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Just wondering if anyone knows where I could get hold of a svengali deck on bicycle cards, but instead of the usual setup, one with made with blank cards? When I was a kid learning magic, there was a company producing cheap gaff decks on bridge sized cards and this was one of them. Think the patter suggested something along the lines of a "washing machine" deck. I've thought of some good routines to use with a deck like this but before I spend ages making one I'd thought I'd check if they where available to buy.

It sounds as though you need something like the Mental Photography Deck - see http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic1808.p ... hotography for info and check if it does what you want.

Cheers Mandrake, that sounds pretty good, have to check it out. The only thing is (hope this doesn't give to much away!) it sounds highly likely to be R/S I understand if you can't confirm that. Wanted to stay away from this as the ideas I've got are built around sleights (passes, turnover passes etc.) if all goes to plan I should be able to perform an effect pretty similar to the mental photography deck but have the deck examined after, ( I know what you're thinkin about svengali not bein examinable but I've got some idea's) this may all have been done before, I know there are many ways to achieve effects like this but the idea's Ive got would hopefully add to the overall routine. I would have to alter the svengali blank as well so was just thinking of buying one to save time!

R&S is probably right - judging by one or two observations in that thread! If you have a reliable method of 'preparing' the deck (or have a very helpful local Printing shop with the required precision items) you could certainly produce your own specialised Svengali deck.

If you look at Mark Lewis' The Long and Short of It book ( http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic12876. ... long+short ), he gives a superb way of changing a Svengali into a regular deck right under the spec's nose so you can carry on with any routines using a normal deck. Crafty, plausible and very straightforward!

When I wanted to make a ********* Deck (Max Maven) I had a look around for a svengali on blank stock (I actually wanted double blank) and couldn't find one anywhere. In the end I gave cards4magic a ring and once I got them to understand what I was after ("I can do you a blank svengali. Is it the short or the long ones you want blank?") they were more than happy to make one up for me. They give a very good service and can make most things to order.


Yikes! Self-censored for idiotic exposure. Sorry.

Think I'll give cards4magic a buzz and see if they can sort something out for me! Cheers. The long and short of it sounds interesting have to check that out.

I am now overcome with curiousity regarding Mandrake's remark concerning the "superb" way of changing the svengali deck into a regular one. I wonder what the hell it is. I suppose it might be a good idea for me to read my own book.

If I had read that someone else came up with it I would be terribly excited and rush out and buy it. I still feel tempted to buy my own book and nearly ordered it for myself because of Mandrake's description. I have just realised that this procedure might be a bit daft so I am now going to go and look at my own book.

One moment please.

Ah! I suspect this may be the Al Baker thing that Mandrake is referring to. It does seem to fit the description he posted. It is indeed a wonderful thing. Pity I have never actually used it. I think I will now that Mandrake has talked me into it.

It is interesting that this trick created a flurry of minor controversy on the magic cafe and for once the controversy had nothing to do with me. Somebody posted that this trick was in the Encyclopedia of Card Tricks and lots of other people said it wasn't and the more they insisted it wasn't the more the original poster indignantly said that it was.

I investigated the matter in a spirit of curiosity and concluded that the orginal poster was actually correct. The trick was indeed there. However the important bit where you make the svengali deck change into a regular one is not included in the Encycopedia so the other posters were actually half correct.

I must confess that when doing the svengal deck for laymen (and not in a sales situation) I don't even bother switching the deck. I simply say "this is a trick deck I purchased in a magic shop".

They never believe me.............................