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Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
I have an old metal Giant & Dwarf in pretty good shape. I can't remember the maker, but if I heard it, I would know it... "Taylor" possibly... I'm not sure...
Just wondering if anyone here on the Café might know what it would be worth? Lyndel |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
I'm curious, too. The one I have is all-wood, and I've literally NEVER seen another one with the exact graphics that this one has. I'm stumped about a maker.
Steve |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
What is it? What's the effect?
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
They enter the magic castle and the giant becomes small and the dwarf becomes tall... Here's a pic of an Owens brand:
http://www.owenmagic.com/Club___Stage/Gi......arf.html Oh, and I just remembered that the one I have was made by "Merv Taylor." Lyndel |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Again, having seen both the Merv Taylor model and the Owen's...the graphics look a little different from them.
Who else made this prop? Steve |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
I just wondered if it is the same as I know. It is.
It was made originally around 1950 in London by Jack Hughes who created and made so many brilliant effects. it was sold with a routine created by Geo. Wall-Man as he was billed. You can always tell an original. 1. The art work is superb. I'm afraid the artwork in the picture on the link is pretty dreadful. Sorry about that. I have seen worse. 2. The stands are made of thin ply, later thin hardboard I think. A slim block to rest the figure against with a small front block and a turnbutton to keep the figure in place. One stand is plain - for the Giant. The other has two flat foldout rear legs which are designed to prevent the Dwarf and the stand from going over backwards when the Dwarf has aquired his legs. This arrangement worked but was ripe for improvement. 3 The dwarf's long legs were a loose fit between body and little legs. To keep it in place there was a piece of half inch wide flat spring steel at the back of the long legs. As the dwarf was pushed into the top of the castle and engaged with the long legs, the top of the long legs pushed into the space betrween body and little legs and the flat spring steel trapped everything in place. I hope that makes sense. The top edge of the spring steel was turned to 90 degrees forming a lip. When the long legs were loaded into the castle the lip located in a notch cut in the top edge of the back of the castle. this had the effect of keeping the long legs perfectly in place and a useful pick up with the thumb pressed on the lip. Again this was a complex solution and open to improvement. 4. The Castle was wood and ply and as I remember it was birch ply which is the standard for prop making. The two giants were straightforward. I don't know when the changes occured. Edwin Hooper - Supreme Magic at Bideford, devon started producing and selling Jack's lines by arrangement. several of them were sold as 'New & Improved' and that was true. I had had an original from jack and had disposed of it. I bought my new & improved from Edwin soon after he started making. Supreme Model The flat material was double faced hardboard. Nothing wrong with that. A beautiful flat finish. Everything apart from the artwork was spray painted. The artwork was renewed but instead of painting it was screen printed. terrific work, The castle is stonework, a central door with a tree growing around it and two orial style windows high up.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
I cut myself off in my prime. I'll continue.
The castle was 5 colour print. the figures were fully dressed and ten different colours were used on the Giants and the Dwarf. Actually, 7 on each - obviously they shared some. The stands were changed. Two simple pine bases, both the same so interchangable about half an inch thick and only 4 inches x 5 inches. A stepped slot runs across the 4 inch dimesion. stepped so the two Giants could sit together and the larger be removed without fouling or upsetting the smaller. Being only 4 inches across they are not obvious - very simple and effective. The long Legs locking was simplified. Out went the spring. The dwarf body was made tighter to provide a friction grip for the tongue of the long legs. Once I got used to it there was no problem The long legs are much firmer and I can hold the Dwarf by his shoulders without fear of the legs departing. That's it. When Supreme closed in 95 a number of rip offs appeared but the quality was not Supreme nor Jack Hughes and the artwork was dreadful. They vanished as cheepos usually do. I f you can put a story over, involving the whole audience and acting it out this is a winner. It also changes the pace and direction of your show and if you're doing an hour you need these interludes. Gives you a base to move forward towards a finale. I've done it thousands of times, across the UK and in Europe. By the way, I've never seen a metal one. What's that like?
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
I owned the wooden Hughes combination and it was a nice set. I don't believe I've ever handled a Supreme set. However, the metal Merv Taylor model is a little more trouble-free to actually perform. The pieces seem to fit more reliably.
Julie |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
The Supreme model is very positive. Jack & E around 1970 when Edwin took on a number of Jack's children's and others. Ugly Duckling was another Edwin improved. Some times just little touches Sad how the Hughes business passed away after other members of the family took over. Jack had built that from scratch after he returned from Canada before the war.
The only real problem with Giant Dwarf is its instability if the table is rocked - and you know what can happen at parties. For that reason I tend to keep the castle on the floor behind the table and lift it into place to do it. The Giant is fine - less top heavy.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
magihands New user New Jersey 9 Posts |
Hello. This is my 1st time using the Magic Café. I live now in New Jersey and recently brought back from the UK, Jack Hughes Giant Dwarf but no longer have the routine that went with it. Is someone here willing to share a copy of the routine?
Many thanks. |
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