Needle thru Balloon Question

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Damian Odess-Gillett
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Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Damian Odess-Gillett » May 24th, 2009, 9:32 am

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

DrDanny
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby DrDanny » May 24th, 2009, 11:23 am

almost any balloon will work.

Damian Odess-Gillett
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Damian Odess-Gillett » May 25th, 2009, 12:37 am

Great, thanks for that.
Damian

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Spellbinder
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Spellbinder » May 25th, 2009, 6:16 am

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.
Phineas Spellbinder
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Damian Odess-Gillett
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Damian Odess-Gillett » May 25th, 2009, 8:38 am

Excellent, thanks, Spellbinder.

Tom Dobrowolski
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Tom Dobrowolski » May 25th, 2009, 12:16 pm

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

Damian Odess-Gillett
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Damian Odess-Gillett » May 26th, 2009, 10:04 am

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...

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 26th, 2009, 8:49 pm

Do any of you know who invented Needle Through Balloon?
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Joe Pecore
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Joe Pecore » May 26th, 2009, 9:21 pm

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.
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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 27th, 2009, 9:13 pm

Correct! Tom Ransom of Toronto.
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Kent Wong
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Re: Needle thru Balloon Question

Postby Kent Wong » May 28th, 2009, 12:36 am

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.


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