Who created Brainwave? Edward Bagshawe, Dai Vernon, Paul Fox - someone else? Can someone point me to a definitive answer (other than the editor's note in Annemann's "Practical Mental Magic"?)

Terry

Ralph W. Hull

I always confuse the "two Hulls", Ralph and Burling (I don't even think they were related, were they?)
It adds to my confusion that they both invented gimmicked decks that are so widely used.
Thanks Michael, I would have made a blunder on this one.
Don

Hi Michael:

The following web site questions Hull as the creator:

http://www.magicnook.com/forum/bioHIJ.htm

Do you know if the book referred to on the web site you posted (Trevor H. Hall's 1945 biography, "The Testament of Ralph W. Hull") makes the assertion that Hull is the creator?

Thanks,

Terry

I'm not familiar with the book. I remember that R.W. Hull's name was printed on the wrapper of the Brainwave Decks, so I was only finding a point of documentation. The Magic Nook info is also new to me. If my information is incorrect, I'm happy for the new information. It would be interesting to see how Hull was given credit, and if the assertion by Dai Vernon could be substantiated by more than his own claim.

The information we received from Derek Vernon is that his father invented the "Ultra Mental Deck" and that Paul Fox was the originator of the verson we call the "Brain Wave Deck" today. It's a matter of cards face up or cards face down.

Do both versions use two different back colors, or was that a later addition?

The face to face version was the one that had the different colored backs.

IMHO, it neither strengthens nor weakens the effect as much as a good or bad sell does.

Was the different colored backs always a part of the Brainwave deck?