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pintirri New user Perth, Western Australia 29 Posts |
I was looking at the manipulation DVD by Romaine the Canadian magician and he spoke about a special dropper he had bought from Ed Homisco and George Hample (I think this is how you spell the names) from Philadelphia. The dropper fits in the back pocket of your trousers. Does anyone know if these gentlemen are still in business and if so where you can contact them.
Pintirri Western Australia |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
G'day Pintirri! --from "up above") (I'm in MICHIGAN--on the Canadian border!)
In 1948, I bought the late John Booth's book, "MARAVELS OF MYSTERY", because he described, in detail, his multiplying balls routine. (NO DROPPERS!!!) He mainly worked in night clubs (1930s)"semi surrounded", and didn't like droppers. (Neither did I--that's why I used HIS routine! I haven't heard any of those names (Romaine, Homisco, Hample) in years. Maybe someone else will know.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
It has been a while since I watched Romaine's DVD. Sort of forgot all about those droppers. I don't believe they are available, as that was a long time ago. What you can do is buy Lynette Welch's owner of Fabric Manipulation "Ideal Ball Holder" and simply attach them to a cardboard, metal or plastic piece cut to fit your pocket. There is also less expensive ball droppers/holders made in India that you could do the same thing and attach to a card of some sort.
I think attaching them yourself would be a better idea, as they have to hang low enough not to show, and easily obtainable. They have to go beyond the card. If I remember correctly, I believe the ones shown were a little short, and would make your coat stick out. It has to down to the curve of your buttock. Thus making the coat a little longer for some men. |
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
I don't have my copy of the Romaine video on hand to check, but I'll make a stab at a suggestion.
There was a gadget that I bought at Denny Haney's shop that was like a stiff card about the width of a trouser back pocket and it had two billiard call clips (note: not droppers, but clips) attached to it, side by side. I have made something similar for two balls that attached to the inside of my coat jacket. A clip was essential because the Fakini balls did not work well in a dropper, although Ronjo makes a dropper specially for the Fakini balls http://www.ronjo.com/magic/dropper.html Henry Hay writes in _The Amateur Magician's Handbook_, page 187: "When I was in the Marine Corps, and had nothing but shirt or trouser pockets, I managed all right with one ball and shell in my left trouser pocket and two solid ones in my right." When I used to demo the billiard balls in Earl Edwards's Magic Shop, I also tucked one of the solid balls in the waistband of my pants, right by the belt buckle. Then I would do the move where you apparently place a ball in your mouth and swallow it. My right forefinger would trace the path of the ball down my throat, through the epiglottis, the esophagus, the trachea et al--and I would "apparently" pull the swallowed ball out of my stomach by openly taking out the one in my waistband. ----- Sonny
----- Sonny Narvaez
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hi Sonny!
I no longer have my copy of the 'poor man's Tarell" (!) --Henry Hay's great book! I wonder if Booth may have been influenced by Hay! Booth's "Marvels of Mystery"'s first printing WAS 1941. I did the same thing as you (ball in waist band of pants) After, I tried it in a few shows, I sewed a tiny cloth "bag" into my pants to hold the ball. I did the Xing balls for about 8 years. I had added Percy Abbott's "Perpetual Balls" and Bill Williston's "Ball Thru Silk" (ball visible on both sides of silk) Those two bits were getting more response than the the Xing balls--great laughs, and bigger mitts! I cut the Sing balls, and just do the PB's and the B thru silk, + a few flourishes. It runs a strong 4 minutes, sometimes 5! I've written up the routine in 'the' book. I bought one of Frank Radtke's first sets of golf balls. When Frank showed the BILLIARD BALLS to Bill Baird, Bill GRABBED THE BOX, put it under his arm, and just said, "HOW MUCH?" He wouldn't give them back to Frank!!!!!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
I have always made my own ball clips (easy enough with a pair of pliers and a wire coat hanger). I've used them for Multiplying Billiard Balls, Cups & Balls loads, etc. For years, I fell into the trap of pinning these either to my trousers or inside the jacket. Then, one time during practice, I stole the ball, the clip and a chunk of fabric as my pants ripped. So then I started adding a reinforcement patch where the clip was to be pinned. Then one day an idea hit me. I took one of the "loops" from the clip and simply put it in my pocket, with the other "loop" hanging outside. Voila! It held the ball perfectly, could be put in place in seconds, and best of all, kept the load from swinging. It was always in the exact same spot. As long as the load needs to be in the back pocket location and you don't wear your pants like a gangsta rap star, this is a perfect solution. In most cases, there is enough room that two clips can be positioned side by side.
The Fakini ball droppers are a solution to the problem associated with silicone balls and cloth tube droppers, but I don't like the fact that they remain rigid and never flatten as they are emptied. At least the clips spring more or less flat when empty.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
Hi, Dick!
The Booth/Hay billiard ball routines may be an instance of coincidental independent development, which occurs often in all the arts I think. Hay included a billiard ball routine in his _Learn Magic_ which was written before _The Amateur Magician's Handbook_. I like the idea of a cloth bag in the waistband of the pants. I seem to remember that Bob McAllister had a very nice st__l from the pants pocket as part of his "Watch the Spot" routine that could be done without needing to wear a coat. You'll recall that Bob produced two different colored spots in that routine in order to change the spot that appeared in the picture frame into solid ping pong balls. (Someone wrote on the Café once a few years ago that he had obtained the rights to Bob's magic creations from his family. So far I have not seen any announcement of the tricks being produced. Bob is another person who deserves to have a definitive book written about his life in magic. As you know, he produced a VHS video called "Blockbuster Magic" that had some of his tricks in it, including one of my favorites: Cactus Pete--King of the Card Sharks!) I got one of the first sets of Fakini golf balls that arrived at Earl's shop. I do kind of miss the original Ireland Multiplying Golf Balls, though. The sh--l was such a great fit! And those golf balls were the size of regulation golf balls whereas what is generally marketed as "multiplying billiard balls" are not necessarily regulation size. I also got the Fakini jumbo golf ball to use as a climax to the multiplying routine. Speaking of billiard ball finales--Karrell Fox had a great method for changing a single ball instantly into four balls using the Four Ball Climax that I adapted for my own multiplying golf ball routine. I think he called it Ballomatic in _Clever Like a Fox_. I see from an earlier post on the Café back around January of this year that you've used Ballomatic, too. It's a great effect. In that same post I think you mentioned the tendency of magicians to do the balls in profile rather than facing the audience. I think a lot of manipulation magic is of necessity done profile, like card fan productions. The interlocked ball routine that I do here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=345......&theater permits the performer to stand facing the audience. That sequence with rainbow balls followed my standard routine with the Fakini golf balls. (The balls I'm using in the video are high bounce balls that I found at a K&K toy store.) The nice thing about the interlocked production routine is that if I wanted to I could toss the balls onto the stage a la Cardini. (When I did my interlocked routine on the stage at Earl's shop back in the 60's, Earl was standing stage left where he worked the curtains, and as the balls appeared he commented, "I'm standing right here and I can't tell where the balls are coming from!" That swelled my head for a while--coming as it did from a pro of Earl's stature!) ----- Sonny
----- Sonny Narvaez
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 8, 2014, Anatole wrote: Just to clarify for history. The late Frank Radtke invented that Fakini Ball Dropper you referenced. He has made them for years, since sometime around the early 1990's. I would believe his family is making them now. |
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
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On Nov 8, 2014, pintirri wrote: Here is the holder I think you are referring to; http://dennymagic.com/store/wonder-holde......ple.html I have two of them. They are well made and worth the price. David |
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
I stand corrected. Bill is right. Ronjo _markets_ the holder I was thinking of and David has provided the link to the page on Denny Haney's site where it is advertised. Denny's write-up says "by Hanisco & Hample." Does anyone know who Hanisco and/or Hample are and whether they have produced other magic items? The names are new to me. Maybe they have had some other innovative ideas about magic.
----- Sonny
----- Sonny Narvaez
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
COINCICDNGTAL INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT!!! Egad Sonny--you're beginning to sound like Senator Crandallll! (I think he typed his column in the old TOPS, with a thesauros at his elbow!)
Yes, Bob Mcallister should have a "statue" somewhere! I don't think that anyone would get much cooperation from the family as far as right to material though. I wasn't at the visitation before his funersl, but I heard from a very good source that there was no mention of magic or ventriloquism at the funeral home. Bob and I both worked the Castle the same week, a year or so before he died. I think it was the following summer that we both worked Abbotts. When he got theWONDERAMA show, he phoned me, and we had a swell jackpot session. I was working a mall in Detroit backin the'80s. Karrell Fox called and said, "Don't geta motel, The boys are in summer camp. You can have their room." Karrell and I had a 5 day convention! That's when he pased along theBall o Matic. I've used it ever since. I wrote up the routine with Percy Abbott'a Perpetual Balls, and Bill Williston's ball thru silk, and the Ball o Mativ in "the" book. Yes, a a young guy, I did the Xing balls the 'standsrd" way--profile. I've learned better since!! I cover the profile and "what's better" in the book, too. I commented on yuour interlocked ball routine on the you tube. I hate guys who steal my ideas, before I've had a chance to think of them!!! hee hee! BTW I was going to point out that the curtain pull was on stage right in the Boush St. shop. Then, I realized that you were there when the shop had moved to Granby. Yes, for those four years, Earl was my "second father". I learned a lot in four years. I had a set of coin droppers from Roy Mayer. Roy's dropers hooked to his belt with a wire hook, . (No weight on his coat.) Little by little,I aimplified my Misers Dream, and for the last 30 years: NO DROPPERS! I'm writing up my MD routine also (for thefirst time.) Maybe you and I should write the McAllister book.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Thanks Darkwing, that jogged my memory. I would still just make them from the India ball holders.
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/2028 Add another 5 dollars for the web belt and a piece of stiff illustration board or metal and it is ready for prime time handling. But if you are not a crafty person, then buy at least 4. |
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Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
Dick, the comment about no mention at Bob's memorial service of his connection to magic is true. I might even have been the one who told you about that. I had even considered singing a pastiche (thank you Noah Webster) of Dan Fogelberg's "The Leader of the Band" at the service that I called "The King of Sleight of Hand." My friend Roger Sherman wisely talked me out of doing that! My singing does not quite match my magic skills.
Your comment about positioning a coin dropper so that there is "no weight on the coat" reminds me of something from the billiard ball section of Patrick Page's controversial _The Big Book of Magic_ where Patrick said basically the same thing in relation to where billiard ball holders should be placed. Unfortunately, hooking gadgets like that to a belt is not practical if you also do a dancing cane routine with the move where you raise your hands as the cane circles the body because the bottom edge of the coat would rise a little during that movement. So I still attach my holders to the coat and I got great comments from magicians who saw my act at the New Orleans IBM convention back in the 80's. (For those who came in late: The controversy over Patrick Page's book is summarized at lybrary.com thusly: -----quote----- In fact the book is so good that Patrick Page was expelled from the IBM (International Brotherhood of Magicians) because some felt that too many secrets were exposed. He was later reinstated once people realized that writing good magic books is really in the best interest of all. -----unquote----- The book reveals a lot of magic that was and still is currently in vogue, including things like "The Appearing Walkingstick" and "The Vanishing Walkingstick." Personally I feel that any non-magician interested enough to buy the book is doing so for serious study and educational purposes, not because he or she wants to just learn some secrets. ----- Sonny
----- Sonny Narvaez
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pintirri New user Perth, Western Australia 29 Posts |
Thanks everyone for all your replies. The information that everyone has provided is extremely useful and will be of great benefit to me.
Regards to everyone. Pintirri Western Australia |
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Peter Pitchford Elite user Philly 423 Posts |
Hi Pintirri. I live just outside of Philadelphia and George Hample is a good friend of mine. He and Ed no longer make these (unfortunately). One can try to make his own or you may want to check out (as an alternative to the Fakini droppers) Lynetta Welch Ideal Droppers: http://www.fabricmanipulation.com/magict......0-0.html
I won't bore you with a story but I switched to these years ago after one of the regular wire ball droppers came close to causing an embarrassing moment. |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 13, 2014, Peter Pitchford wrote: I would like to know the reason.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Michael,
I love your idea with the ball clips. I'm going to try that! Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Anyone ever heard of the Jimmy Trimble Ball Dropper? I found it in the basement of the local magic store. It would fit the Fakini or Silicone balls perfectly. I was going to make some and see if anyone would be interested in having a stack of 4 balls on the buttocks, as it hangs over the rear pocket or belt and goes flat when empty. It was an old Ireland Magic (aka Magic Inc.) item before I was born. Just have to find suitable wire covering material that will not grab the Silicone balls.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Here is some information about my cloth dropper that is an Egg Dropper but is also used around the world by the pros as a ball dropper. It is cloth, very adjustable, and does not have to be unpinned to reload.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=10 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=113 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&start=0 Bob |
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Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 21, 2014, Bob Sanders wrote: I just picked up two of the ball droppers from Bob at a local FCM convention and they do work very well on Fakini's. After the balls are released the dropper folds flat. They are also priced right. David |
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