The Effect: (The Blurb)
Hobbs Box by Outlaw & Tim Wisseman
A Colonial era desk top utility box. Aged pine wood aged and antiqued. It will hold the spirit bell, Luna books, Dekranom, Carnie cards etc.
The box has a powerful electro-magnetic coil built into the lid and will ring the bell, blow a Relic off the top, make a PK ring slide across the top, or any "supernatural" phenomenon you may be inspired to create.
This item has an encrypted code and will not trigger any other Outlaw devices and cannot be triggered by any devices.
Has a single toe remote. There is a reed switch built into the bottom, so once it’s loaded with batteries you just remove the small disc magnet from the bottom and it is active, replace the magnet and it shuts down.
It is a very heavy solid box. 100% examinable. No wires going to the lid hehehe.
Comes with an aged hand cast pewter bell stand and brass spirit bell. The bell and stand fit in the box. This bell can also be used with the Spiritus, Oculus and soon to be released Dark board.
Except for the bell and stand, no other items pictured come with the box.
The engraved plaque says "Hobbs & Co". But the plaque will not have that on it. Hobbs & Co. is a Google proof ruse.
The plague is customizable to order
The inner label is customizable you may have whatever you want engraved on the plaque as long as it fits.
This is a limited edition of 75 handmade units
Available from: www.outlaw-effects.com
Cost: $385 shipped to the UK plus some Duty
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 for technical skill (if you can operate a switch?) 5 for story telling skills.
Review:
Ok not new to magic or to this site/forum BUT new to putting finger to keyboard and reviewing items!
Before I start I just wanted to make it clear I have no relationship or any link with Outlaw I’m just someone who bought an item worthy of reviewing, a happy customer!
If like me you’re into story telling magic or bizarre/spooky mentalism etc. This box may suit your requirements. Let me start by saying I am currently putting together my own spooky act based around the most famous haunted house in the UK The Borley Rectory. I wanted something to house all my spooky bits and bobs and went about searching various antique shops and the famous auction site for a suitable box (aged and creepy looking.) It was after much searching I came across Hobbs Box on Outlaw’s site I’m not new to Rick and his teams work and have owned various Outlaw effects before, so knew quality of props and apparatus are always second to known and Rick’s customer service is Top Rate! For me personally the Hobbs Box ticked all the boxes (no pun intended) and it was a must have purchase. So I took the plunge and laid down the money for the box which was going to hopefully answer all my needs and requirements! As Rick offers the option for the brass plaque on the box to be customised to your own needs I of course asked it to be engraved ‘Borley Rectory’ and after several emails Rick also asked Tim to come up with something super creative for the inside label inside the boxes lid. Tim has a real knack for adding a touch of class to aged props. I explained in brief the story of Borley and what I wanted for my act and where the box may have come from etc… and Rick and Tim both went to work and I went about waiting for my delivery.
Considering this box is custom made from order and I had requested a customised Plaque and Label it took only just over two weeks for this beast to arrive and on opening the box like a kid at Christmas for the first five minutes all I could do is sit there with a stupid grin on my face and say “Wow, Wow, Wow!!!” My wife even had to ask if I was Ok. But seriously before even talking about the magic value for this prop the Hobbs Box is a piece of art and is aged perfectly, it looks and even smells like something which has sat somewhere rather dark and gloomy for a hundred years plus. The box is very well made with heavy woods and quality fittings. For something that looks very basic is actually very cleverly sophisticated. The box has a very special something that is built into the lid and is operated by a clever toe switch (so it’s hands free) the electronics are so well hidden within the box you will smile at its devious electronic wizardry and marvel that there is no noticeable means or way for wires to be going to the lid. You are supplied with a beautiful little brass bell with a pewter base which when you sit on top of the box will ring VERY spookily on its own (spirit bell) BUT the box will do so much more with many other various PK objects, when ordering mine I also purchased an aged PK box of matches and aged PK ring from Rick which will jump and slide on top of the box as if possessed by evil spirits. A surprise addition to the Hobbs Box is if you already own any of Rick’s Relic series, when placed on the box it literally looks as though an invisible spirit is taking hold of the medallion and launching it off the box, if you want to scare the hell out of someone this is sure fire!
Ok my closing thoughts, so this box is not going to be for everyone by that I mean it is a prop/utility device to be used in the right setting and you will have to script a storyline around it. But that’s not a bad thing as the very nature of bizarre story telling magic/mentalism isn’t for every performer and I’m glad. These types of items set you apart from other performers which is always a good thing. If you have a place or use for this type of item in your act you will not be disappointed at all, consider this a VERY wise investment which literally has hundreds of uses only limited by your own imagination. The quality of props is top notch and the electronics work 100% flawlessly every time, this is something you will be confident using and proud to own. I’m glad this is also limited and priced to keep just the curious out of reach.
Overall: Although not a cheap utility prop I whole heartedly give this 10 out of 10 and cannot recommend this enough if this fits your spooky needs. No it won’t fit in your pocket and is not suitable for walk around but if you have a place for this kind of prop in your act RUSH out there and get one before it’s too late you will not be disappointed.
This was a very well written review.
