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sarcophilus Regular user Phoenix 195 Posts |
I love the Haunted Key effect. I have a good presentation and I get very good reactions. The problem is, I don't like my key. It's the typical store bought version, that can be found in any magic shop. I have aged it with boric(sp) acid and a blow torch, but it still looks rather plain. I have looked in several antique stores in my area but have found nothing. Are there any other commercially available versions available that look older or at least different? I know Jim Riser made one a while back but it is no longer available. Any suggestions?
-thomas |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
I have great success with ANY skeleton key whatsoever...go to your flea markets and such...or no worries, no one is judging your key...if presented right, they are stunned by the movements, not the age of the key...
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sarcophilus Regular user Phoenix 195 Posts |
Babakali, I agree with all that you have said about presentation being (pardon the pun) key to the effect. But I am working on a more "theatrical" performance for a show coming up and we bizarrists love our authentic looking props. That's why I am looking for another key.
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
I got my haunted skeleton key from a haunted house.
Not! I have one from a magic shop and recently found 3 old skeleton keys in the drawer of an old cabinet owed by my parents. I haven't got the hang of handling these yet. The one from the magic shop is too new looking. Maybe it's magic has made it ageless? But really, I've thought of burying it or something to give some age to it. The topic of where to find old keys has been discussed previously here at the Café. |
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
You can find wonders on flea markets...
Including centuries old keys. |
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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
Everytime I go into an antique store I look at keys. I now have a pile of ancient keys!
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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Nachtzehrer Veteran user Portugal 324 Posts |
Does anyone know where to buy the haunted key that carlyle talks about on his DVD??
I had the site, but lost it. Can ayone help? Alex
Alex
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Phil Thomas Inner circle Newark, Ohio 1117 Posts |
My key came from my mom's house. It was built by my great grandfather. All of the doors had the skeleton locks on them and each door had it's own key. I don't know why though. Each key would open any door in the house. Go figure. Anyways, the one that I use came from the door to my old bedroom. My great grandfather died in that room as it was his when he was living. The weird thing is, when I was little, I would experience very odd occurances when the lights went out at bedtime. The windows would rattle, the door hinges would creak, and from time to time, I could almost think I was hearing footsteps on the hardwood floor pacing back and forth from the door and stopping at the foot of my bed. I'm sure it was only the sounds of an old house settling.....maybe.......
One time I was so freaked out that I used to lock the door after my parents tucked me in at night. But the strange thing to me was that the key had been unlocked from the inside when I awoke in the morning. I got to thinking about all of this after I became interested in the "haunted key" effect, so I decided to go back to my mom's house to get the key to my old room. It is not evenly balanced, but it does work good enough for the effect. It likes to start slowly then fall over quickly, but it does look frigtening enough, so I use the story with it that I shared here. Didn't mean to ramble, just thought I would share my true story (believe it or not) and where I found my, what I believe to be a true "Haunted Key". Phil
"If we lose the sense of the mysterious, life is no more than a snuffed out candle."
Albert Einstein |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
I got a bunch of them at a flea market in Pensylvania. Some of them are huge!
Yours, Paul |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-04-18 17:45, Phil Thomas wrote: SOMEBODY for got their MEDS today!!! LOL! just kidding bro, I remember that story you told me before...I have actually incorporated your story into my patter, with sleight variations...I tell them of my Haunted apartment in the projects....nevermind |
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Phil Thomas Inner circle Newark, Ohio 1117 Posts |
LOL! Baba! Feel free to use my story. I might use your variation in the near future, but now I live in a mobile home instead of an apartment. Redneck haunted key anyone?
Now, where did I put my friggin pills...................
"If we lose the sense of the mysterious, life is no more than a snuffed out candle."
Albert Einstein |
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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
"I found my key in the attic of Castle Blood. It was sitting in the center of the floor, right at the top of the stairs. The interesting thing about it is that it was covered by as much dust as the shackles and musty furniture covers, but it was as shiny as you would see it if it were sitting in my hand right in front of you. And it has never tarnished..."
I carry three keys w/ me. One is an antique, rusty, real key that turns and is balanced very well for my hand. One is a locksmith blank that is a bit smaller and is good for the "finger balance" (as published in THE PHOENIX) method of turning as well as for turning in the palm. The third is the standard, balanced, Fun Incorporated Haunted Key. The storyline explains the apparant "newness" of the key. I have no preference as to which key I use, and have a lot of fun w/ the different keys. The explanation for the non-tarnished key fits both my character and the storyline, and allows me to do other things w/ both the routine and the advantage of the balance of the more precision-made key. I believe that quite a few people sell antiqued Fun Inc. keys, but I've never had a need to buy one considering that most of the regular old skeleton keys I have lying around do the same thing. Chris |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Sarco, which haunted key do you have ? There are two on the market now, one is the classic Fun Inc. that handa mentioned, which is pretty authentic looking, chrome colored, somewhat plain, and the other is made by Magic Makers/Rob Stiff, and is brightly gold colored, decoratively gaudy, and not quite as well made nor balanced (IMO).
I have both, and managed to get the MM model aged by suspending it in a large closed jar with ammonia vapors. It still looks wrong though. The Fun Inc. model, I think, is just fine as it is. Phil, I know what you're talking about. My parent's house was a rancher that had the attic converted into an upstairs. At night, especially in the winter, when the hot water would circulate through the radiator pipes throughout the house, the heat expansion would cause them to "rub" against the wood of the studs, subfloor, etc. causing an unholy racket - all kinds of different sounds, fast, slow, loud, soft, creaks, pingings, knocks, etc. I moved up there when I got older and got quite used to it, but as a small boy I had to spend a few nights up there because my grandmother had my room, and it scared the living &*%# out of me.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
Skeleton keys aqre still made, you have but to check with a local locksmith to seeif they have any in their shops- sometimes one can still find them at the hardware store.
Additionally, there are some smaller ones one can get that are made for boxes and trunks that are to be found from local fine woodworking suppliers (or online) who says it must be on the entire hand, what about the fingertip ( I seem to recall seeing that in one of the books..Punx?) Just a few thoughts, and to age it, bury the dang thing in the back yard or in a planter for a couple of months afer hitting the finish coat with a bit of steel wool to let the elements into it. Kay
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
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sarcophilus Regular user Phoenix 195 Posts |
I have the Fun Inc. key. I don't like the Magic Makers one at all. I am still looking for others. I will have to keep looking at my local antique dealers.
-thomas |
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czero Loyal user NYC 282 Posts |
If you do a search on ebay, you can usually find entire collections of skeleton keys (mortice keys) and get them with an astonishingly low bid. Then you can experiment and find the one that not only looks great but is easiest to handle. They also make great pendulums. As I posted elsewhere, I like to combine a haunted key routine with a pendulum effect, then have a spectator hold the key to see if they can "feel the energy"--most do. One woman in a group I was performing for actually dropped the key, saying it shocked her.
--Mike |
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Tony Razzano Inner circle South River, NJ 1600 Posts |
Carlyle.
Best regards, Tony Razzano
Best regards,
<BR>Tony Razzano, Past President, PEA Winner of the PEA"s Bascom Jones and Bob Haines Awards |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Nice idea with the pendulum bit, Mike !
I didn't have as muck on eBay at the outset, the bids kept going higher and higher every time I bid on skeleton keys, although I eventualy found a deal. I wanted them mostly to hide the haunted key among, to give it more anonymonity, so to speak. EBay is a good, neverending supply though.
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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czero Loyal user NYC 282 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-04-19 11:54, Mystician wrote: Thanks, Mystician. But why use them only for camouflage? Most any old mortice key will work as a haunted key--there's nothing special about the ones sold by magic suppliers, despite their claims of engineering them for perfect balance. I've got over a dozen antique keys that work just as well as the one I first bought from a magic shop. --Mike |
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
Yeah, I've read that recently. I haven't really tried any of them yet, but most of them seem a bit short for my hand. Balance does count though, as I could readily tell the difference in feel between the Fun Inc. version and the Magic Makers version.
..and did I really type "I didn't have as much MUCK on eBay" ..? lol
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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