|
|
billmarq Special user State near Arizona 570 Posts |
Some fifty years ago I obtained a regular deck of cards which had a back design perfect for marking. There was a daisy-like flower with 12 petals in each corner, perfect for marking the value with a tiny dot, and another feature that enabled suit marking easily but I cannot remember what it was.
Does anybody recall this brand of cards? I have not seen them in many years but they were fairly common at the time.
Honi soit quit mal y pense.
|
Rocketeer Special user Westchester, NY 965 Posts |
Oh man I remember owning that deck more than once in my youth. For my young mind it was the ONLY marked deck in existence. I too wonder what they were called. Was it Deland or DeLand?
Rocky
I'm selling my hardcover autographed limited edition copy of Jerome Finley's "Thought Veil"
PM me for info. |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-28 16:19, billmarq wrote: billmarq, I remember seeing these at Spencer's Gifts when I was a kid. They were DeLand Decks. Ahimsa, Vlad PS: The pack they sold was also stripped. But the back design you mention seems to be the same. |
FrenchDrop Inner circle I can name that tune in 1647 Posts |
I had one as a kid. The DeLand deck was the ultimate trick deck back then: Stripped, stacked, and marked in multiple ways. Not only could you read a card's suit and value, but when the deck was properly stacked, you could look at two piles and tell exactly how many cards were in each, and you could tell how many cards down from the top any named card was -- or tell which card would be at any given number. A good false shuffle, followed by a legitimate cut by the spectator, and you could do some amazing stuff.
If I remember right, they were bridge sized, though, which might make 'em tricky to use for sleights.
"A great magician has said of his profession that its practitioners '… must pound and rack their brains to make the least learning go in, but quarrelling always comes very naturally to them.'” -- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
|
billmarq Special user State near Arizona 570 Posts |
I am pretty sure the deck I owned was a normal deck, but it has been so long that I do not remember. I need to do a little research. I got it from either my dad or my uncle, and neither was a magician or a gambler. I remember coming up with my own marking scheme. Wouldn't mind having another deck or two.
Thanks for the responses. Now I have something to go on.
Honi soit quit mal y pense.
|
Josh Chaikin Inner circle Kansas City 1430 Posts |
I had a DeLand deck years ago, and still do see them at the magic shop. I don't remember mine being stripped, or bridge sized (I'm 99.99% sure they're poker sized), but the other properties were there. I believe the "stack" it had was Si Stebbins, or some other kind of stay stack arrangement.
|
billmarq Special user State near Arizona 570 Posts |
I found a picture of the Deland back design, and no, this is not the deck I mentioned, although I do remember the name "Deland Automatic Deck." I owned a deck of strippers in bridge size with the Fox Lake brand. In fact, I still own that deck. It is no longer slick enough to be of magical use, but I am keeping it for nostalgia's sake. I also still own my Fox Lake one way forcing deck.
I become aware of my age when I realize that I have owned the same magic props for fifty years. Imagine what kind of magician I would be if I had practiced and studied all those years!
Honi soit quit mal y pense.
|
Merc Man Inner circle NUNEATON, Warwickshire 2537 Posts |
There was a Reader Deck printed in the UK back in the 1930's that used the 12 petal design you mention.
It was marketed as the 'Mocker Deck' and printed by Alf Cooke of Leeds Yorkshire. It was the standard fare of marked packs in UK magic shops through to the late 1970's. It wasn't stripped - as a lot of reader decks since seem to have been since (no doubt following the DeLand idea). The Mocker Packs were in Bridge size; so I don't know whether these made their way across the pond in great numbers. Hopefully, this link works for you (check out the 5th image along on the top row): http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&cp=......N&tab=wi Billmarq - as you mention probably my favorite card of all time (Fox Lakes) I'll let you into a little known secret. Fox Lakes (or Aviator Bridge) are actually a one-way pack as well - using possibly the most creative method of building into a card a one-way back design - EVER! It's certainly never been put in print (to the best of my knowledge) but it's a little secret that's been hidden away for years. Something also exists along these lines on The Tally Ho Circle backs - albeit NOT so well hidden as the Fox Lake design. PM me if you don't know the method.
Barry Allen
Over 14 years have passed - and still missing Abra Magazine arriving every Saturday morning. |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
I have one of the Deland decks on my desk as I write this. They put out several different marked decks including the Dollar Deck, the $100.00 Deck and the one I have which is called Deland's Automatic Cards. This deck is also stripped and is in bridge size. The marking system was pretty simple and also fairly obvious. Anyone that ever owned one of them would probably spot them immediately if used in a card game of for magic tricks. Some of these decks are still being made and if you do a Google search for Deland Deck you will find several dealers that handle them.
Dennis Loomis
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Dennis,
That is the very same one they used to sell at Spencer Gifts. I thought at the time - 9 years of age - that these cards would make a real magician. Ah the idealism of youth and how it fades But it was fun playing around with them nonetheless and I would love to get a deck of these just for the nostalgia Ahimsa, Vlad |
Dennis Loomis 1943 - 2013 2113 Posts |
Here's what the DeLand Automatic Deck backs look like. Can you name the card? Caution: DeLand did not use CHaSeD.
Dennis Loomis Click here to view attached image.
Itinerant Montebank
<BR>http://www.loomismagic.com |
2thepoint New user 44 Posts |
Here's a current product link:
http://www.magicmakersinc.com/p-339-de-l......let.aspx |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Shuffled not Stirred » » What cards were these? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |