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From time to time I ask in here if anyone knows of a watch smash and restore routine. It used to be a staple of magicians but I can't find one anywhere. So, if you haven't seen my appeal before and you know where I can get this I would be very grateful to hear from you.

John

I believe that you can find a routine in a Paddington Bear book. Although he gets it wrong, he does read out the instructions afterwards and tells you how it should be done.

Surprised nobody has slagged him off before for exposure.

A serious post this time.

I couldn't find anything, even in the Tarbell books, unless it was under a different heading. This is one of those effects that was always known by the public, even 35+ years ago when I just started school, not knowing how any magic was done, nor interested in how they did it. In other words, If children knew how it was done back then, with the only exposure to magic being David Nixon once a week, is this a magic effect for the sake of magic and entertainment, or a comedy effect for entertainment? The fact that you have been asked for it shows that it has left a lasting effect on people. I had forgotten all about it until your post.
Would you be doing this as a serious routine, or a magician in trouble effect?

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but it honestly does interest me.

Now for a

MOD ALERT

Firstly, sorry for calling you lerts.
Secondly, please check and delete if you think this is exposure.

John,

Surely it is just a matter of a switch, no different than a deck switch?

Borrowed watch in a handkerchief, with parts that at least look like they come from a watch in an identical handkerchief. Do the switch, but when you bash the "watch" or rather, odds and ends, make sure you don't bash too hard. Hit next to it hard, but not on the actual "bits". Remember, you will want to use them again. If you bash them too hard for real sometimes , they could end up looking like any small piece of squashed metal. They have to believe it is a part of a real watch. Though I would say that they would believe it is part of a cheap fake watch, rather than the actual watch used. They still need to feel that A watch was smashed.

Would be interested in whether people feel they WOULD think it was the real watch being smashed? I am not trying to put this effect down. I believe it to be great entertainment, but on the "vanishing Bandanna" level, rather than something to amaze. Perversely, the more serious this is performed could mean the funnier it actually is.


EDIT

I do remember seeing this in a book that my son had. I can't be sure which one, but it could have been one by Ian adair for magic for children, though can't remember the name of it.

NOTE.

Magic to be performed BY children, not FOR children. If it isn't in a book by him, it may be worth looking in a few older books aimed at children DOING magic. Never underestimate these sort of books. the instructions may be rubbish, they didn't go in depth on presentation or patter, ( if they even mentioned it.) but they could give basic insights to a few of the effects popular at the time. Look for a book of magic for children published in the 70's and you may pick up something cheap with the basics you want.

Thanks for this Darrel. I don't think in the main people believe that you have just smashed up a Rolex. I think it is just one of those effects where everyone knows it is going to come out ok but they go away saying "how did he do that, I saw him put the watch in that cloth......."

I found this, though I'm not sure if it is exactly what you are looking for. May be some use if other searches fail.


http://www.magicshop.co.uk/p2239/Time_S ... ored_Watch)/product_info.html

There's a very well thought out routine available as a download from Trickshop for the staggering price of $1.95: Sam Berland's Crushed Wrist Watch

Max Somerset has a watch smash (used on his show with Stephen fry)

A link to the vid:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kdsV1xWx7bo

Maybe available from:

http://kidshowmagic.co.uk/product_info. ... cts_id/324




EDIT:

I meant to add, it was kinda revealed in that guardian magic sumplement from last year.

I may have a copy if your interested, altho its more of some ideas than anything.

I will say that I believe the average person will not be as amazed by this as much as by many other effects.

From what I have found, the average layman these days will quite quickly figure that a the watch was switched.

It is an somewhat entertaining bit if done well, but the effect simply doesn't have the power of many others. If you really think it would work well in your act, then don't let me stop you.

Good Luck ,

-MMBen

Ben, if presented in that manner, laymen will know you switched a coin, know you controlled a card. It is very unlikely they are going to intellectually conclude that you smashed their watch and then restore it, as you proclaim but us Magicians, we're not dealing with the laymen's intellect. We are dealing with their emotions. They suspend belief and emotionally react to strong magic and on that, to improve your presentation ten fold, I suggest you purchase Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz

Interesting thought on the play of emotions. I didn't think of how that might play into this trick. I will look into your advized "Strong Magic." Thanks!

Personally, I stand by my former account on this trick, however, as I said above, you may have your own way of deciding, and that is great! By no means will I try to stop you.

Best Regards,

-Ben

Max Somerset is releasing his version, the Great British Watch Smash, early in the new year i believe!

devils hank, and balls.

Johnny Wizz wrote:Watch Smash

OK, I'm watching but nothing's happening....

Mandrake wrote:

Johnny Wizz wrote:Watch Smash

OK, I'm watching but nothing's happening....

Booooo!

Although to be honest I've seen worse performances than that on youtube!

I think that the idea of a magician 'accidently' smashing a spectators watch is comparible with the idea of a magician producing a rabbit from a top hat.

By this I mean it's an automatic association that spectators have with magicians. If you borrow a watch they assume you're going to probably look like you've done it harm althought hey know for sure that you haven't. This isn't something spectators have in their consciousness from having seen such things happen (any more than they've seen a rabbit pulled from a top hat), however both these things are ingrained as part of a general perception as standard things that a magician does.

So the problem of presenting a watch smashing routine is always going to be that the audience is ahead of you. Worse still they are not going to believe you when you try and act out that the watch has come to harm by 'accident'. This means no drama, tension or any reason for anyone to care.

Any routine utilizing a spectators watch needs to take this into account and find a way to work round these issues.

One way is to change the plot. For example... a roulette/just chance routine puts the watch into a new setting. I haven't seen the effect but I believe this is what Max Somerset has effectively done with his routine. This moves it away from the ..'look I'm smashing your watch... but look it's really ok'.. approach to one where there's an apparent genuine risk that the watch might be put in harms way.

I'm currently working on a borrowed watch routine of my own and one of the things that my research has thrown up so far is the few routines about this supposed classic that are actually out there in print.

Neal