I bought this little gem from Tom Lauten (see magic for sale)
The effect:
A small wooden box is shown with three brightly colored crocheted balls sitting in little indentations on top of the box: red, white and blue.
While the magician's back is turned, a spectator selects one of the three balls. Free choice, no force. The ball is shown around and placed back on the box.
The balls are given to the spectator's hands, who then drops them into three holes in the box; any order, freely chosen.
The magician removes a prediction from his or her pocket. The spectator names the color of the ball. The magician shows a ball the same color as the one they freely selected!!
The spectator then opens the box and sees that the ball they chose is missing, which matches the selected ball in the magician's hand!
Everything can be examined.
What Tom says:
Very easy to perform. Immediately repeatable. Really a perfect close-up mental effect!
What I say:
It is really fabulous! The workmanship is superb with a classic antique look to the box and the handling is not difficult. It would certainly sit nicely next to a chop cup routine, cups and balls, or silk, ball and vase. The price is right (£25) and it arrived the next day.
I will be using this effect for my next gig!
For a demo, cut and paste the link into your browser:
http://www.jbtv.co.uk/videos/futuremental_hires.avi