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The Effect


Three bikes are displayed, each has a hole through the centre through which an oversized brass 'fold over' paper fastener is threaded pinning the three cards together, the leaves of the fastener are bent over in opposite directions on the face of the top card and the bulbous end of the fastener shows above the back of the bottom card. The 3 cards are fanned to show themselves as pinned together.

The cards are turned over so that just the brass head of the fastener is showing above the back of the cards, the spectator is asked to hold the two cards directly under the head while the magician reaches underneath and effortlessly slides the card now on the bottom away from the other two.

The spectator is left holding the other 2 cards still pinned together and wondering how the removed card was able to be separated without the 2 brass leaves of the paper fastener being bent straight to allow the card to be slid down and off, they will automatically turn over the cards they are left holding and will see that the fastener has not been touched, fully examinable.


Cost


£2.99 from Shop4magic



Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)


1 Easy Peasy



Review


As I'm sure we all know, the majority of really low priced illusions are pretty naff and disappointing and most instantly discarded.


However every now and again a little gem arrives in the post which is cheap, simple to perform, and it's attraction as a spectator pleaser obvious. This for me is one such item, it took me about 30 seconds from opening the packet to grasping what was required to performing it faultlessly.


Despite it's low price I personally think that it will get a disproportionately favourable reaction from your audience compared to other more expensive illusions and really has to be done close up. This is really one for table hopping or just producing down the pub or on a train journey to break the ice.

I think that I have seen this described elsewhere under a different name (possibly Pin something?) but for me does prove that a decent effect can often be produced from a cheap purchase, I can see it becoming a favourite of mine along with another cheap purchase (forget the name now but is the one with the 3 traffic colour dots on black cards, one of which jumps from card to card in the spectators hands) Two small inexpensive items ideal for giving a beginner the confidence to just pull out and start entertaining.



Overall


£2.99 well spent, also when cards become a little worn it's easy to renew all props yourself for a couple of pence. 1 brass paper fastener + three spare bikes.