Magical Originalities
Ernest E. Noakes
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The TambourineFOR those performers who work the tambourine for finish of handkerchief act, I now explain my "fake and loader." Underneath the table is a bracket or adjustable shelf which can be raised or lowered, and travels in and out. This is accomplished by having a "T" piece to travel up and down the stem of the table-stand, with a thumbscrew to fix it at any height from beneath table top. Projecting from the "T" is a short length of rod, for the shelf to run in and out on. The shelf has a metal saddle screwed to it, with a thumb-screw to tighten it up on, and the shelf can then, be adjusted at any position on the rod. The shelf is fixed so that the fake for loading into the rings lies with a portion protruding from the rear of the table.
The fake is made by cutting two discs of tin, equal to the internal diameter of smallest tambourine ring and of a loose fit. They both have a circular portion cut out from the middle (resembling, at this point of existence, a large Magic Circle badge). A strip of tin is now fixed round the discs, the discs being about 3/4 inch apart, forming a hollow flat cylinder. This fake is covered with cloth to keep it from talking. Into the fake is pleated the silk flags to be produced, each flag having its last corner attached to the next flag (by the twist as mentioned for the handkerchiefs). I get half a dozen flags of a large size into a fake for 8-inch rings. (The rings are 8 inch in diameter.)
Having the loaded fake on shelf, the rings are shown and one tambourine made up, but the paper is "accidentally" broken, for misdirection. In making up the tambourine the second time, the inner ring is thrown down upon the table, the sheet of paper placed on it and the outer ring then fixed on, and in lifting the tambourine up the fingers also grasp the fake and it falls naturally into position.
The unnecessary portions of paper are now trimmed off and the performer passes his wand through the tambourine to show that it is quite free from deception! The first flag is now pulled through, leading the tip of the next one into the opening. As the flags are worked out, one or two are placed over a chair back, where a further load is suspended, and the last two flags over the table, so that the performer can lay the tambourine down on it at the finish beside them. This method not only saves the expense of coils, but has a more pleasing effect.
Before finishing my chat about handkerchiefs, I should like to say a word or two about a dyeing handkerchief trick that I have performed to many conjurers to prove what can be done in this line without the use of a fake. I openly push in the three handkerchiefs, one at a time into the tube, and produce the other three dyed handkerchiefs from the other end, but, as I have stated, no fake is used. The three "dark" handkerchiefs are palmed in my left hand, in which I also hold the paper to be formed into the tube. In rolling up the paper to form the tube, these three dark handkerchiefs are left inside. Now taking the first "light" handkerchief, I apparently posh it into the tube, but really by means of my two fingers, roll it into a ball and pull in to my right palm, and with my right hand take hold of the tip of the first "dark" handkerchief, pull it out of the tube, and in laying it down on the table or chair back servante the light handkerchief. This may seem an awkward method at first sight, but those of my friends who have seen me work it, were quite pleased with the moves.
In a drawing-room where a large covered arm-chair is at hand it is an excellent cover, for when you lay the dyed handkerchief on the top of the chair, the other handkerchief is released from the hand and falls noiselessly to the floor. The secret of success is to form a sort of bag with the centre of the handkerchief as it is pushed into the tube, and let the four corners be then placed in. This permits the rolling up of the handkerchief with the fingers inside the tube, and in palming out the handkerchief the edge of the tube helps to force the handkerchief into the palm. If you doubt the "effect," just try it for yourself, and you will be surprised with what "cleanness" the trick can be done. The three "dark" handkerchiefs can now be vanished by means of the "Noakes Vanish," which I will explain in my next chapter.
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