History of This "Coin Shooter"

[mehtas]

Anybody knows the history of THIS "Coin Shooter" ???

The above one is bit modern looking. I have one that is MUCH older. I'm just wondering who used to make this gimmick. Bartl ??? Conradi ??? Vampire ????

Anybody knows the name of the gimmick as it appears in the catalogue ????


Thanks.

[Tom Stone]

Amazing! I once came up with something similar, but I had no idea that this gadget actually existed before that. Very interesting to see!

[Jonathan Townsend]

Impressive. Perhaps the owner will discuss his find at a future NY Coin Symposium.

[mehtas]

The page has vanished ???

Wonder why ???

KTmagic like to keep most of its completed auctions.

[Jim Martin]

Do you still have the page to re-post?

[mehtas]

Do you still have the page to re-post?

Sadly the page was removed by KT Magic.

[mehtas]

Strangely the page disappeared after I started this thread :confused:

[mehtas]

Its up again.

[Jim Riser]

I can not tell you about the history of the one on Kenna's auction but I believe Martin and Hammerton both had versions. There have been at least two others (slightly different design) on auctions the past few years. There are three problems with all of the ones that I have seen:

1) thickness of the gimmick
2) lack of sleeve guard covering
3) difficulty in loading coins

These three problems are easy to overcome especially if using a different design of feed spring for the coin stack. It is possible to make it so that coins can be loaded from the gimmick bottom.

It is a cute idea gimmick but not particularly practical as shown.
Jim

[Jim Riser]

For those interested in such coin shooters ...

http://jamesriser.com/Magic/CoinShooter/Apparatus.html

Any additional info or model photos would be appreciated. Enjoy.
Jim

[Jonathan Townsend]

There's a miniature version of this type item described in the Downs book. Has the option for attaching such a device to the table been explored? IE you trigger the device as you bring an openly displayed coin over to a glass or bucket and receive the load just after your hand is empty? Similarly for the inverted glass application closer to what's in the Downs book?

On a related note, is there a name for this age in magic when springs and machined metal like the lightning pull and windlass were made available?

[Curtis Kam]

What name would you suggest. JT? The "Bronze Age"?

Cf the current incarnation: http://www.stevensmagic.com/index.php?m ... _id=112408

[Jim Riser]

Curtis;
Bringing the electronic version into the mix, forces a performer to make some serious decisions regarding reliability. 100% sleight of hand might yield 100% reliability. Adding a mechanical shooter to the sleights might bring things down to perhaps 90% reliability. Electronics with more possibilities for failure (battery problems, switch problems, circuit problems, etc.) Could significantly drop the reliability factor. A performer would need to decide how much risk of failure during a paid performance can be tolerated. As always, it must be decided if the gimmick is worth the risk. This decision will vary with the performer and possibly with the gig itself. There is no right or wrong or best here - but such things need to be considered. Thanks for bringing the electronic version into the mix.
Jim

[hugmagic]

I believe there was a description in a past Genii issue of one that John Gaughan had. If I am not mistaken it was a Martin shooter.

Richard

[Jim Riser]

Richard;
I'm currently trying to search Genii Vol. 48 page 120. It may have additional info but it seems to be stuck on "loading" for me right now. Something is Slooooooow!
Jim

P.S. It was a problem with Chrome - came right up with IE. You gotta love a Genii subscription!

[mehtas]

If anyone has the above Genii issue, I would really appreciate a scan of Coin Shooter article..

[Jim Riser]

If anyone has the above Genii issue, I would really appreciate a scan of Coin Shooter article..

Mehtas;
It's readily available for download and printing at Ask Alexander (for Genii subscribers). If you do not subscribe, perhaps it is time that you reconsider. Do you have a coin shooter? If so, why not show it? Does it have a sleeve guard?

Feel free to CONTRIBUTE to the conversation that you began.
Jim

[mehtas]

Jim,

Thanks for the pointer.

Will PM you with a picture later on.

[hugmagic]

I am glad that I recalled that older Genii article. I had not read in several years.

I will have to dig out my book on Martin that Granville Taylor wrote and see what he had to say. It is a shame that David Alexander never got to write his Martin book.

Richard

[Richard Kaufman]

The book that David Alexander was working on was with Granville Taylor. They had a falling out and David withdrew from the project.

[Jim Riser]

Yes, it is a shame that David did not do the Martin book. He and I discussed the project several times when he was considering it. Granville had a nice collection of Martin items and duplicated items but it was far from complete. If David had been able to do the project, the book would have included additional Martin items, high resolution photos, and been professionally printed.

We also discussed including a section on identifying Martin from other maker's items plus actually using Martin items in a performance. Some of this info might never get published.
Jim

[Jim Riser]

Update...
For fun I will be making two half dollar coin shooters and will post progress pictures as things move along. The very beginnings of this project may be seen here:


http://jamesriser.com/Magic/CoinShooter/Apparatus.html


Enjoy.
Jim

[Bill Mullins]

For fun I will be making two half dollar coin shooters

A coin shooter that only costs a half dollar!! Sign me up . . . <G>

[Jim Riser]

Bill,
A half dollar for the shooter and $200 for shipping and handling! Still want to be "signed up"? Perhaps the original wording was not the best ;-)

Take care, you cheap so and so. That's how parts are bought in Huntsville, is it not? Government purchasing, low bid, etc.
Jim