I have a Milson Worth die box (the 2 1/2" die version) that is in very good condition. I just saw one of these for sale on an ebay store for a buy it now price of $495. I know that these are pretty collectible, but how much could I reasonably expect to get should I decide to part with it? In your opinion is that price out of line?
Thanks for any input.

Hi Pit Boss:

I went over to ebay and located the die box you mention. I looked at the seller's other items and would say just about all the prices are too high. That would include the die box. My guess is you could get $250.00 to $300.00 for it.

Ron

Thank you Mr. Reid, you confirmed my suspicions.
Anyone else have any firsthand knowledge of this piece?

I also have one of Milsons Worth die box.
It is very well made, and is the right size for my routine.
I've developed quite a funny routine with the children.
They don't make props like this anymore.
Richard.

Mel Babcock might have a different opinion.

I forgot about Mel Bobcock.
You're correct Silverking, Mel is one of the last of a dying breed that makes great props.
I have his small size ABC blocks, and it is very well made.
Richard.

I have collected die boxes over the past 50 years. It was one of the tricks in my very first “professional” (paid) act when I traveled with a carnival. I still have my first Die Box, a simple affair with no noise maker, and no door flaps. Rather it was simply the four door box, with the die and a shell. I believe that it was home made but it proved to be a workhorse. I used it for about 5 years before upgrading to a Cigarette pack die box (I was doing a cigarette manipulation act and it sort of fit).

Over the years I have collected dozens of different makes and models (the old Abbott’s take apart is one of the simplest and best of the “take-apart” versions). I have boxes that have doors in the front and back and when open the die has vanished (Davenport and Abbott models), versions that use a playing card, a version that has a length of rope that has been cut and knotted together, the knot seemingly slides from one compartment to the other then vanishes showing the rope restore, I have a version that uses clocks rather than a die, and my old version that uses a pack of cigarettes in place of the die.

It is a gentle “garden path” trick (lead the audience down the garden path sounds so much more refined than “sucker”) that plays well for adults as well as for children (you get more noise from kids). For all the boxes sold over the years, I have yet to see a magician perform it. It’s like the cups and balls, almost every magician buys a set, plays with it but never performs it as part of the act (that is changing given the upsurge in street performing/busking).

I bought Mel Babcock’s “Small” (2.25” die) Sucker Die Box from Al Cohen in the late 70’s. I bought the small version because I was doing a lot of small venue shows, I wanted a “box-prop” trick to make the show look bigger, and wanted it to take up very little space in the case. The Babcock “small” fit the bill to a T (thanks Al Cohen). It also fit into the bottom (standing on edge so that it didn’t get in the way of my final loads) of my busking pouch (yes I performed the die box on the street using the pouch in place of the hat).

I’ve used the Babcock Die Box at least once a month, on average (and sometimes daily but stick to the average), since buying it. It still looks new and works like a dream. It has all the niceties, double (magnet locking) flaps, felt lined compartments, and a solid (lead weight I think) noise maker.

I paid a big $50.00 for it way back then (did I get my money’s worth?). Mel sells it today for a mere $175.00 post paid in the USA. He has a large version (3” die) for only $235 pp and a giant version (4” die) for $275.00 pp. I have yet to see a more expensive model that beats the construction quality and features of Mel Babcock’s (and I have Davenports, Owens, Abbott’s, and a number of other makes sitting on my shelves). By the way I also have his Rainbow Die Box but have yet to use it in performance and plan to buy either his large or giant in the near future

Check out Mel’s Die Boxes at:
http://www.nwi.net/~magicmel/diebox.html

I use Mel Babcock's See-Thru Block Box which is truly a deceptive disappearance. The block vanishes,the sides are removed and front, back and sides are displayed and there is NOTHING to see. It fools magicians.

However, it does not use a s...l so I use a different method to reproduce the block.

I'm not sure these are still made but it appears on Mel's website:

http://www.nwi.net/~magicmel/seethru.html

We Have a collector in our club . who has a lot of Mel's Stuff .. recently I ordered my box from Mel and am Sitting on Pins and needles waiting for it .. Like Harry I have an old Box same affair .. origin Unknown .. that .. I have been using ... at least three times a week .. for the past 20 some odd years .. the opportunity came last week to sell it .. and I Pulled it from the sales box .. I just can't part with it , this thread has opened up a whole new interst for me and die boxes in general , I would sure like to trace the origin of My box I have at present .. I originally bought it at a magic Swap meet for a whopping 15 bucks
Keet

I have two die boxes from Mel, the last one I got is the 4" Wow, the thing is huge! What a sweet working magical prop, that gets a huge response from any audience.
All of Mel's work is excellent, I use many of his props.

Arthur

I like the Shennegan Die Box Abbotts sold because the die could be transformed into a ball or even a rabbit or dove.

KOTAH

The Benson Book has a great section on the Die Box.

I need to get one or two from Mel Babcock for my smaller shows as my big die box is too big. Its too much trouble to scale my die box down as its harder to make it the smaller it gets.

Robert

KOTAH, I used my old Abbotts "Shennegan" Die Box Just this past weekend to produce a surprise gift to a future bride at a party this past weekend. I've never produced livestock with it but have produced suprise gifts and grapefruit for a bill to grapefruit routine. It's a sweet prop and ever so simple.

Harry, Very good indeed, Thinking outside the box; especially a die box is always good.

KOTAH

Magic grandpa, The box you shared is a variation of the one Leslie P Guest invented. His used a number cube in the routine. I would imagine others have discovered a rubics cube would also justify the block being use.

KOTAH