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The Effect

Utility prop can be used for many effects the most common being a ring vanish to locked box, but can be used for other vanishes, predictions, etc. Its really down to you to utilize it in whatever way your imagination can come up with. The most common routine involves asking an audience member to hold his/her ring in a hankie. Another audience member holds an envelope. The ring disappears from the hankie. the member with the envelope opens it up to reveal a key that can open the solidly locked box.


Cost

Mine was £14.99 from the shop, but on Alkazam it appears they are down to a tenner.

http://www.alakazam.co.uk/acatalog/Gene ... c_27_.html


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)

1-3
largely dependent on what effect you are going to do. Personally I like the idea of having the box on the table in full view from the start, so angels need to be considered and maybe some sleights.



Review

I'll begin with basic details of the box.

External measurements 9cm by 7cm by 6.8cm
Internal measurements 4cm by 5cm by 4cm
Base of interior has a bit of fabric laid on.
Lock included is solid enough, won't pull apart if a spec thinks thats worth trying.


For the price this is a nice utility prop. I've given the measurements so you can work out for yourself what will fit. Rings, coins, silks, predictions are going to be the obvious uses. The booklet suggests watches could be placed inside, but I think thats pushing it. The mechanism for the effect cannot be detected once the the box is locked and loaded. Once open they may be able to, but at this point most tricks will have reached their climax and the box can be removed.

It comes with three pages of instructions giving ideas for routines. They could maybe go into more detail, but I do feel this is the sort of prop where you develop your own idea.

My only criticism is that they went a bit heavy on the varnish and the fabric on the inside could maybe have been done a bit neater, but for the price I didn't expect perfection.

Overall

A useful little prop that can either be done as an effect in itself or used to enhance another. I'm planning on using it to add an extra element to a prediction routine, which will hopefully take it that step further to make it more amazing. The box could be better made, but the gimmick is undetectable while shut, which is what i was concerned about.

8/10

Nice review matey. Just out of interest though ,and maybe it's just my sense of proportion, but the inside measurements, seem a bit out of place with the outside measurements. Only from my perspective of the picture though, which can be deceptive. If the box is 9cm long, then the walls are 2 cm thick? That's a pretty sturdy box.

I was measuring it pretty roughly with a ruler that was awkward for some of the bits, but it is about 1cm thick walls. Just wanted to give a rough idea of what it could be used for. It'll fit small objects, such as coins and rings, but no good for say cards unless folded.

Thanks for reviewing this; I've been meaning to get a Lippincott box for a while and keep changing my mind between different ones. I was going to get one from the US that Jason recommended, but possible customs charges have put me off. I think I'll just go for this one from Alakazam and be done with it or I'll be dithering forever. I have a very nice Larry Becker routine on an old VHS tape that I want to try out (when he lectured at Davenports in 1989).

One question: is this actually made from wood or some other material? It looks like wood in the photo.

It is wood with brass fastenings. A bit over polished making it shiny. But as it is just a tenner its not exactly the end of the world if it exactly to your needs.

Seeing as your're not a fly by nighter, I'll lend you my one if you want Replicant. Then you can have a play with it. PM me if you're interested. If not, and you're are buying from Alakazam, then phone them up and see if they'll order it for you and ask them what the price would be.

Thanks for the offer, Jason. But by the time I've paid the postage for you to send it to me and then paid the postage to return it to you, I might as well just buy it from Alakazam for £10. I appreciate the gesture, though.