Ropes, Ribbons, Strings & Reels

A free e-manuscript that explores an age old method to show the power of scripting and analysis.

One of the joys of magic is going through old and dusty ideas and actually finding usable material. This is one of those.

An old, old trick - routined, and scripted - that will fit into a parlor or stage act with almost no difficulty. A trick that - while not a world-beater - will still fool and entertain your audience. A trick that you can keep in your act for those days where you need just a couple of minutes more material.

This ebook gives you every line, joke, piece of timing, setup,...

How to tie a vanishing figure 8 knot and a script that makes the process more enjoyable and entertaining.

Everyone probably knows how to vanish an overhand knot, or even a Chefalo knot. But how many know how to vanish a figure 8 knot?

How to tie a true figure 8 knot as well as the false figure 8 knot are both shown and are virtually identical. The script provided shows how it can stand on it's own, but it would also fit nicely into a routine with knots. An audience member can even help you tie the knot, and they'll be none the wiser.

Best of all, it's free.

1st edition 2018, 20 pages....

Jean Hugard describes in this booklet a complete routine consisting of 6 effects. He starts with a card trick, the piano card trick, and continues with a series of rope effects: production of a rope six feet long; doubling the rope; trick with two ropes; triple cut and restored rope; comedy explanation of vanishing knots.

The value of this booklet is in the routining itself. Hugard has used this routine many times with great success. The effects follow in a logical succession each building on the other.

Paul Fleming wrote:

You can carry a piece (or more) of rope in your pocket, and use it to perform some amazing magic for an intimate audience of a couple of spectators, or on a stage for an audience of hundreds. There are hundreds of tricks you can perform with a piece of rope. The most famous of these is the Cut & Restored Rope trick, where a piece of rope is cut into two or more pieces, and magically restored.

But there are many others, where knots magically appear or vanish from a length of rope, rings or handkerchiefs penetrate through a length of rope, or a rope penetrates through your knee or neck. There...

This routine has multiple effects. You begin with a length of rope...showing it freely. Instantly a knot appears on one end. You clearly untie it, but a moment later another knot appears. You clearly untie it again but...yes you are right...another knot appears. You repeat this effect again and again. At the end you have snapped five knots in all.

Now you borrow a finger ring and execute Grant's "Poor Man's Monkey Bar" in which you tie three knots on the rope with the ring knotted to the one on the right. Then you put the rope behind your back and pretend that the ring "magically" pass...

Link a rubber band on a signed card frame with a flash of fire. Give this impossible object away as a souvenir. The gimmick is exceedingly clever and not too difficult to make, but will require some care and patience.

1st edition 2014, length 13 minutes

Harlan Tarbell said to this publication: "The greatest work ever published on Linking Rings." Jack's long cherished secrets are yours in his ring through ring, ring through arms, special three-ring routine, a.s.o.

On top of the linking ring instructions Jack Miller also shares with you a separate chapter on ring and rope penetrations. These latter methods are so ingenious and puzzling as to seem uncanny, and are rarely seen performed.

1st edition 1945, 32 pages; 1st digital edition 2016, 30 pages.

This is the first official release U.F. Grant made in 1928. This came before his 45 Tricks, and was an amazing rope trick well before its time that introduced the magic world to the genius of Grant. Very rare and seldom seen.

EFFECT: A length of rope is displayed measuring about 3 feet long. This can be passed for examination before and after the trick. The rope is taken and the ends tied together. The performer states the rope can be cut and restored in any section of the loop. He proceeds to cut the rope 3 or 4 inches from the knot and then restoring it there. It is again cut; this time in the center...

What a fantastic effect, from the audience's standpoint. The performer exhibits a three foot length of rope and mysteriously begins to S-T-R-E-T-C-H it to an unbelievable 20 feet!

Completely revised, these greatly enlarged instructions include both of Milbourne Christopher's exclusive methods for stretching a rope to many times its original length. No hidden reels, magnets, or special rope needed. Regular, soft cotton magician's rope works fine for this. This will be a show-stopper in your act. Also makes a terrific introduction to a cut 'n restored or ring-on-rope routine.

1st edition...

Most magicians are aware of the classic "Jumping Rubber Band Trick." However, here's a script and easy method for a full story routine about the exploits and escapades of that world famous escape artist Harry Houdini who in this case completely disappears from your fingers and reappears where least expected. Included with this routine is the more deceptive technique where the rubber band is "set" using only one hand rather than the customary two-handed "get ready."

1st edition 2018, length 5 min

Table of Contents

3. Content

   Misdirection

4. Distraction
5. Simulation
5. Disguise

   String and Rope Tricks

6. The Coat and Tapes
9. The Cut and Restored String
11. The Human Cheese
13. The Thumb Tie
16. The Golden Apple
18. The Travelling Knots
19. The Indistructible Rope

    The History of Magic (part 4)

23. Automatic Figures

1st edition 1931; 26 pages.

Many years ago Harry Anderson taught this effect to John Cornelius. Now John is teaching it to you. Two pieces of ropes are knotted together. Surprisingly the knot can be slid up and down completely fairly. And finally you open the knot and you have again two pieces of rope.

runtime 4min 35s

An eight phase rope routine, including sliding knots, jumping knots and cut and restored sequences.

To perform this routine, you will require no more than a piece of rope, about four feet long, and a shorter piece approximately six inches in length.

1st digital edition 2015, 10 pages.

Get the most from a classic trick. All you need is a single piece of rope (that can be borrowed) and you are always ready to entertain your audience. It packs so small but it plays so big. You can perform it close up or for a big audience.

"The Impossible Knot", originally called "G.W.Hunter's Puzzle Knot", was well-known to magicians fifty years ago but appears to have dropped out of use. This is a shame because it is easy to do, not well-known and, due to the method, almost impossible for a spectator to work out even when he is apparently shown how it is done. In short, it's a useful thing...

• The Unique Classic Reel
• The Unique Classic Locking Reel
• The Unique Classic Double Reel
• The Unique Classic Double Reel in a Wristwatch
• Ken Brooke's Method for the Serpent Silk

1st digital edition 2017, 8 pages photo illustrated.

Create your own custom versions of the popular cut and restored rope effect.

Dariel Fitzkee applied his world-renowned Trick Brain method to completely analyze and dissemble the Cut and Restored Rope effect into its basic components. Fitzkee's patient explanations and diagrams examine the six basic principles of all rope, cord and string effects, allowing the clever performer to pick and choose the methods that best fit his or her performing style to develop diabolically clever and unique rope routines.

Along the way, you'll learn the secrets to several past and present commercial rope effects that...

Originally this book was titled Tricks with Hair. Twenty-Six outstanding tricks, tips, and secrets that enable you to perform some of the most baffling effects in all of magic!

What is invisible thread? New chapters only in this edition reveal the secrets of invisible thread and even how to make your own. These secrets have been jealously guarded by top close-up and stage performers, as well as magic dealers ... until now.

Today, U. F. Grant is recognized as one of the most phenomenal creators of baffling mysteries. His original manuscript has been updated and packed with new information...

A visual penetration of earphones through your T-shirt.

• Very easy to learn
• Perform it surrounded
• No gimmicks
• Resets in less than 10 seconds

1st edition 2014, length 3 min

A parlor sized ring with a stage sized routine.

This is a compact ring and string routine which uses some of the most visual moves one can do with these props. For many years I have performed a very similar routine. I used a red cotton ribbon instead of the standard white rope, because a ribbon lies flat on the ring and is wider than a rope allowing for some sequences a stronger illusion.

1st edition 2003; 10 pages.

The magician pulls out a six foot piece of rope, pulls it up in the center and clearly cuts the rope into two pieces. He then picks up the bottom ends, brings them to the top and the rope fully restores. He then grabs the rope by the middle and cuts it in half again. He trims off the pieces at the top and the rope restores a second time.

He folds the rope into thirds and cuts it at the top and bottom. He clearly counts off the three separate and equal pieces from one hand to the other. With all the pieces held in one hand he brings the bottom ends to the top and individually pulls out three...

Once upon a time I saw a magician do a routine with three ropes hanging from a stick. At the end of one rope there was a silk. He made the silk to magically jump between the ropes. This was amazing. I wanted to do this, but how? Then I invented this routine that's very impressive. Charles Bertram's old routine "Here, There and Everywhere" has the same effect but the method is very different, my method has the big advantage that you can let the spectator check the rope and knots out before the magic happens! Which makes this an impossible illusion. One nice aspect of Jump-O-Ring is that you can...

From the introduction:

This trick was on the market about 10 years ago. If you have one and no directions, here are the original directions. If you would like to make this up, you can make it from a metal slinky you can buy in most toy stores. Very easy to make, and complete directions on how to gimmick a Slinky are included.

Just when you thought every possible penetration effect had been invented, comes this new novel idea. Magician patters that when he was a small child he couldn't afford to buy magic props, hence he did magic with his toys. He brings out a regular Slinky toy and shows it to be the toy we all...

A reel is a tool which enables many surprising effects: Cards will rise, silks will come to life, small items will vanish, and more.

Albenice reveals his famous Serpent Silk, wherein a scarf, twisted rope fashion and tied in a knot visibly unties itself. More than 25 different effects are described, including penetrations, color changes, knot effects, and much more.

Also in the Addenda will be found the complete manuscript of "The Penetrable Silk" by Spalding, which was originally published in The Sphinx in the form of a series of articles. Spalding independently developed a whole series of penetration...

In this download, Doan teaches you three very magical, impromptu effects using just one rubber band.

BUDDHISM - Wrap the band around your fingers and make it jump through them.

POILOCK - The band on your index finger jumps to your middle finger instantly.

SINGL8 - Visually form an 8 with the band within a second.

All of these amazing effects are taught in slow motion and are easy to understand. Download the video and start learning now.

1st edition 2020, length 6:10

This practical method of Cliff Osman can be performed anywhere and is easy to do. The magician's right thumb is tied with a long piece of thick string; two or more knots being used. The left thumb is then bound tightly to the right thumb and the ends of string tied. The string is drawn skin tight around each thumb and all knots are genuine. Now, with his thumbs thus tightly bound together, the performer is able to perform a series of amazing tests. Instantly link your arms with those of the spectators, catch solid hoops or rings on your tied arms, pass your hands "through" table legs, etc.,...

Three professional effects with a finger ring and a rubber band.

Paul takes three well known rubber band effects, one is the popular "Crazy Man's Handcuffs", and shares his touches and improvements. Paul is not teaching each of these routines but rather focuses on his contributions.

Recorded live at the Convention at the Capital 2001.

runtime: 6min 32s

This is a wonderfully visual and very simple routine. No gimmicks required. One simple move does the trick.

All you need is a wand, stick or pencil, a piece of rope and a borrowed finger ring. You ask two spectators to assist you. Rope, ring and wand are examined. Then the ring is fairly and openly put on the center of the rope. The magician covers the ring with his hand, each spectator holds with one hand an end of the rope and with the other hand an end of the wand. The ring magically jumps from the rope onto the wand. Voila!

Simple to perform and suitable for the beginner.

runtime:...

This is a wonderful classic cut and restored rope routine performed to a lovely script. The rope is cut and restored twice and in the end the rope vanishes only leaving a short piece behind in the spectator's hand.

runtime: 10min 22s

Talk about packing small and playing big, this is the ultimate. You can carry a piece of rope with you and fill a stage if you wish. But this is not just for stage, it plays equally as well for parlor or club shows. This is the famous trick performed by both father and son, Blackstone's Comedy Rope Trick that always brought the house down with laughter.

You will learn every beautiful move and every comedy touch of the master magicians and every innermost thought that made the trick famous. You get detailed illustrated directions enabling you to perform this in your show. Your hands have been...

"WTF, some witchcraft?? I can't figure it out. Amazing!!" - Mario Tarasini

• No gimmick used
• Do with any size (within reason) rubber band
• Watch your angles. This looks great from certain directions, but you are exposed from others. Certainly not a trick to be done surrounded.

1st...

A complete routine that will captivate your audience from start to finish. If you never buy another rope effect, experts agree, this is the one to use. To make it easier to learn this beautiful routine, Nelson Hahne, one of the best magic illustrators in the business, was commissioned to provide the 53 pen-and-ink drawings that accompany the text.

Here's a partial listing of what's included:

• Hull's Famous Vanishing Knot
• The Disappearing Square Knot
• The Hindu Knot
• The Magic Shoelaces
• The Cut and Restored Rope
• The Stretching Rope--And A Surprise Ending
• Hull's Rope Through Neck
• Three...

An approximately 3 ft. length of rope is shown and pulled between the hands, it's a solid length of rope, - it is not made of elastic, it doesn't stretch and yet suddenly it begins to get longer and longer ... 5ft., 8ft., 10 ft., - yes, it stretches and stretches until it is 30 feet or longer.

A wonderful eye-popping effect that forms a perfect preface to other rope mysteries. In Milbourne Christopher's original effect no special gimmicks are used, just a rope and the special method of preparation and handling.

THE PLUS: In addition to all this, an alternative handling is given which allows the effect...

A unique cut and restored rope effect.

• no weird loop in the hand - just cut the rope in the center as a layperson would
• both cut ends are shown separately and apart
• no knots or fumbling
• the rope is snapped like a whip and is fully restored (other endings possible)
• it can be used in another effect or passed out

You get two floating object performances by Peki. One is the fun "Drunken Bottle Cork" and the other a poetic "Heart in Love" routine.

Please remember that you will only get the performances and no explanations. But if you know Peki's thread and method these two routines serve as further examples of what is possible with such a wonderful close-up floatation method. Please refer to Dance of the Butterfly, The Dancing Handkerchief or The Fairytale of the Silver Pearl for details on the thread and the method used by Peki.

runtime: 2min 31s

Magic literature contains a myriad of methods for doing ring on string effects. Many of these involve clever sleights or duplicate rings. The cool thing about this method is that it does not use any gimmicked cord, duplicate rings or any type of sleights. It can even be done with a borrowed ring. The incredible thing about this method is that it is done under test conditions with your wrists tied behind your back!

The performer's wrists are tied behind his back using an examined three-foot piece of string or cord. The ends of the cord are tied to each of the performer's wrists. A spectator...

This is not your typical grandma's (ala Grandma's necklace) version of rope through body. Instead, this is ropes through body on steroids. It uses no gimmick rope either and everything can be examined. This is an illusion that fits into a briefcase and yet fills the stage with three spectators and yourself. Talk about playing big and packing small, this is the ultimate. It's based on an historical fact that pirates use to torture people for both information and for the entertainment of the crew. This is a historical fact that makes this version of the trick not only logical, but historically...

If you are a magician or psychic entertainer looking for something different and exciting to add to your act, then your search is over!

The Spirit Rope Tie, long a staple of bogus spirit séances, offers the clever performer a fantastic array of performance possibilities for injecting fun, humor or mystery into his or her show. Whether played "straight" as a recreation of a vintage spirit séance, or as a comedic effect that gets funnier with each repetition, any one of the rope ties described in the ebook is strong enough to be a reputation maker for you.

Reilly doesn't make the reader...

This is an ebook that will not only amuse you, but it will show you how you can amuse your friends. In dozens of ways, it describes how paper and string can be put to interesting and sometimes astonishing use. If you start at page 1 and work your way to the end of the ebook, you will be rewarded by many hours of enjoyable recreation: but you will not be entirely satisfied until you have tried some of the tricks and puzzles on your friends.

• a Penny Puzzle
• The Paper Ladder
• The Palm Tree
• A Point About A Circle
• The New Square
• The Five Squares Again
• Quartering Three-Quarters
• Splitting Up...

Many years ago, Ted Collins devised the Panama Rope Trick. With this trick he won the cup for the best rope trick of the I.B.M. Convention at Fort Worth. A length of rope, that can be borrowed, is cut not one but three times and the four pieces tied together. Rope is now handed to a spectator and is completely restored. The routine is fully explained with a novel presentation by Ken de Courcy.

Now for two wonderful little-known variations. 'The Legs Of Man' by Vivian St. John. The idea is that a piece of rope is shown and tied so that it forms two circles. It is then cut in two places, then pulled through...

Keith Clark's Rope Royale is a beautiful bit of magic performed with the simplest of properties - a piece of soft rope and a pair of scissors. These props can be carried in the pocket, yet when the feat is performed by a true magician, it ranks in entertainment value with a stage illusion.

Paul Fleming wrote:

A different version of the Pitchman Act. This one is based on the tie salesman. Everyone has seen the booth where they sell the cheap ties be it a pushcart, folding suitcase, or a department store counter. The performer is loaded with tricks and gimmicks and things keep happening every time he shows a tie. The routine is full of comedy with a lot of surprises and really clever bits. You probably have the material among your tricks and can easily fix up the rest. The ebook covers every detail, with lots of illustrations.

1st digital edition 2014, 11 pages.

This is one of the best books by Houdini, because here he writes about something he really knows a lot about. With many of his escapes he had to be very familiar with the knots he was tied up. This book has many good illustrations and several photos where Houdini himself demonstrates certain ties. It is a great collector item as well as source of information. If you can only buy one book by Houdini, by this one.

1st edition, 1920, Will Goldston Limited, London; 80 pages.

4. Photograph - Ira E. Davenport and "Houdini".
5. Foreword
8. For Opening of Rope Act
11. A Simple Release
12. The Kellar Tie ...

This is the linking ropes on steroids. Imagine doing the linking ropes for real. I mean with three ungimmicked pieces of rope. NO MAGNETS, NO ROPE SNAPS, RUBBER CEMENT, HOOKS, OR FALSE COUNTS WITH THE LOOPS. Ropes actually link for real, no optical illusion that the ropes appear to be linked. Only three pieces of examined rope are used. No switches or extra hidden pieces of rope. Can be done in short sleeves, under any conditions. NO PULLS OR GIMMICKS OF ANY KIND. Learn it in just a few minutes. This is a new and improved revised handling by Devin Knight.

EFFECT: The performer (that's you)...