Anyone have any opinions/experience with the "matchbox penetration" I recently saw on the Penquin site. Pass a toothpick through a matchbox, pull it out, and then open the box to reveal a big chunk of brass. The demo looks cool. But to what extent are the box, brass, and toothpick examinable? Is it worth the price? Is it too contrived? Anyone got any input on this one?

If you get a good quality brass block, everything can be examine thoroughly by spec. I don't know about the quality of matchbox penetration that Penquin carries, however if it is from India, do not get it.

The quality of the gimmick can be from poor to super. I would buy it without seeing it first.

It's a stunning effect and the brass block can be examined. This is a very precision effect so it has to be made properly otherwise the gaff will show. This is one effect that is easy to do and provides a big impact on the audience.

I agree, the one I have it examinable, the gaff is that good!
I have seen shoddy ones though!

Yes, see it before you buy it. The one I have is awesome, in fact if I don't use it, I have to read the dang directions again to figure it out! lol

I have to agree you need to see it before you buy. I keep mine nice and shiny and people can examine it to their hearts' content.

The best gimmick of this kind was made by a Mister Martinez (no, not Daryl)as far as I know. It was sold back in the eighties. It would be nice, if somebody here knows more about it and knows if this one is still available.
The gimmicks you get today are mostly crap. The original was expensive but well worth the price. This was really precision made and you could examine the thing until the cows came home.

Hi all,

I would also like to steer you towards "Clearly Impossible" created by Dick Zimmerman.

His version uses a matchbox and a needle with a thin ribbon attached. The matchbox is penetrated (?) by the needle and ribbon. The box is shown on all sides. When the box is opened, a block of clear plastic fills the drawer.

Nothing is gimmicked. It is all examinable. I like this very much!!!

Good luck with your search for better magic.

Regards,

Paul Green

That great Paul. I always thought this routine was awesome when I first saw it. It fooled me because I didn't think there was anyway that the brass block was going to be gimmicked. Looked like I was wrong. The only issue I ever had with it was that you ended with the block being unexaminable. I wanted to eliminate that problem. Looks like you brought forth the solution Paul. Thank you. Going to check it out right now.

Andrew

Well, I ended up ordering it from Penquin. From the replies here and the PMs sounds like their version is quality. Hope so!

shammond,

Be sure to get back to us on the quality of the Penquin version. Thanks

OK, I got the Matchbox Penetration from Penquin Magic a couple days ago. Haven't used it more than a couple times, but so far so good. Appears to be very high quality. I have to look very very hard to detect the gimmick - and I know what I'm looking for! So its pretty doubtful anyone who's not savvy will catch on. I give Penquin's version (by Rob Stiff) a thumbs up.

Does anyone have the version put out by MAGIC MAKERS? And does the block look good and unsuspicious?

Instead of using a toothpick, I bought a large sewing needle (really big), and tied a foot long ribbon through the hole. Much better visually!
The version I have is made by "magical wonders". On one side of the brass the gimmick is ABSOLUTELY undetectable and shows that, when well made, this is a beautiful effect. The other side of the brass was less well machined...I took a metal file and steelwool to smooth it out...it's a bit better now.

This is so awesome. I hand mine out all the time, and they don't have a clue! It kills.

I ditched the all-white matchbook mine came with in favor of a readily-indentifiable diamond matchbook found in grocery stores. I think it adds to the trick, but that's just me. I think it's a real stunner of a trick!

I have the Acrobatic Matchbox, but not the penetration. It looks like they possibly could be used as a routine if switched out. Sounds like a good investment.

I have the Magic Maker's version of this trick, and it's quite effective. If you have a handfull of matchboxes, you can even start with an 'unpoked' box, push a needle through, with thread, then open it up for the finale. The 'Move' they describe in the documentation is a little awkward, and most of the folks I know don't bother turning the box over so the 'drawer' is upside-down before doing the (move omitted here).

I've been thinking about setting up a 'matchbox' routine using it, the acrobatic matchbox, floating match, and match up the nose... You might also look into GENII for a Jay Sankey trick in the April issue (or is it this month's) which sets up a really neat 'do as I do' struck-and-relit match trick.

To paraphrase Ross Bertram, "You can do a lot with a matchbox."