out.

The section on Seance & Haunt magic in Corinda will give you more than sufficient insight when it comes to ways of doing this sort of thing. I'd recommend you look more at making the candle simply move across the table however, vs. falling over. It's a far more impressive bit of "boo" and exceptionally less dangerous.

Seances should never be about tricks, they should be ungimmicked methods, whatever happens will happen without these kind of tricks

Stephen Ward wrote:Seances should never be about tricks, they should be ungimmicked methods, whatever happens will happen without these kind of tricks

I think you may have missed the part about it being a fake seance.

I did, sorry!

Ok, just to clarify a few things. First the candle will not be lit so no worrys about burning the building down.
Secondly, when I say fake seance I am not talking about a light hearted event for children but more of a seance expose as per maskelyne without anything actually being exposed. This is for a corporate event looking at fraudulent events. The reason I am looking at something that can be remote controlled or work on a timer is because I will not have much time to set up in advance and will not be able to mess around laying threads and fishing lines. Obviously this would be preferred and a hell of a lot of easier and cheaper.

Ed Wood wrote:I need to tip over a candle in a blatantly fake seance. Ideally I'd like to use a remote controlled reel. Reel Ghost would probably be perfect but for a one off use I don't want to spend that sort of money. Alternatively I could use a timed device that will reel in the thread along the lines of the clockwork mechanisms described in seance magazine.
Is there anything on the market that might do this for me or has anyone got any ideas on what could be made?

I could make you something, but there's plenty of prior art that will work out cheaper.

The reason why properly designed, built and tested electronics fails in performance is 1) the kit has been treated badly, 2) the operator either doesn't understand or hasn't read the instructions, 3) batteries - you walk into a situation with dead batteries and you're on your own. Frankly, if I had a quid for every time I've heard someone slagging off all electronics, I'd be a very wealthy man by now. Electronics isn't always appropriate, but slagging off what you cannot understand is just dumb.

Couldn't agree more. I've been using a labco pad for many years and the one time it let me down was when I'd accidentally left it turned on all day. My fault not the pad. In that instance though I had an alternate method. I also use an electrical device on stage. I had this made for me at a shocking price. For something that is basically a motor and a few battery's I had every possible fail safe built into it so it could handle being carted around from job to job. I also make sure to use a brand new set of battery's for every show so even though it is only used for 30 seconds I know I will never have a problem.
As you say electronics aren't always appropriate but there are times when they can perform miracles that it would be impossible to create otherwise.
In this instance an electronic solution would be best. I won't have the candle set up in advance so wont be able to lay threads, the candle would have to be moved into place, sitting on a small table ( a table that can easily contain the gimmick), then I'm ready to go.
People need to get out of the 19th century, Remember even Robert Houdin was using electronics.

I was thinking of a small but powerful neo in the candle base and getting a larger neo to be passed under the table thus repelling the one in the candle?

Mandrake wrote:I was thinking of a small but powerful neo in the candle base and getting a larger neo to be passed under the table thus repelling the one in the candle?

That would work brilliantly for a more traditional sitting around the table everyone holding hands type seance. Unfortunately i want to be on the other side of the room when it happens.

Ed Wood wrote:i want to be on the other side of the room when it happens.

Any chance of using an 'assistant' who is seated?

Mandrake wrote:

Ed Wood wrote:i want to be on the other side of the room when it happens.

Any chance of using an 'assistant' who is seated?

I wish!!! What I would give to find a girlfriend happy to work as my assistant (for free). Unfortunately it's just me so I have to do all the work.
I was thinking about this last night as I drifted off to sleep and remembered how its possible to use an old fashioned mouse trap to tip books off a shelf. To have a spring, mouse trap like device built into the base of a candle stick which could be remote controlled would be awesome.....also almost certainly unworkable and stupidly expensive.

It looks like you're down to a wireless remote control idea. Place innocent looking book on table, place candle on the book, at the right moment push hidden button in pocket which activates electromagnet in fake book thus repelling the neo in the candle base.

Failing that, let me know where you're doing this, I'll wangle my way into the event, sit at the table and do all the funny business... I'm not dressing as a girlfriend though... not again... I haven't a thing to wear....

I've played around with electro magnets before and never had much joy with them. This is very much an example of electrical props failing because they were made by an idiot, i.e. me.
You don't need to worry about supplying your own costume, I have sparkly bikini that will really suit you. As long as you can fit into it you've got the job as my lovely assistant.