Many people have been asking about the origins of certain products recently released in the magic community. We have done some research and found that many items are not exactly what they seem. We advise all readers to respect the rights of the inventors, and buy only the "original items".
Penguin Magic say, in their 'Guidelines for Ethics and Innovation': "When bringing a new idea into the field, it's important to recognize where the inspiration and founding principles of the effect came from. Additionally, magical principles and sleights involved in the methods of magic tricks should be properly cited to give credit to the inventor. It is the responsibility of the inventor of a magic trick to properly cite all relevant sources of information. A properly cited effect will contain a reference to the original sources, principles, moves and sleights involved, who discovered them, as well as where the originating effects can be found (DVD, book, notes or retail product)."
We agree 100% with their statement, and that is the main purpose of this page. Many new effects do NOT cite their inspirations at all. Our rule of thumb as to whether a new item is a "copy" or not is to ask the creator "Where did you get your idea from?" Generally, if they released the trick to cash in on the popularity of another trick that is virtually identical, they won't be able to answer the question. Sometimes they will try to justify their "new item" by arguing that the other trick is not original at all and has its roots and inspirations in many older effects. Often this is true, however the other trick credits those effects and has usually spoken with the creators of the earlier effects to get permission to build on their research. The "new item" invariably has not.
This site will be undergoing constant modification and additions, so please feel free to email us with information, comments and corrections at tim@magicunlimited.com or for comments about a specific item simply leave your thoughts in the comments section under the relevant listing.
So go to it! Click on the name of any trick to learn more about it.
If you'd like to find out who invented some of the more popular effects in magic go here Inventors.
Hopefully, there will be no need for this page in the near future. Don't believe everything you read, educate yourself about the history of magic.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Iron Garrote Chain Through Neck
ORIGINAL ITEM
IRON GAROTTE CHAIN THROUGH NECK made by Peter Loughran
NEW ITEM
Chain Decapitator
Saturday, October 9, 2010
What is the purpose of this site?
Many people have been asking about the origins of certain products recently released in the magic community. We have done some research and found that many items are not exactly what they seem. We advise all readers to respect the rights of the inventors, and buy only the "original items".
Penguin Magic say, in their 'Guidelines for Ethics and Innovation': "When bringing a new idea into the field, it's important to recognize where the inspiration and founding principles of the effect came from. Additionally, magical principles and sleights involved in the methods of magic tricks should be properly cited to give credit to the inventor. It is the responsibility of the inventor of a magic trick to properly cite all relevant sources of information. A properly cited effect will contain a reference to the original sources, principles, moves and sleights involved, who discovered them, as well as where the originating effects can be found (DVD, book, notes or retail product)."
We agree 100% with their statement, and that is the main purpose of this page. Many new effects do NOT cite their inspirations at all. Our rule of thumb as to whether a new item is a "copy" or not is to ask the creator "Where did you get your idea from?" Generally, if they released the trick to cash in on the popularity of another trick that is virtually identical, they won't be able to answer the question. Sometimes they will try to justify their "new item" by arguing that the other trick is not original at all and has its roots and inspirations in many older effects. Often this is true, however the other trick credits those effects and has usually spoken with the creators of the earlier effects to get permission to build on their research. The "new item" invariably has not.
This site will be undergoing constant modification and additions, so please feel free to email us with information, comments and corrections at tim@magicunlimited.com or for comments about a specific item simply leave your thoughts in the comments section under the relevant listing.
So go to it! Click on the name of any trick to learn more about it.
If you'd like to find out who invented some of the more popular effects in magic go here Inventors.
Hopefully, there will be no need for this page in the near future. Don't believe everything you read, educate yourself about the history of magic.
Penguin Magic say, in their 'Guidelines for Ethics and Innovation': "When bringing a new idea into the field, it's important to recognize where the inspiration and founding principles of the effect came from. Additionally, magical principles and sleights involved in the methods of magic tricks should be properly cited to give credit to the inventor. It is the responsibility of the inventor of a magic trick to properly cite all relevant sources of information. A properly cited effect will contain a reference to the original sources, principles, moves and sleights involved, who discovered them, as well as where the originating effects can be found (DVD, book, notes or retail product)."
We agree 100% with their statement, and that is the main purpose of this page. Many new effects do NOT cite their inspirations at all. Our rule of thumb as to whether a new item is a "copy" or not is to ask the creator "Where did you get your idea from?" Generally, if they released the trick to cash in on the popularity of another trick that is virtually identical, they won't be able to answer the question. Sometimes they will try to justify their "new item" by arguing that the other trick is not original at all and has its roots and inspirations in many older effects. Often this is true, however the other trick credits those effects and has usually spoken with the creators of the earlier effects to get permission to build on their research. The "new item" invariably has not.
This site will be undergoing constant modification and additions, so please feel free to email us with information, comments and corrections at tim@magicunlimited.com or for comments about a specific item simply leave your thoughts in the comments section under the relevant listing.
So go to it! Click on the name of any trick to learn more about it.
If you'd like to find out who invented some of the more popular effects in magic go here Inventors.
Hopefully, there will be no need for this page in the near future. Don't believe everything you read, educate yourself about the history of magic.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Vanishing Champagne Bottle
ORIGINAL ITEM
VANISHING CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE made by Nielsen Magic
NEW ITEM
Vanishing Shampain Bottel
MESSAGE FROM NIELSEN MAGIC
We knew that sooner or later someone in either India or China would begin making the bottles. It was just a question of time.
From what we know origins of Vanishing Bottles come probably from the turn of the 20th century when craftmen were making shells that would be passed as a real bottle. I think Devant had a trick that involved this principle. The latex bottle was originated by Charles Weller, and he sold them in the from the 1950s through the 70s. As you know latex is a very rubbery and flexible material. The advantage of these bottles were that you could make the bottle either magically appear or vanish. The disadvantage was that because latex is porous, it is solid and does not look like glass. Another disadvantage of latex is that it decomposes with time, and a latex product only lasts a few years before it becomes brittle and crumbles.
In the 1960s Norm started experimenting with a coating for the latex, in order to make a bottle look like glass. He found a coating, and for a while he put out a latex Schlitz bottle. The coating was like a very shiny varnish that made his bottles look like they were made out of glass.
Norm temporarily sold the business in the late 60s due to his performing career, and bought it back in the mid 80s. It was at that time that he worked in trying to find a material that had enough transparency to look like a bottle. This material was vinyl. Since then Nielsen Magic has been manufacturing vinyl bottles. The advantage of vinyl is that it has a good degree of transparency, the bottles do have a glass-like finish and the material lasts indefinitely. The disadvantage is that they do not have the "appearing" qualities of latex because it takes longer for the material to recover its shape.
In my opinion, the Indian Bottle is a copy because they didn't even make an effort to offer any improvement on the item. They even copied the old color of our Champagne Bottles, and did not bother to fold the top edge of the bottle to round up the mouth.
The Champagne Bottles we are making now have a different color. Per multiple requests we changed the color to a very dark and deep green color - similar to that of a Dom Perignon color. That was a good move, as we have been unable to keep them in stock for long periods of time.
As far as our thoughts are concerned, all we can say is that we will just continue to do our own thing and offer the best quality product we can offer to the magic market. Customers will have to make a choice of which product they want to buy, and it is their support what will determine who will stay in or out of business. It is quite difficult to regulate the magic market.
This is a very small market, and it is costly to have any legal procedures (if they are any) for any infringements. I have always wondered what makes a magic trick original...Is it the effect, or the method? The audience only sees one effect, yet there can me so many methods to accomplish the desired result. Magicians come up with very clever and novel methods to accomplish a certain effect. From a layman's standpoint, it is still the same trick.
- Lupe, Nielsen Magic
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tarantula
ORIGINAL ITEM
TARANTULA by Yigal Mesika
TARANTULA by Yigal Mesika
Dear reader
My name is Yigal Mesika and I am the creator of the Tarantula, I'm righting to you in hopes you can assist me.
The Tarantula has been very successful and I'm pleased to report that I’m happy with every aspect of the product. When the unit was released in February of 09 it became well respected in the magic community.
Unfortunately due to its high profile it was copied in Asia 3 months after its release. The pirated version has been knocked off exactly in hopes to delusion buyers into thinking they are purchasing the original; I’m hoping you have not fallen victim to this scam.
As you may already know I have a patent, trademark and copywriting on the entire product. The people who sell even one fake unit are risking their business and reputation and I will not hesitate to take legal action against them.
I believe those who sell the fake item are harming the customer and destroying the magic industry. Luckily the quality of the devise is poor and with one picture we can instantly tell if it’s original or fake.
It will be much appreciated if you could take a picture or two of your Tarantula devise and send it to me at mesika@mac.com. In return for your help and attention, if we find that your devise is not original we will gladly exchange it for you for the authentic one. Even if you believe your unit to be original please still send us a picture so we may clarify its authenticity.
Your help will be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Yigal Mesika
Friday, September 4, 2009
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