The Genii Forum

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if the clear balloons one finds in a well-stocked party shop work for this effect, or must they be ordered from a magic dealer?

Thanks,

Damian

almost any balloon will work.

Great, thanks for that.
Damian

DrDanny wrote: almost any balloon will work...

Not quite true: some balloons are just too thin for the effect; like water balloons, some animal twisting balloons, mylar balloons and cheap Dollar Store balloons. Good quality latex balloons are best, but buy a small quantity to test just to make sure. Sometimes underinflating a balloon helps make an unworkable balloon into a "maybe" workable balloon.

Excellent, thanks, Spellbinder.

Also if it's not transparent you lose the audience seeing the needle penetrate through the balloon.

Right. I noticed that on the clip of Earl Presto Johnson on youtube. But then he rotates the balloon on the spindle, and it's pretty neat looking...

Do any of you know who invented Needle Through Balloon?

Bart Whaley says Canadian magician T.S. Ransom in 1954 was the first to stick a balloon with a needle without popping it. Passing a needle completely through the balloon was first marketed as The Pincushion Balloons in 1956."

References:
Ransom in New Phoenix (1954), 51;
Crimmins in Hugards Magic Monthly (Jun 1956), 440.

Correct! Tom Ransom of Toronto.

If you have to use a thin balloon, sneak a little scotch tape on the sections where you will be penetrating. It will give the latex a little extra strength and keep it from popping.