ALEX ELMSLEY
In the Introduction to this book, I wrote that the subject would be mainly about the simple metal pill box as devised by Okito. However, it is felt that this fine routine by Alex Elmsley should be included although the box used is that generally known as The Boston Box, because the moves are mostly those with which we have been dealing.
My thanks go to that fine magician Alex Elmsley for contributing this routine to THE GEN magazine when I was Editor and to the Supreme Magic Company who purchased the rights to all the GEN material.
In addition to adding photographs to the text, the coins have been altered to conform with those in use today - the original routine used pennies and a sixpence as these were legal tender when the description was written by Alex Elmsley in 1961 (GEN VOL. 17 - NO. 3). It was found that four 50p pieces fitted into the box I use and that the new lp is a convenient coin to take the place of the sixpence.
EFFECT.
A brass box is shown, together with four 50p pieces and a 1p piece. The 50p pieces are put in the box, the 1p is vanished in a handkerchief and appears in the box on top of the 50p pieces. Then both the 50p pieces and the 1p vanish from the box and re-appear in the handkerchief.
METHOD.
The box used is the George Boston combination box which consists of a 'German' or 'Foxy' coin box with an Okito box lid. A 50p piece is fixed into the recessed bottom with BLU-TACK and a 1p is fixed in the same way onto the 50p. Now, when the box is upside down, it appears to be full of 50p pieces with a 1p resting on top.
Only two moves are made with the box and both are standard Okito box moves.
Start with the box prepared as described. In the box are four 50p pieces, on top of them is the 1p, and the box is closed by the lid. A handkerchief is in your left coat or trouser pocket.
STEP 1. Show the box in your left hand. With the right hand, take off the lid and put it on the table. Next take the 1p, display it and put it also on the table. Then dump the 50p pieces out of the box into the right hand, taking care not to flash the gimmicked bottom of the box.
Count the 50p pieces back into the box, which is on the tips of the fingers of the left hand.
With the right hand, pick up the lid and place it on the box, turning the box over as you do so under the cover of the right hand, by bending the left fingers inwards. As a result, the lid goes on the bottom of the box - Photograph 1.
"For the first part of this trick, I shall use the 1p and a handkerchief". As you say this, lift the box with the right hand, leaving the 50p pieces in the left finger-palm - Photograph 2.
The left hand goes to your pocket for the handkerchief, while the right hand puts the box on the table. As far as you are concerned, the trick is nearly over now, although to the audience it has hardly started.
Show the handkerchief, open it and spread it over your palm-up left hand. The 50p pieces are held by the two middle fingers but if the thumb, first and little fingers are spread widely it will appear through the handkerchief that your hand is open - Photograph 3. Pick up the 1p in your right hand and appear to put it on the handkerchief and close your left hand round it, through the handkerchief. Use any vanish which leaves the 1p finger-palmed in the right hand - the 'pinch' vanish is suitable - Photograph 4.
Blow on the handkerchief and open your left hand (returning to the position with first and fourth fingers extended) to show that the 1p has vanished. With the right hand, lift off the lid of the coin box to show the 1p apparently resting on top of the 50p pieces.
STEP 2. "The second part of the trick is more difficult. I shall extract the 50p pieces from the box and pass them into the handkerchief". Although not strictly necessary, it is a good thing at this point to take the handkerchief by a corner with the right hand and shake it out. The left hand, of course, returns to the ordinary finger-palm position. Then the handkerchief is once more spread over the left hand.
With the right hand, replace the lid on the coin box then make a motion of removing something from the box and throwing it at the handkerchief. Grasp the finger-palmed 50p pieces through the handkerchief between right fingers and thumb, turn the right hand palm up and with the left hand, throw the handkerchief back to reveal the 50p pieces - Photograph 5. The action is the same as Jack Chanin's coin production from a handkerchief (the T.V. Surprise). The 50p pieces should be fanned as they are brought into view.
Drop the 50p pieces into the left hand and put them on the table. Say, "While I'm about it, I'll extract the 1p too". Again make a motion of removing something from the box and throwing it at the handkerchief, this time with the left hand. Then grasp the finger-palmed
1p through the handkerchief and bring it into view, again using the Chanin moves described above - Photograph 6. Take the lp from the handkerchief with the right hand and put it on the table. The handkerchief is left spread over the left hand.
Finally, pick up the box, hold it about four inches above the left palm and let the box drop out of the lid in such a way as to make a half turn before landing mouth up on the handkerchief. Show the box empty, put the 50p pieces and 1p back into it, close it with