The Amazing Ankh Penetration by Thomas Pohle, Jack Hughes
For 2020, Thomas Pohle has created a group of very pretty items known as the Egyptian Series, and this item is a beauty. The Amazing Ankh Penetration is Thomas Pohle's version of Jack Hughes' Think-A-Bell which itself was based on Norman's Exclusive Triangles.
It uses the same basic method, but Thomas flipped around when the magician has to hold the box and when not. What this means is that to show the Ankh's locked inside the magician has to "perform the move", and when you want to cause the penetration the magician does not have to "perform the move". Given that the box cannot be examined in either version I'm not sure if it makes a lot of difference, but I just wanted to mention it for historical completeness. Thomas may have had a reason for doing it this way, but I'm not aware of it.
There is no doubt Thomas' version looks very pretty and works very smoothly. It is a wonderful forgotten fooler from Jack Hughes and it is good to see this modern version from the German master craftsman who is still going strong after forty years of creating amazing, beautiful magic.
Effect:
Six cut-out Ankhs, each of a different color, are displayed and a spectator is allowed an entirely free choice of three of them by choosing matching colors from six disks. All of the Ankhs are now dropped into a box one at a time, each going into a separate compartment. A wand is now run through the box by means of the slots in the sides, which impales the Ankhs inside.
The wand is raised, lifting all the Ankhs from the box to show that this is actually so. They are lowered back into the box, wand removed, and thrust through once more by the performer; but on raising the wand this time it is seen that only three Ankhs are impaled and they are the selected ones!
The remaining three Ankhs are tipped from the box (or lifted out on the wand) with no clue as to how the penetration occurred.
Remember:
Here is Robert Harbin's routine that you might prefer: After the bells have been selected and all six placed in the box and the wand thrust through, the whole affair is covered with a handkerchief. The spectator is asked to grasp one end of the wand beneath the handkerchief, concentrate on the colours he selected and then raise the wand a little; the handkerchief is removed, but it is seen that all the bells are impaled. You admonish the spectator telling him that he is not concentrating sufficiently. The wand is removed, handkerchief replaced over the box and he is asked to thrust the wand through himself, performer raising the handkerchief on spectator's side for him to do so. He is asked to concentrate once more but harder! Of course, this time you have done the necessary and when the bells are raised again he has been successful, the three selected ones being impaled upon the wand.
- No magnets.
- No shells.
- The Ankhs and wands are solid.
Here is Robert Harbin's routine that you might prefer: After the bells have been selected and all six placed in the box and the wand thrust through, the whole affair is covered with a handkerchief. The spectator is asked to grasp one end of the wand beneath the handkerchief, concentrate on the colours he selected and then raise the wand a little; the handkerchief is removed, but it is seen that all the bells are impaled. You admonish the spectator telling him that he is not concentrating sufficiently. The wand is removed, handkerchief replaced over the box and he is asked to thrust the wand through himself, performer raising the handkerchief on spectator's side for him to do so. He is asked to concentrate once more but harder! Of course, this time you have done the necessary and when the bells are raised again he has been successful, the three selected ones being impaled upon the wand.
