When I was a child (around 5, 6 years old maybe) I used to get magic tricks as gifts. Back in the day, these were called "Magic Works" and they were clever little plastic props that made the magic happen practically all by itself. I believe Mark Seducatti created these. (He also had talking ones which I've heard were terrific, but I've never seen them).

Recently, I've noticed that there is no more "Magic Works" and many of the old effects I remember as being Magic Works are now under the name Tenyo. I knew about Tenyo, but I didn't realize that they have some of the same tricks as Magic Works.

Are they one and the same? Did the name just change, or were the rights/patents/ideas/etc. sold to Tenyo? What's the story behind all this?

I don't know their business behind the scenes, but early Tenyo tricks were available to me as a kid. I first remember finding the electronic Magic Works items in Toys R Us (obviously much later). Tenyo seemed to really expand with many items hitting the market about 15 years ago.

I would like to see a history of these also. There were/are some other companies like , Tricks Co. Ltd. that made plastic items, too. Some other names escape me.

Milton Bradley, an American Toy company, imported Tenyo's products in bulk and put them in their packages. Of course under the licence with Tenyo.

Mark Setteducutti was the coordinator of the project and his creations were added in the line later.

Tenyo never imported (or copied) any thing from Milton Bradley.

Hideo Kato

I have a fairly decent collection of both Tenyo as well as Magic Works. Tenyo originally made most of the items and the same tricks were put out later at a much lesser price than Tenyo's was. I have many duplicates in the Magic Works line if anyone is trying to find some.
Rennie

Believe it or not, some of the Magic Works items were not put out LATER than the Tenyo, but at the same time at a lower price than magic shops were selling the originals! Made a lot of shops angry and they stopped carrying Tenyo. Case in point was the little gizmo where a borrowed quarter is placed into a rubber holder that was pushed into a keychain, and the key was pushed through the quarter! The MW was about $9, and the original Tenyo model was (at my local shop) about $29! I have a few of the electronic talking MW effects, too. There were 3 marketed, one works on the same principle as the (very expensive) Anverdi Surprise Box!

Steve Thomas

Here is a complete listing of the Magic Works toys that were released:

Magic Works-Coin in the Crypt and Double Vision
Magic Works-Eye of the Pharaoh and Ghost Deck
Magic Works-Guardian of the Grave
Magic Works-Invisible Hook and Crate Escape
Magic Works-Map of Skull Island and Knight's Tomb
Magic Works-Missing Masterpiece
Magic Works-Mystery Dice and Mysterious Queen
Magic Works-Phantom Key and Clean Cut
Magic Works-Rope of Calcutta
Magic Works-Secret of the Sphinx
Magic Works-Secret Slate and Money Morph
Magic Works-Severed Skeleton
Magic Works-Soft Coins
Magic Works-Spirit in the Coffin
Magic Works-The Hidden Sun
Magic Works-Tongue Tied
Magic Works-Vault Vision and Twisted Pencil

You can read all of the "Secret" Instructions at Hasbro's page here:

www.hasbro.com

I am interested in buying some of MW electronic talking series such as Spirit in the coffin. Does somebody know where I can buy them?

I have an extra, never-opened Guardian of the Grave.

If still seeking Spirit in the Coffin, Presto Magic in Long Beach, CA has had one in his showcase for as long as I've known him, approx. 10 years and still not moved. Give him a call at the store, tell him Rick Bloom referred you.

I'm a little late to the party, but offer this anyway...
Interesting topic, and ironically I just came across an article that Gary Ouellet wrote for Genii back in 1994, indicating the anger expressed by magic dealers over the 66% lower prices offered through the Magic Works line, and explaining the relationship between Tenyo and MB. He dismissed the dealer boycotts and summed up his position with:
“Tenyo's policy has ensured that the magic shops will have an eight month exclusive on new
products, and only the totally self-working pieces are candidates for the MB line. In Japan, almost every professional and amateur magician today got his or her start with a Tenyo trick. That is an
extraordinary contribution to magic. In North America, the success of the MB line will mean that magic as a hobby is being developed in ways that we have yet to appreciate. Those youngsters who have bought all six products and who want to pursue the hobby will naturally gravitate to the magic dealer to further fuel this new interest. Put another way, Tenyo and Milton Bradley are creating hundreds of thousands of potential clients for the magic dealers of North America, and rather than complain, the dealers should be thankful for this unexpected blessing. It also means that our art is alive and well, and that tomorrow's stars are today's Tenyo customers.”

Ouellet was always good at seeing the bigger picture.

The older Tenyo stuff has become really collectable. When Al Cohen was going through his inventory before he sold his shop to Steve Brown he discovered a trove of original Tenyo stuff in the original packaging. Al had a couple of regular customers who were Tenyo collectors, and they took it all.
Barry Taylor is getting ready to move to the new shop, and I wonder what he's going to find lurking in his cabinets after 32 years in the same spot?

I wonder why MB didn't sell the less expensive Magic Works packaged items to the magic wholesalers?

Julie

Sorry to drudge up an old post...

The Magic works stuff is GREAT!

I just aquired 18 mint condition pieces, so to date I am missing 4 of the regular series, and all of the electronic....

Any one willing to part with any of the following?


Series 1: Mystery Dice
Vault Vision

Series 4: Invisible Hook
Ghost Deck

And the 4 Electronic pieces...

Let me know if these are available!


Jay

Jay,

Where did you find the Magic Works items you acquired? I believe I have most but still need a few to complete my collection. I just found a mint, new in the box "Spirit in the Coffin"....one of the electronic effects. This is a great little effect that is near impossible to find. On auction sites I've seen it go for over $100. I found it on eBay as a "Buy it now" item for only $13.95. Unfortunately, I have no duplicates of these items to sell but I'll make another post if I see them available anywhere.

I'm looking for "Guardian of the Grave" and "Coin in the Crypt" if anyone knows where I might find them.

Kirk

These were a gift from a friend who had collected them...

hmmm....

I wonder where one might find more.

J

I only collect Tenyo and old Adams, so I'm not familiar with Magic Works. I do know that Tenyo usually only releases original effects, or more recently, re-worked classics where credit is given to the creator. A great site to reference (by a Tenyo inventor), is http://www.tenyoworld.co.uk This site is a joy to explore if you're into plastic magic. It hasn't been updated in awhile, but still a great resource tool. Angelo has put a lot of time into sharing his passion.

No matter the brand name, isn't it a great feeling to find one of the old tricks that introduced you to magic...still in its package, just like when you first found it? Granted, it's a cheap thrill, but a thrill none the less.

I'm trying to find "Coin in the Crypt." Does anyone know where I can find it? (This is the last one I'm needing for my collection)

KW

I'm currently researching "What's Next?" for a new version of it that I'm about to release. The information I found so far indicates that it was first advertised by D. Robbins for his EZ Magic catalog in 1968 (Genii), although it appears to be the same as the one manufactured by Tenyo (T-028). I vaguely remember that it came out in a different package before the familiar Tenyo packaged version appeared, but I'm at the age where I don't trust my memories and would like some confirmation of this, if anyone knows the history.

A few years back Wellington re-created the Guardian of the Grave effect, the coffin is hardwood and the vampire is a crystal - top of the line! If you can get one of these, grab it! I use mine sometimes around Halloween.


Chuck

Presto Magic in Long Beach still has Magic Works and vintage Tenyo. He moved to Viking Way in Long Beach, CA. I don't have his phone number handy but call info. He doesn't have a website, brick and mortar only.

Rick