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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts 
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I'm looking to add this old saw to my repertoire, but need a suggestion as to where best to obtain the necessary in gl@ss rather than plastic. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Wes65 Inner circle I've said very little in 1219 Posts
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For years I've been planning on taking a trip to a glass shop for that very reason. Thanks for reminding me to get around to that. The magic kit I got as a kid came with this and I haven't done it since those early days.
Wes
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Try keeping an eye out for those mini flashlights - some still use glass covers these days.
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts
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That's an idea. Thank you.
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Watchmaker Veteran user 369 Posts
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Mr. Wells,
Are you looking for a glass disk, like a watch crystal? Watch crystals are made of Mineral Glass and come in pretty much every size in .1mm increments. There is also what is called Thick Mineral Glass for styles like dive watches. There are endless sizes and shapes and a good watchmaker can cut their own from blanks. So what I would do, if I didn't already have a thousand of them in my shop, would be to go to your local watchmaker if you still have one, tell him or her you want a blank crystal and what size you want. While you're there you might even want to have an old watch fixed up! Respectfully, Phil |
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Phil, that is a great resource! I had not thought of that - mostly because of the lack of such a person in many areas, at least in this country and from what I have seen.
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Watchmaker Veteran user 369 Posts
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Dr,
I'm glad I gave you something to think about. Most watches now get tossed out so there isn't the need for watchmakers like there used to be. But thrown out watches can be good for you since you can grab the crystal out of an old watch very easily. Most crystals are pressed in, not glued. So this is what you do. Get an old watch that doesn't work that has the right size crystal. Get the back off (you don't have to worry about scratching it since it's junk anyway). Remove the stem, you might have to push a little button where you see the stem go through the case, the stem will slide right out. After that the movement will just drop out. Now you will be holding the empty case in your hand, with your thumbs push on the crystal from the inside of the case, it will pop right out. If it will not budge it might be glued, if so just soak it in hot water for awhile then try again. Hey, after doing that a couple times you might want to take up watch repair! Good luck. Phil |
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-08-24 16:55, Watchmaker wrote: I have dabbled in watchmaking as a hobby and I have a thing for very nice clocks - especially old and all wood clocks, clocks made of gears, paper clocks, etc. I have always really been interested by the mechanical nature of not-so-simple objects, such as the Cabestan Winch watches and the Time Writing Machine by Jaquet-Droz. |
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Watchmaker Veteran user 369 Posts
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You sound like my kind of guy doctor. You would love my shop.
P. |
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts
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Phil, You were right. The crystal is exactly what I need. Many thanks for the suggestion and your kindness. Unfortunately, the only watchmaker I knew, an Armenian gentleman of exceptional talent and a very quirky converasationalist, has long since left this world. Since I can't wear watches (they die after about three months), I've never looked into making the acquaintance of another. Again, thank you.
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Watchmaker Veteran user 369 Posts
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Don't forget that Robert Houdin, the Father of Modern Magic, was himself a Watchmaker.
P. |
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-08-26 20:02, Watchmaker wrote: Indeed. People often do not know that he did work with automatons... |
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Mb217 Inner circle 9683 Posts
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Hi John, great advice here on the watch crystals if you can get them nowadays. Also, as the good doctor mentioned earlier here, this might work for you my friend.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Maglite-Charger-......8f7a4352 You can get them in various sizes: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40......ass+lens Also, you might go to a neighborhood hardware store and have them circle-cut a small window pane for you for this purpose. 
Might work for you.
-Mb
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
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lehmannbindery New user 51 Posts
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The problem I'm having with the plastic disks is that they sometimes float on the surface. Does anyone know of something that can be added to the water to prevent this?
Thanks, Frank |
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-08-28 14:33, lehmannbindery wrote: It seems, then, that you are using a disk that is just too thin to be effective. Even with the plastic ones, the disc should be a little on the thicker side, about the same thickness as a U.S. quarter. Since I did mention the idea of using a flashlight cover, I should have mentioned the following (hind-sight is always 100%): Some of the flashlights out there do have a really thin plastic lens on them, so you have to check it out first. On the other hand, call up your favorite magic dealer and ask if they can get you the old Dissolving Coin effect from Adams. It used a plastic disk in a shot-glass sized glass and it worked very well. You can just take the disk out of that, and I think the whole things is a whopping $4 or $5/USD. Just one more thought: If you cannot get the effect from a dealer, try looking at those cheap binoculars that you would find in the toy aisle of stores, or even thrift stores, which use plastic lenses. Those might work too. I hope this information is useful to you. |
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Wes65 Inner circle I've said very little in 1219 Posts
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I was cleaning out some junk today and found a glass that was part of the first (and only) magic kit I got as a kid about 35-38 years ago. It was used with a gaff for a milk pour effect and also (if I remember correctly) for the dissolving coin. That's all I have left (I was surprised I still had it) from the beginning of what would be a life long love affair.
Sorry, I'm just taking a little trip down memory lane.
Wes
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1222 Posts
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Craft mirrors are what you need.
For example the 1" ones here: http://craftsuppliesforless.com/craftsupplies_displays.html But there are many more. Just carefully scrape off the silvering. I don't know why I post this suggestion once a year - I should be selling the things at a huge markup
Jolyon Jenkins
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Dr_J_Ayala Inner circle In search of Vlad Dracul and his 2169 Posts
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Wes: No need to apologize. It is always great to hear those kinds of things from other performers and about what got them started or interested in our wonderful (and addicting!) art.
Jolyon: I never thought of that either! I have a bunch of those for use in many different things like costumes, masks, etc. I will try that. Thanks for the suggestion! |
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makscopes New user 77 Posts
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Wouldn't the craft mirrors be sharp around the edges?
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jolyonjenkins Inner circle United Kingdom 1222 Posts
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Quote:
On 2011-09-02 00:49, makscopes wrote: Not really - or no worse than flashlight lenses. I use a glass which has almost the same internal diameter at the bottom as the disk, and the coin is completely invisible.
Jolyon Jenkins
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Posted: Aug 13, 2011 04:50 pm 
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