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Chris Black wrote:I want a pendulum but can't find one that isn't a bit minging

Tie a finger ring onto a piece of thread.

Barry

Chris Black wrote:I want a pendulum but can't find one that isn't a bit minging

My friend, what do you mean by minging? There are many fabulous pendulums available made out of anything from silver to gem stones and in all manner of designs. Or as has been suggested, frabricate one of your own or use something else that wll suit the purpose, any weight suspended on a string or chain will suffice. I use a pocket watch as a pendulum.

If there's a store local to you, visit Hobbycraft and choose a suitable item from their range of jewellery making stuff. Plenty of polished stones, 'gemstones', lockets, amulets and cords/chains to choose from. You could probably make several unique pendulums for a very minimal outlay.

my local hobbycraft holds an extensive range of steampunk charms , as well as thousands of different coloured stones, beads, etc.
I also have a small selection of Natural Chrystal ball dowsing pendulums for sale, at the seances. £10.00 each inc postage.
plain ball, with a silver chain.

daleshrimpton wrote:my local hobbycraft holds an extensive range of steampunk charms , as well as thousands of different coloured stones, beads, etc.
I also have a small selection of Natural Chrystal ball dowsing pendulums for sale, at the seances. £10.00 each inc postage.
plain ball, with a silver chain.

I'd never considered Hobbycraft for such things but you are correct, there are many wonderful things there. I have a feeling that my purse may be much lighter before the day's out.

Chris Black wrote:I want a pendulum but can't find one that isn't a bit minging

What sort of thing are you after? There are quite a number of magic stores making ones. I make ones for most routines or sets I put together.

http://www.mental-craft.com/
http://www.magicpendulums.com/

Pop yourself into the Bead Shop in Affleck's (I'll go with you and hold your hand if the emo kids scare you) - there's a ton of stuff to stick on the end of a chain, not to mention the chains too. It's also where I got my chain for Fast and Loose

That's where I got my bag full of skulls from. Might pop up at lunchtime.

Not that I'd be so brash as to plug something but... there are some classy pendulums about...

http://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk/The%20Vi ... eance.html

I'd not seen those. While I'd prefer a slightly different looking bob, I love the premise; seems to be a complete Pendulum act.

It is, sir. In fact it's a portable seance as the parchment is a miniture ouija board.

That, my friend is a fabulous looking set. I feel that I may have to be making a purchase before too long.

I shall also be adding the penny seance to my act soon.

Lord Freddie wrote:Not that I'd be so brash as to plug something but... there are some classy pendulums about...

http://www.lebanoncircle.co.uk/The%20Vi ... eance.html" target="_blank

Its a nice set. I'm resisting the order currently having ordered the from hell anniversary edition I need to resist another purchase from Dan.

I first came across Pendulums when I used to visit the Magic Counter in Woolworths, around 1943.4--all supplied by Ellisdon & Son.
They had a metal one, shaped like the plastic top off a cheap pen. It was called--The Sex Indicator and purported to tell which sex you were. Just looking would have been easier--well then it would !
Ellisdons also claimed it revealed the sex of: cats, dogs,rabbits,birds, fish, butterflies & worms! Theyu also said in Europe it was sold as a patent egg tester!

I next found the Pendulum in Professional Presentations by Hugh Mills (Unique Magic Studio) This was his first of two books on Al Koran's effects.
The Pendulum Tells is the title. I used it about 2009/2010 in one of my Workshops for the Nottingham Guild of Magicians. It was the favourite effect of the evening.
They were all given a brass curtain ring on a string and would (like ALL magicians) have played hours with it--if I had not urged them on to learn the other effects in the Workshop!
Basically Koran had spectators write their names across the back of cards (visiting card size). Then each person tore the card in half. The halves were mixed up turned face down and with the Pendulum, Koran matched each half of the name to other half.

Around 2007 in The Linking Ring magazine, Dr. William E Spooner wrote a long fascinating and very informative article (several pages) on the origins, types and uses for The Pendulum. Title--The Pendulum Swings. The pages of this article have gone to my son in Portugal so I cannot look up the actual date of the issue.

From The Tommy Cooper Magic Shop in Blackpool (& originally from Derek Lever) came The Pendulum Seance. Three bottles on a table with a Pendlum on a sting inside each.
By gazing at them!!!! Each could be made to swing in turn as you will. I think I have seen the single bottle version of this in a book since.

Finally--and this I used to try on the patio--from The Tarbell Course--a brilliant Pendulum effect.
My favourite Volume. No. 6, page 32. Mclemore's Stop-Go.
2 rubber balls; one red one green. Each tied onto a 16 inch piece of string. Another length of string suspended between 2 chairs.
The strung balls are tied to this,
A great patter story about a LAZY BROTHER who would sell people the 2 balls so they could have their own version of the Stop Go traffic lights!
The magician then sits on the floor gazing at the suspended balls.Then puffing on a cigar (a la Dante in The Lazy Magician) he would instruct each ball to swing. They changed when he told one to stop and the other to start.
I always regret never trying this out in a show. The patter idea & lazy character jusr appealed to the actor in me.

Allen Tipton