I recently saw an effect that used 3 rings without an apparent key ring. It was a Tick-Tock embedded in a YouTube video so tough to find the original. Does anyone know this effect?

Joe Porper Ghost Rings?

Good thought but this used standard linking rings and it did not look like he used a key ring. I'll locate the video and post it!

You might consider reaching out to Michael O'Brien here on the forum. He is a ring connoisseur.

That's the performance! Thank you! I will reach out to him.

Winston Freer made a gimmick that clipped onto two solid rings to make them look linked together. Very rare and circulated in the underground back when he was around. I saw one years ago and can attest to it looking convincing, but at a slight distance. I don't have a photo of the gimmick but it was a clever piece of design and manufacture. Of course, the gimmick was made for a specific size of ring and could be easily palmed. The gimmick was a little clumsy to use and not much of a routine could be developed.

Two are 'linked' before this video starts... we never see them linking though, so let's focus on the third ring: the one that does all the action..

The third ring is a special ring that is completely solid (no key required) and was discussed in Fitzkee's book 'Rings in your fingers" back in the 1940's.

This concept was also a favorite with Cardini , who thought Fitzkee probably 'took his idea'. The only other person I've seen use this kind of ring recently, is Levent , in his 11 (or is it 13?) ring routine.

Apparently 'everything old is new again'

since this is an open forum, I won't go into any more detail

Matthew Garrett includes the needed props in his set. I believe that is what Michael is using in his video as they often collaborate. Watching Matthew or Michael work the rings is really something to behold. Impecible timing. And, as demonstrated by the below video,they have a lot of ringers in their bag of tricks.

Using thread to tie two rings together at two point to make them appear to be linked is a very old technique.

In a four ring routine I often start with all four linked together dangling from my thumb in a chain.
These are unlinked one by one and all four passed out to be held by spectators during the routine (their memory).

Seeing all four linked together at the beginning forges a perceptual bias that can be used throughout and overcomes suspicion before it arises (Preemptive Doubt).

My point is that having the observers "know" the rings are all linkable and solid is better than attempting to have them "believe" no gimmick is used.
Since some had a magic set as a kid with a key ring, or have access to Youtube they may believe or suspect a special ring is employed.
I choose to attack the suspicion first off without comment, just demonstration.

With a larger set and audience I have also had eight rings passed out to folks coming in as a means of finding potential volunteers. "If you might be willing to come onstage."
During the show I have them hold up the ring or pass it to someone else - actually using them as a volunteer selection tool, even teasing a looking at an effect through the "lens" to see the magic happen.
Eventually, I have one person gather up the eight rings and bring them onstage. A switch of part of the entire set is not difficult and the fun begins.

"A dozen or more of you handled these metal rings and warmed them up for me."

"Earlier, I noticed two young men over there trying to link a couple of rings together. They were using their right hands. A mistake. Let me show you ..."

"You all know that a ring is a portal. Magic can happen when one ring passes through another or they are brought together.
I had eight of you keep these rings far apart earlier. Now they have had time to get to know each other again ..."

Funsway - That sounds like a really well thought out and creative routine. Thanks for sharing.

Chris Randall expresses very similar thoughts and structured his two ring routine accordingly.

Another view with starting portion of simple routine.

That is BRILLIANT! Ya need a ring slightly larger, right?

Doug

I'd go with that plan, Dougini!

I LOVE this! I gotta find me some of these!

Doug

I JUST saw this lol I am so sorry! I don't recall if I answered your question or not but this effect is indeed GiR by Matthew Garrett. There is a gimmick involved. Id foes NOT use a standard set of rings. hope this helps!

I have one of the Winston Freer "Maxim Rng" gimmicks. It is made for a 10" ring.

Doesn't that depend on the added gimmick and how it attaches?

Without digging out the book, I believe the thread method is described in Al Baker's Magical Ways and Means.

Yes. Al Baker used both a reel and the exact opposite gimmick from the above in his routines. Essentially the same method but implemented in reverse.