George Sands' "An Oddity"
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George Sands' "An Oddity"
In The New Jinx, #312, for July, 1954, at pages 51-52, George Sands describes an effect using four pieces of paper. Each piece has a set of numbers. Piece A, has a 1 on one side and a 2 on the other. Piece B has 3 /4, and the remaining pieces have 4 / 5 and 5 / 6.
The spectator arranges the pieces any way he wants with any numbers he wants showing. By simply knowing the number of odd numbers, the magician can instantly reveal the total the displayed numbers create.
This principle has been used by Steve Beam in 2015. See Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 9, p.214.
Tenyo has used it twice in "Bird Watcher"(counting birds) and "Crowd Generator (counting people). See Tenyoism, pp.739-743.
David Britland used it in "Stargazer."
Questions:
1. What is the principle called?
2. Are there earlier references than the Sands reference?
3. Are there other effects that use the principle not listed above?
The spectator arranges the pieces any way he wants with any numbers he wants showing. By simply knowing the number of odd numbers, the magician can instantly reveal the total the displayed numbers create.
This principle has been used by Steve Beam in 2015. See Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 9, p.214.
Tenyo has used it twice in "Bird Watcher"(counting birds) and "Crowd Generator (counting people). See Tenyoism, pp.739-743.
David Britland used it in "Stargazer."
Questions:
1. What is the principle called?
2. Are there earlier references than the Sands reference?
3. Are there other effects that use the principle not listed above?
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
It's in The New PHOENIX, not New JINX.
I have no other references, sorry
I have no other references, sorry
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Whoops! Yes, The New Phoenix. My head said Phoenix, my fingers said Jinx.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
NIX/INX l'erreur est humaine !
Errare humanum est (perseverare diabolicum)
Errare humanum est (perseverare diabolicum)
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Gaetan Bloom uses this principle.
I remember a trick of his from the Full Bloom books that Todd Karr put out over at The Miracle Factory.
Check out the trick called Papa's Theatre on pg 359 (Vol. 1).
I remember a trick of his from the Full Bloom books that Todd Karr put out over at The Miracle Factory.
Check out the trick called Papa's Theatre on pg 359 (Vol. 1).
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Thank you Joe. I have compiled quite a list and I will publish it here when done.
In Self-Working Number Magic by Karl Fulves he published Shigeo Futagawa's "Stunumber" in 1983. However, earlier, in 1979, “Numeral-Oh-Gee” by The Amazing Randi appeared in Apocalypse, Vol. 2, No. 6, June, 1979, pp.205-207. In the description, it says the principle was created by Shigeo Futagawa.
So, Fulves must be relying on an earlier publication of the Futagawa trick as was Rn]andi, but I cannot find where that earlier publication might have been.
In Self-Working Number Magic by Karl Fulves he published Shigeo Futagawa's "Stunumber" in 1983. However, earlier, in 1979, “Numeral-Oh-Gee” by The Amazing Randi appeared in Apocalypse, Vol. 2, No. 6, June, 1979, pp.205-207. In the description, it says the principle was created by Shigeo Futagawa.
So, Fulves must be relying on an earlier publication of the Futagawa trick as was Rn]andi, but I cannot find where that earlier publication might have been.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
I've seen iterations of this principle put to use by the Real Secrets duo over the years that credit Futagawa as well for the inspiration. One utilizing a spinning coin and a clock-work configuration of the pieces of paper. The other more recent variation from the boxed set using individual day calander sheets.
I think Max Maven gives you the history of this in Juan Tamariz's book Verbal Magic on page 79.
There he gives credit to Bob Hummer and Robert Stull (1941). But then again mentions Shigeo Futagawa as being the first to adapt the principal to a number force in the 1970s in a marketed trick put out in Japan. Max goes on to say that the Futagawa trick would later be written up in Scientific American by Martin Gardner.
I think Max Maven gives you the history of this in Juan Tamariz's book Verbal Magic on page 79.
There he gives credit to Bob Hummer and Robert Stull (1941). But then again mentions Shigeo Futagawa as being the first to adapt the principal to a number force in the 1970s in a marketed trick put out in Japan. Max goes on to say that the Futagawa trick would later be written up in Scientific American by Martin Gardner.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Do that means the principle is in relation with Forcing Watch?
See here: https://www.conjuringcredits.com/doku.p ... ng_watch&s[]=stull
See here: https://www.conjuringcredits.com/doku.p ... ng_watch&s[]=stull
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
I'm confused. I must be misunderstanding the problem.
If the pieces are displayed with the first number uppermost as 2/1, 4/3, 4/5, 5/6, the the performer is told that there's one odd number, and he immediately deduces that the total is 15.
And if the pieces are displayed with the first number uppermost as 2/1, 4/3, 5/4, 6/5, the the performer is again told that there's one odd number, and he immediately deduces that the total is 17.
I'm assuming that it should be something like 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8. Then the total with all the even numbers showing is 20, and each odd number showing reduces it by 1.
If the pieces are displayed with the first number uppermost as 2/1, 4/3, 4/5, 5/6, the the performer is told that there's one odd number, and he immediately deduces that the total is 15.
And if the pieces are displayed with the first number uppermost as 2/1, 4/3, 5/4, 6/5, the the performer is again told that there's one odd number, and he immediately deduces that the total is 17.
I'm assuming that it should be something like 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8. Then the total with all the even numbers showing is 20, and each odd number showing reduces it by 1.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
You are correct.
Edward, thank you for that excellent reference! More later.
Edward, thank you for that excellent reference! More later.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Thanks. I'd genuinely thought that I was failing to understand something that was far more clever and subtle.Bob Farmer wrote:You are correct
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
I feel like a pawn in all of this.
Check mate.
Check mate.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
I am looking for copies of a couple of things. The first is a copy of the instructions for Robert Stull's 1941 trick, "Mento Test." The second is page 223 of Martin Gardner's out-of-print book, Fractal Music, Hypercards and More, specifically his description of a Shigeo Futagawa trick, under the heading "Psychic Wonders and Probability."
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Bob: I sent you an email.
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Got it--thank you Mike!
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Re: George Sands' "An Oddity"
Bob -- Just sent you the Futagawa/Gardner material.