Has anyone ever identified how many types of gaffs there are?
Is there any new gaff left to be created?
Without going into all of the variations of each, here is a partial, but not complete list:

Flippers (pro, gravity, magnetic, regular, copper/silver)
Sh***s (expanded, shim, non-expanded, sliding)
stacks
magnetic
steel core
double sided (heads, tails)
Scotch/soda (what is this gaff called? Also in dime/penny and nickel/penny)
copper/silver (many sizes and varieties)
Clone/Split/Super coins
3 in 1 coin magnetic
nested (21 cent trick, 61 cent trick, $1.35 trick, $2.85 trick, locking and loose)
blackout coin
folding coins
bite out coins
cigarette through coins
hooked coin
Siamese coins
gold/silver plated coins

I'm sure I missed a few. New gaffs keep coming out but they seem to be variations of the above such as multiple [ sets

Sun and Moon coins (Sun and Moon reverse)
Hopping Half coins
Copper /Silver/ Brass coins
Copper /Copper/ Silver coins
Todd Lassen's Cerberus coins
Karate coins
Spy coins

-Morten-

Hi, Morten,

I didn't include sets, because they are usually composed of multiple gaffs (maybe not always). For example HH has two expanded [ and sun/moon. And sun/moon is like a non-expanded [ and copper silver. There are many more variations of the gaffs I listed. I'm thinking more of the physical properties of the gaff not the variations within each type.

I missed the karate coin.

I don't know what Cerberus is. Is it a combination of gaffs?

I know new gaffs and sets will continue to be created and I'm glad they will. This posting is to start the thinking process of "what's next?". "What hasn't ben done?"

Of course if I could think of a totally new gaff I'd become rich - considering it is actually a good effect.

We'll probably see more sets with different combinations of gaffs then we will see more gaffs that are totally new. There are undoubtedly many more uses for the rich collection of gaffs we have.

Cerberus is a double s**ll gimmick, the first s**ll being the silver dollar. The second s**ll is brass, and the last coin is copper. Actually this last coin is a c/s coin, allowing you to show both sides of the silver dollar when nested.

I think you're saying brownies are the same as cookies because they use the same ingredients...

Anyway, using your thinking some of the gaffs listed shouldn't be listed. For example:

Bite out coins and folding coins are basically the same.
Nesting coins are a bunch of shells and one c/s type gaff.
Three in one coin (TT and 3CM) are shells and a shimmed coin.
Scotch and soda is a shell and c/s coin.
Flippers are an unexpanded shell and folding coin.

Perhaps it would be better to organize them into the effects that they can create?

John

Thanks for the responses everyone. Of course it is a rhetorical question.
More gaffs will be created. But as I think of all that has been made already, I wonder what can be done next?
John's got the right idea. For new gaffs, think of a new trick that would get good response from the spectators and think of how a gaff could help, or make it possible.

Stretching coins, zig zag coins, torn coins, eraser coins, opium coins.

KOtah

John Kennedy Super coin
and last but not least Brian Platt's Black Out

I've done a gaff derived from Mike Gallo's Siamese coins where the bottom coin is a [ and the upper coin is shimmed (mine is a Liberty dollar), this allows nice strolling effects: I call it the Siamese Family and it offers substantial additional possibilities to the already numerous ones mentioned by Mike Gallo's (with his brilliant handling of his gimmick). It allows very impressive 3-Fly without having to come back after the passing of th second coin...

Also yesterday, I went to Henry Mayol's new shop in Paris and he had a set of magentic shells figuring a $ size coin, an half $ size coin and a quarter size coin. Interesting possibilities came out during the discussion.

Hi LawrenceO - great idea on the coins across. I got as far as just the siamese gaff to get a sit-down routine with only one "touch" - but your extension makes things much better.

On Platt's BlackOut - it seems to work well with EG - can you imagine?

Did anyone mention the laurie ireland multicoin type gaff like the one where a handful of pennies all change to dimes?

How about a Slippery Sam?

Regards, Steve

History may teach us something here...

"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
Charles H. Duell, U.S. Commissioner of Patents, in 1899.

-A

Slippery Sam would fit under the Shell category. (sliding)

You mean the Slippery Sam Combination Coin set sold by Steve Dusheck... I wish he would either make them again or grant license to someone to make the sets again. Bob Elliot showed the two coin fingertips transposition around back in 1978 or so and the item was a big seller. The slider alone was the gaffus for us Ultimate Copper and Silver transposition item - which is in his lecture DVD and still available.

The ShareBook "Geezer Miser" uses a gaff not mentioned here, and "Hooker" descibes how to make another one.

I have also seen a ring with a penny, dime and nickle attached that you rotate -- where does that fit?

How about coin fekes meant to look like a coin in the hand but are not?

How about the Mirage set? Does it use any unique gaff, other than combinations of those already listed? I don't know enough about this set other than from what I've read here I probably want one.

Have you "Fire coin".

-Morten-

This isn't much different than when folks thought it was time to close the patent office because everything had been invented. As long as people are creative and free to work on things there will be new effects and gimmicks. I bet there are gimmicks that folks have created that aren't being shared with the greater magic community. Don't be surprised that as some the coin workers get older that they will reveal some amazing stuff.

aye, for as their fingers become less nimble they may 'reveal' more than they wish, and construct gimmicks and gaffs ans fekes to replace dexterity. Sadly, many look to the gimmicks first and never acquire the skill. Are all the gaffs enhancing magic, or simply catering to a "quick fix" and "I don't have time to practice" mentality? Many experienced posters on the Café' speak of the need to read books, yet what sells is "a simple way of looking like that other guy." Maybe the "50 post rule" should apply to buying gaffs and gimmicks too.

Kinda judgmental -- huh? so call these 'opinions'.

I just wish that every gimmick came with a mentor in the box. This Café' is the next best thing.

Yea I have allways Said " Lurn your slight of hand frist! Them combind it with Gaffs to do stuff You just can't do anywhere as CLEANLY with slight of hand by it's self!!!"Gaffs should never be used just becase you have never put the time into lurning the right moves! And geting the Dexterity you should have to do good coin magic!!! Ok so that's my 2 cents!