Coin Board

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Matthew Field
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Coin Board

Postby Matthew Field » March 11th, 2015, 8:31 am

Can anyone give me a name of the man who demonstrated that board which vanished a quarter, demonstrated at Macy's in the 60s and earlier. Something like George Tchiklis. Also, any reference to that wooden board itself (proper name, inventor, etc.)

Any help will be much appreciated.

Matt Field

Chuck Romano
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Chuck Romano » March 11th, 2015, 8:39 am

Matt,

I don't know if this helps you or not, but there is a US Patent (#1,052,277) that was issued to F.J. Robinson in 1913 for a coin on board trick.

Cheers,

Chuck Romano

Daniel Z
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Daniel Z » March 11th, 2015, 8:45 am

I don't know Matt but I still have mine.

Chuck Romano
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Chuck Romano » March 11th, 2015, 8:47 am

Just found this on Ask Alexander..."Danny Tsokalas, who was magic
demonstrator in Macy's New York store for over twenty years..."

Go to Alexander and do a search. There are several entries for Dan aka "Mr. Macy."

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Re: Coin Board

Postby Jonathan Townsend » March 11th, 2015, 9:27 am

A younger guy, perhaps his student, is out there selling the item and might be able to help with more background.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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Matthew Field
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Matthew Field » March 11th, 2015, 10:17 am

Many thanks, fellows.

Matt Field

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 11th, 2015, 1:14 pm

Danny Tsukalis
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keeper
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Re: Coin Board

Postby keeper » March 14th, 2015, 5:43 pm

In addition to the Macy's gig Dan Tsukalis used to do the fair circuit. My fisrt "professional" tricks came from him at the Danbury (CT) State Fair and the Eastern States Expo (MA). Every year I would watch him for hours before deciding what my one trick would be. Years later I met him at an IBM 59 club meeting. I have never seen anyone do the coin board as effortlessly as he could. You never saw the move even when you are looking for it...hell the board seemed to be level at all times. Of course thats the job in watching a pitchman do his thing...amazing.


Al
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Richard Hatch
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Hatch » March 14th, 2015, 6:35 pm

I saw Dan Tsukalis demo the coin board many times 30 or so years ago when I was active in Ring 59. He was amazing! I believe David Haversat may have studied his routine and put the board back on the market at one point. Dan also did an amazing paddle routine with a rabbit in hat paddle. When he flicked the rabbit "out" of the hat with a finger, you would swear you saw it leap off the paddle!
Last edited by Richard Hatch on March 15th, 2015, 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

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erdnasephile
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Re: Coin Board

Postby erdnasephile » March 14th, 2015, 7:34 pm

Is this coin board the same as one of David Copperfield's back up tricks when something goes wrong?

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 14th, 2015, 8:50 pm

I know that DC has some of Danny's boards and I have seen him do a vanish and reproduction while on a warehouse tour.

David, as I did, spent endless hours watching Danny pitch at Macy's. He was certainly one of the most inspirational magicians not only because of his talent, but because he was incredibly nice and generous.

Hatch! I have a few of those bunny paddles and can do Danny's routine!
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Hatch » March 14th, 2015, 9:27 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:Hatch! I have a few of those bunny paddles and can do Danny's routine!

Awesome! Bring it to the Genii Convention, I want to see you do it!

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Brad Jeffers » March 14th, 2015, 11:46 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:I know that DC has some of Danny's boards and I have seen him do a vanish and reproduction while on a warehouse tour.

and here is that ...

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Brad Jeffers
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Brad Jeffers » March 15th, 2015, 2:01 am

Matthew Field wrote: ...any reference to that wooden board itself (proper name, inventor, etc.)

I've heard it referred to as "The Miracle Board", "The Panel Board Penetration", and "The Mephisto Coin Board".

It is believed to have originated in Japan.

Those sold by Tsukalas were known as "The Danish Magic Xylo" ...

Image

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Matthew Field
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Matthew Field » March 15th, 2015, 7:04 am

Thank you for the info. This forum is amazing.

Matt Field

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MaxNY
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Re: Coin Board

Postby MaxNY » March 15th, 2015, 7:09 am

My dad had a board, and I think I saw Danny pitch at the 1964 World's Fair! I was a mere 4 years old. I later found a board in an antique store in Albany, it has printed on the side "Made in Occupied Japan."

Here is a video of David Copperfield (on Conan) talking about a wonderful moment with Danny...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RegufcG ... mdQbakxmnw








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Bill Mullins
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Bill Mullins » March 15th, 2015, 9:32 am

Does anyone make or sell these now?

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 15th, 2015, 10:44 am

They are really hard to use well.
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John M. Dale
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Re: Coin Board

Postby John M. Dale » March 15th, 2015, 9:28 pm

Here you go, Bill:

1/2 dollar size http://midwestmagic.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=4003 & https://www.daytonamagic.com/panel-board-penetration-i-007c.html
Quarter http://midwestmagic.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=4066

This looks like a pitch version at $4.50: http://www.showbizmagic.net/magic.html (MIRACLE PANEL BOARD on the left down th e page a bit.

JMD

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Richard Kaufman
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 15th, 2015, 9:32 pm

You definitely want the version with the quarter so you can borrow the coin.
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erdnasephile
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Re: Coin Board

Postby erdnasephile » March 15th, 2015, 11:14 pm

Didn't Larry Becker also used to sell a prop years ago (a checkerboard tray, I think) that worked on a similar principle?

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Matthew Field
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Matthew Field » March 16th, 2015, 4:11 am

Thank you, John Dale.

Matt Field

David Haversat
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Re: Coin Board

Postby David Haversat » March 18th, 2015, 2:07 pm

In the late 1990's I went to Danny Tsukalis home in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was in his 80's and was in the final stages of Alzheimer's. However, Dan was able to perform the board with ease and demonstrated it for me a few dozen times. His wife Ruth suggested I tape him if I wanted to learn how to perform the board, so I did! In their garage was a treasure-trove of magic "new old stock" that ranged from the late 1920's to the early 70's. Items from Adams to Tenyo sat in boxes along with a few cases of the coin board. I was able to locate the company that produced the boards for Danny and had to order a minimum of 5,000 pcs. I sold the boards along with an instructional video in which I demonstrated the handling. My version was titled "The Miracle Board." I sold all 5,000. The showcase in which Danny sold magic from in the New York City Macy's was also in the garage. I arranged with David Copperfield to have the case go to his museum.
Dave Haversat

J-Mac
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Re: Coin Board

Postby J-Mac » July 3rd, 2015, 11:47 pm

Just ordered two of the quarter size at Midwest Magic using the link provided above by John Dale.

Thanks John!

Jim

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jplibby
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Re: Coin Board

Postby jplibby » September 1st, 2022, 10:00 pm

Reviving this old topic. There's a lot of good info here.

I wanted to mention that if you haven't yet gotten "Danny's Panel Board" from Meir Yedid, I recommend it. You get a nicely made board and a very informative tutorial-documentary video.

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erdnasephile
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Re: Coin Board

Postby erdnasephile » September 2nd, 2022, 6:12 am


Joe Mckay
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Joe Mckay » September 2nd, 2022, 12:53 pm

It is a great trick. This book on the trick is very good as well.

https://www.lybrary.com/the-coin-board- ... 27955.html

Robert77
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Re: Coin Board

Postby Robert77 » September 2nd, 2022, 6:35 pm

That's pretty amazing.

mbreggar
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Re: Coin Board

Postby mbreggar » September 2nd, 2022, 9:59 pm

Meir Yedid sells a board with a great tutorial video that includes home video of Danny himself demoing the product.


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