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Mike Powers Inner circle Midwest 2983 Posts |
It seems to be loosening up. If I squeeze hard I can get it to pop. I think it's starting to work.
Anyone else having the problem I described above? Mike
Mike Powers
http://www.mallofmagic.com |
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pegasus Eternal Order United Kingdom 10537 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 6, 2019, Mike Powers wrote: Only during my teenage years occasionally. |
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Doric Special user 791 Posts |
Oh wow, that's hilarious!
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Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Middle fingernail into the inside edge of the empty square and squeeze and lever unit against base of thumb - that works best for me.
No innuendo intended. Mike |
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Saturn UK Inner circle 2658 Posts |
That’s the way I’m doing it also.
www.saturnmagic.co.uk
#theshopwithstock Pleased to be different! FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/saturnmagic.co.uk |
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pegasus Eternal Order United Kingdom 10537 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 7, 2019, Michael Daniels wrote: That’s me completely screwed. I still bite my nails. |
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Matthew Wright Special user 551 Posts |
Here is another live performance. For anyone worried about doing the move just look at how much time cover and misdirection there is to do it. It really isn't a problem.
https://vimeo.com/358593078 |
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pegasus Eternal Order United Kingdom 10537 Posts |
There were 3 subjects I couldn’t do at school - English and maths.
I need to grow my nails. |
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Jimso New user 75 Posts |
Here is my take on the trick. Like Mike Daniels, I bought it immediately because I was interested in the magic square aspect. His review was spot-on, but here are a few additions.
If you like the trick, you will not be disappointed by the method. The operation of the gimmick was a little stiff at first but loosened up with use. The price is fair considering the fact that the gimmick is unique enough that it had to be custom made. They could not just buy a bunch of the regular ones and modify them a little, so they will have to sell a lot of them to break even on the production costs. Yes, it seems cheap, but that is the way all such puzzles are made today and anything else would be suspicious. Fifty or sixty years ago, I had a 15 puzzle that was much better. We used to compete for speed the way Rubik’s cubers do today, and the good 15 puzzles were very smooth to operate, like speed cubes. I have tried for two years without success to locate one like that again because I wanted to use it for making magic squares genuinely (without a gimmick). All of the modern ones I have found are ‘clunky.’ Any suggestions, readers? For anyone who might care, the magic square they chose to use is #281 in Frenicle’s list, which means that it is one of the pandiagonal type. That was a good choice. The odd and even numbers are distinguished by color. The odd numbers are white and the even ones are red, and they show up in a pleasing pattern in the solution. Also, you get a lot of patterns of four numbers that add up to 34. Aside from the usual rows, columns, and diagonals, you get all six of the broken diagonals, the outer corners, all four 3x3 sub squares, all nine 2x2 sub squares, all six split squares, eight offset parallel bars, and eight trapezoids. That gives a total of fifty-two successful patterns. Of course, you do not have to use all of them, but they are there if you want them. I displayed these once before in a post some years back, but I cannot find it now, so here is the picture. Click here to view/download attached file. |
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pegasus Eternal Order United Kingdom 10537 Posts |
Very interesting Jimso. Have never heard of Frenicle’s list before. Can the move be achieved without long nails?
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Michael Daniels Inner circle Isle of Man 1609 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 9, 2019, pegasus wrote: I have very short nails - so yes. Mike |
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WeiserSide1 Special user Maryland 534 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 9, 2019, pegasus wrote: I bite mine (bad habit) and I can still release gimmick as needed without any issues! |
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Jimso New user 75 Posts |
When I first got the device, I had trouble unlocking it. My nails are not long, but I did use the edge of the nail of the middle finger as Mike described. After it loosened up a bit, I found that I could do it with the finger tips. You will have to experiment with finger positions, but the basic idea is to flex the outer portion while the stiffer inner part stays flat.
My comment about Frenicle was intended only to inform the owners and potential owners of the trick that the particular magic square chosen for the gimmick was a great one. It is common knowledge among mathematicians that some magic squares are better than others, but many magicians seem to be unaware of that fact. I am not connected to the creators in any way, so I have no idea whether that choice was deliberate or accidental. Either way, it was an excellent choice because it gives you lots of options. There are exactly 880 ways to construct a four-by-four magic square using the numbers 1 through 16, not counting the variations you can get by rotating and flipping. Back in the 1600s, Bernard Frenicle listed and numbered all of them. I sure would like to know how he did it using only pencil and paper. Although I discovered a way to duplicate the feat, I used modern mathematics that was unknown back then. In 1910, Henry Dudeney published his discovery that all 880 could be classified into twelve distinct groups according to their internal structure. The best magic squares (those with the most structural symmetry and therefore the most successful patterns) are in the first three groups. A search on the internet using the key words magic square along with Frenicle or Dudeney will lead you to a lot more information. If you are constructing a magic square for a trick, it seems to me that you should use one of the best ones, as happened in this case. Why be ordinary when you can be sensational with no extra effort? |
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Matthew Wright Special user 551 Posts |
Hi Jimso,
Thanks for your input and lesson on the magic square. I am delighted that you recognised the square we used and approve of it so heartily. You have obviously researched the square a lot and your knowledge on it is to be applauded. There are very few people who have the time, patience or desire to go into such things in as much detail as you clearly have...and unfortunately I am one of them.,,,,,,that's why I asked Tom Crosbie which one to use and he said this one was the best. So...no it wasn't an accident we used this square...but I can't take any of the credit for the decision other than knowing who to ask. lol |
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hcs Special user Germany, Magdeburg 506 Posts |
I am curious, what is the original (delivered) starting position of the puzzle?
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Michael Clifton Loyal user 214 Posts |
How repeatable is this? ie can the magic square number be personalised to your choice or are you limited
to select number of revelations?
Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right!
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DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
You could personalize it - the box comes with spare gimmicks to make your own outcome - I mention that in my review : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkaKCZS1Z2g
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Calvin Tong Special user 718 Posts |
Nice review.
I love this product. I had a puzzle like this when I was a kid. Other than fear of losing the small filler piece, slip this into your pocket on the go. Can’t do that with a cube. Cal
Cal Tong
President Emeritus IBM Ring 216 Silicon Valley |
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pegasus Eternal Order United Kingdom 10537 Posts |
I too like the product but not the price.
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Gaz Lawrence Inner circle 5991 Posts |
Yes saw this from a magician friend this week . It’s everything a real one of these would look and work like .
Also a great deceptive easy method , recommended Gaz 🙂 |
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