Abbott Magic

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

682 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 8, Number 1 - January 1968 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Edward Marlo
6. Cover Portrait - Edward Marlo ... The Man - by Jimmy Nuzzo
1. Harold Martin Testimonial - J. Gary Bontjes
1. Contents
2. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
6. Deep Sleight Technique - Edward Marlo
   • Double Stop (Marlo Drop Sleight)
   • The Four Ace Stop
   • An Observation
7. Tops Sends Get-Well Wishes To
   • Don Sweet
   • Thomas P. Molloy
8. Fox Tales - Karrell Fox
   • 5 to 2 & 3 Dollar Bills gag
9. For Women Only - Frances...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

639 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 7, Number 1 - January 1967 - 56 pages
1. Cover - John Daniel
5. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
5. Tops Picture Museum (See Back Cover) - The Great Blackstone
5. Contents
6. Cover Portrait - Jon Daniel's World of Fantasy - by Neil Foster
8. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
10. Patter & Presentation - Gene Gordon
    • Patter for Die Box
    • From the Stuart Cramer Notebook
      • Patter for Torn & Restored Newspaper
      • Patter for the Money Maker
11. Letter to the Editor - by Windy Higgins...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

631 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 6, Number 1 - January 1966 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Toreno & Guro
4. Cover Portrait - Toreno & Guro - by Finn Huger
5. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
5. Contents
6. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
8. For Women Only - Frances Ireland Marshall
10. The Collector's Page - poster - Kar-Mi - Selma
11. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
    • Dear Professor - Prof. S. C. Uttlebutt
12. Tops Photo Quiz & Answer to Last Month's Photo Quiz
12. Poet's Corner - Marie Antoinette Dornfield
    • Happiness ... Is Being...

Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

637 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 5, Number 1 - January 1965 - 48 pages
1. Cover - Walter Zaney Blaney and Joyce
1. Contents
2. Cover Portrait - Walter Zaney Blaney - by Dave Hoy
3. Magic on Today - Neil Foster
4. The Al Wheatley [Chop Chop] I Knew - Jay Marshall
5. Final Curtain
   • Edward M. Massey
6. The Collector's Page - photo - Cardini
7. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
8. Final Curtain
   • Milt Levy
8. Toots from the Calliope - L. E. Roba Collins
9. Fox Tales - Karrell Fox
9. Poet's Corner - Marie Dornfield
   • Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ...

January 1964 - December 1964
& Tops 1964 Trick Annual
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

659 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 4, Number 1 - January 1964 - 44 pages
1. Cover - Robert Orben
2. Tribute Page for John Fitzgerald Kennedy
3. Tops Silver Anniversary
3. Tops Anniversary Contest
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - Robert Orben - by Jack Bolter
6. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The Senator" Crandall
8. The Collector's Page - poster - Harry Houdini - King of Cards
9. Entre Nous - Dorny (Werner Dornfield)
   • Prestidigitorial Pot Pouri
10. Poet's Corner...

January 1963 - December 1963
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

597 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 3, Number 1 - January 1963 - 44 pages
1. Cover - Miss America and James Steele
2. Routines & Ideas - Neil Foster
3. Poet's Corner - Marie Antoinette Dornfield
   • Happy New Year!
3. Tops Photo Quiz & Answer to Last Month's Photo Quiz
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - James Steele
5. Final Curtain
   • Ben Chavez - by Neil Foster
6. Subtle Problems You Will Do - John Braun & Stewart Judah
   • Judah Monte
8. It's a Mystery to Me - Clarke "The...

January 1962 - December 1962
& Tops 1962 Trick Annual
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

605 pages

1. The New Tops - Volume 2, Number 1 - January 1962 - 48 pages
1. Cover - Werner "Dorny" Dornfield
2. Letters to the Editor
3. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
3. Contents
4. Cover Portrait - "Dorny" Werner C. Dornfield - by Frances Ireland Marshall
6. Subtle Problems You Will Do - John Braun & Stewart Judah
   • The Matches, The Silk, and Poof!
7. The Judah "Four Aces"
8. A Royal Marriage - Joseph M. White
9. Four Change Cigarettes To Cards - Allen...

January 1961 - December 1961
Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company
Recil Bordner, Publisher
Neil Foster Editor

591 pages

1. Pre-Publication Advertising sheet
1. The New Tops - Volume 1, Number 1 - January 1961 - 56 pages
1. Cover - Sid Lorraine
2. Cover Portrait - Sid Lorraine
3. Contents
4. Sketch of Percy Abbott
5. In Memoriam - re: Percy Abbott - 1886-1960
6. Gone, But Never Forgotten ... Howard Melson - by Gene Gordon
8. From the Editor's Desk - Neil Foster
9. Doves Doves Doves - Jack LaWain
12. Oriental Cabinets - W. W. Durbin
14. Snap It - Mike Miller
16. Tops & Bottoms - Don Alan
    • How to Make a Million...

Tops was the house organ of the Abbott Magic & Novelty Co. Percy Abbott, the company founder and owner, served as the magazine's first editor as well as publisher. In 1940, Howard "Mel" Melson, Abbott's staff artist, began editing Tops, and continued doing so until his death in 1957, when the magazine ceased publication. It was succeeded in 1961 by The New Tops.

January 1957 - December 1957
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

93 pages - 3 Issues

1. The "Tops" - Volume 22, Number 1 - January 1957 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Percy Abbott
1. Contents
2. Reversed Six card Repeat (111) - Simplified Method - Roxy
3. Report On Chicago Magigals Assembly No. 9 - Sylvia Smith
3. re: The Great Levante
3. Dramatic Living and Dead Test
4. Thimbles, Thimbles - Again and Again - Roxy
4. re: Monk Watson
4. Ring-String - Ray Hutchinson
4. re: Chami Kkan
5. Amazing Card Miracles - Mahendra, The Mystic (F. B. Sterling)
   • Design for Wrist Watch Gimmic ...

January 1956 - December 1956
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

389 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 21, Number 1 - January 1956 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Mel
1. Contents
2. Bank Night Supreme - Roxy
3. Aero Silks - Bert Douglas
4. Another Thumb Tie
   • Patter and Presentation
5. Canary Asrah - George Jo0hnstone
5. re: feather flower cleaning
6. A Rising Card Climax - Bert Douglas
6. Cards, Nuts and Bill
7. Rapid Flight Cards - Karson
7. A Tip, Magi and Hypnotists
8. Bitzemall Egg Bag - Roxy
8. Blindfold Magic
9. All Do As I Do
9. re: Mrs. Audrey Guido blindfold drive
10. Encyclopedia...

January 1955 - December 1955
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 20, Number 1 - January 1955 - 32 pages
2. Floating Handkerchief
3. Perfect Transpo-Card - Rovelli (Tenente Jose Silvestre)
4. Silks in Chick-A-Dee - Anthony Dunn
4. Useful Cigarette Sleights - Roxy
   • Number One
   • Number Two
   • Number Three
5. Another Torn Restored Newspaper - Wilford Hutchinson
5. Penetra - Roxy
6. Tricks of East Indian Magicians - Part 3 - Eddie Joseph
   • The Cups and Balls
     • The Sleights
     • The Routine
   • The Egg Bag
10. Handkerchief-Rope...

January 1954 - December 1954
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

389 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 19, Number 1 - January 1954 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Mel
1. Contents
2. Ultra Four-Ace Trick - Billy Bell
2. Fifty-Fifty - S. Stern
   • Second Method
   • Suggestions for Preparing Props
4. Drum Head Tube Routine - James Reneaux
5. Simple Memorization
6. re: Goodliffe
6. re: Monk Watson
6. The Spider and the Pips - Lu Brant
8. Predicto - A Super Mental Card Test - Roxy
8. Some Patter in Rhyme
   • Dyeing or Color Changing
   • For Children's Shows
   • For Dyeing Other Colors ...

January 1953 - December 1953
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 18, Number 1 - January 1953 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Percy Abbott
1. Contents
2. Magical Card Finesse - Jerry Hornak
   • Sleights with Cards
     • A Rare Control
     • A Succeeding Control
     • Riffle Strip Control
     • Three Controls
       • Basic Move
       • 1 - Side Slip Action
       • 2 - Palm Slip Action
       • 3 - The Crimp Action
     • Ace Control
4. Remember Twenty-Two - Dr. Maurice
5. Some Magical Twists - V. C. Kitchen

January 1952 - December 1952
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 17, Number 1 - January 1952 - 32 pages
1. With the Editor - Mel
1. Contents
2. A Novel Ring Release - Oswald Harrington
2. Three Minds and a Card - A Different Working Method - Roxy
3. Bird Cage in Square Circle - Louis Ward
4. A Flash Billiard Ball Sleight - Cleveland Miller, Jr.
4. Color Changing Balls - Prince Drakon
5. Two E-Z Card Sleights - Roxy
5. Astrologia - Howard P. Albright - continued
   • Sealed Message Reading Routine No. 2
   • Prompter-Cards for Use in Connection...

January 1951 - December 1951
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 16, Number 1 - January 1951 - 32 pages
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Lota-Gorda - George F. Wright
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter - Good Wishes
5. Matching the Card - Carl C. Newbold
6. Spotting the Spot - Eddie Joseph
6. Envelope and Handkerchief - Augustus Rapp
7. Coin and Matchbox Effect - Joseph Ovette
7. [Stewart] James Case Dismissed
8. So It's Laughs You Want! - Bob Brethen
   • Fun with Talking Teeth
   • The Party - A Skit with Talking Teeth
9. A Card in Balloon Idea - Joseph...

January 1950 - December 1950
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 15, Number 1 - January 1950 - 32 pages
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Wright's Steal Pass - George F. Wright
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • Death of Tom Bowyer
   • reviews
     • Mental Magic - Al Baker
   • Origin of the Center Tear
   • Questions and Answers
9. cartoon - Otho Blake
9. A Close-Up Fooler - Clettis V. Musson
9. Passed Through a Flame - Ken de Courcy
10. For Vents Only - George McAthy
    • Dialog - Ed Hall ...

January 1949 - December 1949
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 14, Number 1 - January 1949 - 32 pages
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. An Appreciation! - Percy Abbott - re: Howard Melson
4. A Toast to the Flag
4. New Indianapolis Store Open
4. re: Edgar Bergen & Jim Sherman
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • reviews
     • new effect from Eddie Joseph
     • Forbidden Wisdom - Howard Albright
     • I.O.U. - C. V. Tebbetis
     • Six Foolers with a Miniature Skull - Eddie Joseph - re; Skullo
     • Laugh Card ...

January 1948 - December 1948
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

393 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 13, Number 1 - January 1948 - 32 pages
1. Cover - Bill Baird
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Bill Baird - "BB" for Billiard Balls!
4. Cook Heads Montana Magi
4. re: Dr. Aaron Weiss
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • Questions and Answers
6. Vancouver Magic Circle
6. re: Herb Antes
6. re: J. C. Bisbee
6. Thought Lost (or The Flying Signature) - R. F. Sparks
7. Features Abbott Effects - photo - re: Tommy Windsor
7. Panama Rope Trick Idea - Carroll...

January 1947 - December 1947
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

393 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 12, Number 1 - January 1947 - 32 pages
1. Cover - Kathryne Campbell
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Kathryne Campbell - Vent with Loring!
4. Colorado Magicians Honor [J. B.] Bobo
4. re: John Musselman
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • reviews
     • You Don't Have To Be Crazy Bit It Helps - Francis Ireland
     • Million-Dollar Bridge and Poker Demonstartions - Thompson
     • Dope Sheet - Tommy Windsor
     • 12 Ways to Use The Comedy Lit Cigar...

January 1946 - December 1946
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 11, Number 1 - January 1946 - 32 pages
1. Cover - Duke Stern
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Duke Stern - Gay Musicican-Magician
4. Ideas on "Repeat-It" - J. Milton Crowson
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • reviews
     • More Tips on Tricks - Milbourne Christopher
     • Hugard's Magic Monthly, Volumes 1 & 2 - bound volume
     • My Best - J. G. Thompson, Jr., compiler
     • The Owl - periodical
   • Questions and Answers
7. re:...

January 1945 - December 1945
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

385 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 10, Number 1 - January 1945 - 32 pages
1. Cover - Cazan
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Cazan - The Girl Houdini!
4. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • reviews
     • The Trick Brain - Dariel Fitzkee
     • The Modern Magi, November
     • Card Mastery - Michael MacDougall
   • Questions and Answers
7. Magic Promotes War Drives
8. Drink Your Milk - Gene Gloye
9. Stoogeless Tie Trick - Sheldon Levy
9. Or Would You Rather Be a Dope? - McAthy's...

January 1944 - December 1944
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

389 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 9, Number 1 - January 1944 - 32 pages
1. Cover - Joe Ovette
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. The Great Ovette - Nuff Said!
4. Thanks for Holiday Greetings - Percy Abbott
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • reviews
     • Tarbell Course, Volume 3
     • Fleming Book Reviews No. 50
     • Hugard's Magic Monthly, December
   • Questions and Answers
7. re: Bob Haxton
7. re: John J. Oakes
8. "Magic on Broadway" - Al Minder
9. Talk About Philadelphia...

January 1943 - December 1943
Abbott's Magic Novelty Company
Percy Abbott, Publisher and Editor
Howard Melson "Mel", Editor

393 pages

1. The "Tops" - Volume 8, Number 1 - January 1943 - 32 pages
1. Cover - R. S. Glover
3. With the Editor - Mel
3. Contents
4. Meet Professor Glover, M. M.
4. Another Milk Vanish Idea - "Hen" Fetsch
5. Sid Lorraine's Chatter
   • Tarbell Course, Volume 2
   • Miracle Methods Number Three - book - Hugrad & Braue
   • Easy Magic - "Windy Higgins" with Paul Stadelman
   • Questions and Answers
9. Karrell Fox Serves Magic
10. re: Dell O'Dell
10. Magician Plays Alaskan Circuit -...