My ideal pen of this type would be:

1) able to be used to write
2) do the penetration (a good STRONG magnet)
3) be handed for inspection (the SAME pen - no switch)

Is there such an animal?

Is Wonder Pen-e-tration what I'm looking for?

You can try John Cornelius's Perfect Pen or Richard Raven's Voodoo Pen (comes with video). The Voodoo Pen has the same gimmick as Wonder Pen-e-tration. I'd prefer The Voodoo Pen.

James,

I believe the Cornelius Perfect pen will be your perfect pen--it meets the requirements you've listed.

If you want to make your pen stronger, check out this link:

http://www.wondermagnet.com/dev/magnets.html

I recommend #16.

Another vote for the "Cornelius Perfect Pen"

I've had mine about 2 years now, and love it just as much now as when I first got it, I take it with me everywhere. AAaaahhhhhh

BTW: This is totally off topic, but from the above mentioned web site try out "Item #47" small and cheap enough to put in anything.

Try cigarettes, just put them near the filter, so you can smoke them, then once you've finshed, make them move about in the ashtray.

(That is, if like me your silly enough to smoke)
:rolleyes:

My vote is for Wonder Pen - can be immediatley handed out without switch. I would be very wary of handing out 'pefect pen' as many people will get the gimmick!

Why not support the original and buy Wonder Pen-a-tration? It was the first of that style, any others are generally knockoffs.

In several years of performing this regularly, I've never had anyone find the gimmick. Of course, I put a lot of time and effort into taking the heat off of the pen in the first place, and laymen typically feel that if you are letting them handle something, it must not be tricky! Bottom line: If you don't sweat it, they won't consider it important. If you don't believe in it, they may very well suspect it! True of most stuff in magic, gaffed or not!

I have a Wonder Pen-a-tration and I love it. It is so disarming because it looks just like an ordinary plastic ball-point pen. Also, it can literally last you forever because you can put in new ink tubes when the ink runs out.

The concern about the spectators finding out what the gimmick is, is true for all the pens. If you let most people sit down and analyze the pen for an hour they will most likely find out what the secret is. They could be wearing something magnetic that attracts the pen, or the steel part of the cap will stick to the end of the pen, or they will realize that the pen is a little
"different".

But all those variables don't apply when your performing, because when the trick is over you put the pen away and go on to the next trick or the next table. There is no time to examine the pen, and if you're doing the trick correctly, the focus is not on the pen.

I like to hand them the pen before the trick starts and tell them to sign the bill "to make sure I don't switch it".

This accomplishes two things:

1- they use the pen to write their name and therefore never even think twice about whether the pen is real or not. Plus, they have no idea what I'm about to do, so there is no heat on the pen.

2- I put emphasis on the bill by saying
"make sure I don't switch the bill".
Now all eyes are on the bill and the pen is totally safe from scrutiny. I then proceed to penetrate the bill, rip the pen out, heal the bill, secretly "fix" the pen and casually show it in hands, then put it away and walk away. If they insist on seeing the pen I let them examine it for a few seconds and then put it away.

Mission Accomplished.

Not many people seem to realize this, but you can also refill the rollerball-type pens when they run out. Just pull the end off, take out the "ink thingy" with a pair of tweezers (I don't know what it's called, but it's basically a cylindrical piece of fibrous substance soaked in ink), and replace it with one from a new pen. Doesn't have to be the same brand of pen, they all work the same way. This can be kind of messy, but it beats spending $15 on a new one.

Does anybody have all 2 or 3 versions of this pen and can do a real analytical comparison? I own the Voodoo Pen and I think it's great for my purposes. I'll admit I was looking at the Cornelius Pen as well; and I've never seen the Wonder Pen in my magic store haunts. The Pen-Thru-Anything also has a video out -- how much value-added is that? Do they show you how to put it on your tongue or something and look like you've pierced it?

In terms of which one to buy ... I think the products are sufficiently different and improved upon not to 'feel guilty' about not buying the 'original'. Who's the say what's original, anyhow? You could probably go back to some old manuscript from the 1920's and find the Wonder Pen idea is from there. If an item isn't 100% identical to a subsequent product, I'd go with the improved version. Both the original creator and the people who take an existing product and improve it, should be rewarded for their efforts. Progressive capitalism.

I have and use a wonder pen. I have used and examined both the Cornelius Perfect Pen and a few of the other wonder pen knock offs.

You can hand out the perfect pen for examination but the gimmick may be discovered. When I first examined the perfect pen, I found the gimmick in about 3 seconds. I have also had two people take my wonder pen apart trying to find a gimmick. This is not possible with the perfect pen.

I also like the wonder pen because, as mentioned earlier, it is easily refillable (which the other knock offs aren't) and it is probably the most common type of pen out there.

I think the biggest factor in buying the wonder pen is that the handling that is possible with it is far superior to that of the perfect pen. It is a very realistic peneatration and removal. That is the best reason to buy it.

Get the wonder pen-a-tration!

Where can you get wonder pen-a-tration?

You can find Wonder Pen-A-Tration here: http://www.magictricks.co.uk/prodshow.asp?code=239

Gio

The wonder pen can be purchased at Denny and Lee's or at the Earths Largest Magic Shop. Probably less shipping than the UK source.

Ehm... yep... I didn't consider the geographical source of the question

Gio

I use Empire's Magic Pen Penetration, a fairly popular item at magic shops in the States. You have to be sure to do the sideways rip in a way that minimizes friction. This is easy with practice. It meets all of the criteria. It's easy and can be thoroughly examined.

Okay, I've seen three of the four, and a good friend has seen the one that I haven't.

Perfect Pen: Good idea, classy looking pen, no extra parts. Personally, I don't like the move to lock it at the end, I think the Wonder Pen-a-tration is cleaner, despite having a tiny piece to be stolen off. One nice plus is that you can use the "rip gaff" with this pen without needing any extra pieces.

Empire: Cheap knock-off of Wonder Pen-a-tration. Not as nice looking, and the gaff to be stolen off is much larger. Not at all recommended

Wonder Pen-a-tration: Terriffic, not too expensive, you cleanly steal off one tiny gaff and it's examinable, no switch. The first of the no-switch pens that works on this principle.

Voodoo Pen: Identical to Wonder Pen-a-tration, but Wonder Pen-a-tration was first. I'll refrain from making specific comments about Mr. Raven, but if you do some research on eBay and various online lists and groups about his sales of books/manuscripts/notes, you'll see why I'm in no rush to do business with him (or just ask our own Bob Cassidy, who has personal experience with Mr. Raven over the last month or so).

In short, if you like Perfect Pen, it's the way to go. If you can live with a more casual looking pen (not the classy gold and silver colored metal) go for the Wonder Pen-a-tration, it's quite clean.

The Wonder-Pen-a-tration uses a black Papermate pen. It's very unsuspicious, especially if you focus on the bill and treat the pen as an afterthought, kind of patting your pockets and searching for something to use offhandedly. No one seems very interested in inspecting the pen when I do the effect, though they have agonized over the bill quite a bit.

Actually, I kind of wish they would at least take a quick look at the pen. Maybe I'll try the idea of having them sign the bill. Yeah!

alan

I like the Perfect Pen when I'm a little dressed up,and the Wonder-Penatration when I'm in a more casual or relaxed setting. Both work GREAT!!! I believe atmosphere is just as essential to one's presentation as the props one uses,BUT if I had to make a choice I'd go with the Perfect Pen.