Gaffed Decks

Discuss your favorite close-up tricks and methods.
Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 7th, 2010, 2:38 pm

I am looking for information on the following gaffed decks:

Aldini Card Matching Deck
Bolted Deck
Charlen Trick Deck
Chop Chop Deck
Cobra Deck
Crazy Deck from Lu Brent
Daisy Deck
Dalton Boys from Haskell
Delanci Deck
DeLands Million Dollar Deck
Divino from Charles T. Jordan
Edwards Auto-Spell-It Deck
Goldoni aka Prospero Deck
Himber Deck
Hulls Fourteen Forcing Deck
Jim Jam Cards aka Krazy Kards from Ralph W. Hull
Jokers Own Wonder Deck
Jos de la Torres deck (similar to the Mene-Tekel Deck)
Marlo Miracle Deck [same as the Marlo Miracle?]
Mental Television
N.R.A. Deck
Nifty Deck
One Card Brainwave
Optica Deck
Packup
Pro-M Deck
Reverso Deck
Right About Face Deck
Stanyons Angel Back Forcing and Self-Shifting Pack
Star Deck
Surpriso Deck
Taylors Split Deck (forcing)
Wonder Triple Force Deck
Worlds Greatest Magician Deck

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 7th, 2010, 3:03 pm

What do you want to know? You're asking for a huge amount of information.

DeLand's Dollar Deck came out in 1914 (Magic Makers now sells it under the title Million Dollar Deck.)

The Daisy Deck is also DeLand's, and was marketed by S.S. Adams in 1919.

The Star deck was also put out by S.S. Adams and is ostensibly DeLand's, but I've found no proof that it's a DeLand design.

The Optica Deck was invented by Edward Bagshawe and written about by Karl Fulves in his book on Brainwave.

There are several different decks with the title "Reverso Deck." One of them belongs to Donald Holmes.

One Card Brainwave is not a deck!

The Cobra Deck is a Haunted Pack with a reel inside.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 7th, 2010, 11:12 pm

Some are them are on MagicPedia at
http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php ... ical_Decks

Let me know if you find information about the ones not listed on MagicPedia so I can add them!
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

Jonathan Townsend
Posts: 8704
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Westchester, NY
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Jonathan Townsend » January 8th, 2010, 8:37 am

Is the electric pack a Hofzinser item?

Is the "Wonder Triple Force" item in reference to his Tamed Card routine?

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 8th, 2010, 9:28 am

Here is the Ad for the "Wonder Triple Force Deck" in Sphinx August 1919:

Wonder 'Triple-Force' Deck
Invented by Evans Brown
Here it isat last, Never before possible, until I originated these clever forcing principles. The one and only TRIPLE FORCE DECK" that it is possible to riffle the cards showing them to he indifferent (yes, and in fact a portion of the cards are actually "fanned.") Then as you riffle the cards, each of three spectators (one at a time) insert the blade of a knife in among the cards selecting a card in this manner. YOU HAVE ACTUALLY FORCED THREE DIFFERENT CARDS, ONE AT A TIME - ON THREE DIFFERENT PERSON. Yes, you can shuffle the cards overhand.) This deck is a boon to those who have never acquired the skill of forcing cards by sleight-of-hand, in the presentation of such tricks as the RISING CARDS, and any of the other numerous tricks requiring the forcing of three cards.
NO SKILL REQUIRED
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 8th, 2010, 11:09 am

Yes, the Electric Deck is Hofzinser's--this was explained, along with some of the flourishes he did with the deck, in our big issue on Hofzinser a few years ago.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 8th, 2010, 4:43 pm

Well, I know I am asking for a huge amount of info, but I don't expect to get it from one person.

THe Million Dollar Deck was mentioned in works long before Magic Makers was founded. was it the same as the Dollar deck then or was it differetn, if so, how? eg: Linking Ring in 1980.

Looking for a scan of the back for the Daisy and Star decks.

At least one card brainwave effects were advertised as a deck.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 8th, 2010, 4:46 pm

Actually, I have consulted MagicPedia. However, I am looking for more detailed information on what made the effect unique. Also, how the deck was gaffed.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 8th, 2010, 4:49 pm

Well, I don't know how to respond. I did not list the Ecectric Pack/Deck. Not sure who developed it - I would like to know however.

THe Wonder Triple Force deck seems to be an Evans Brown effect.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 8th, 2010, 5:19 pm

I've been updating MagicPedia with information as I find it. Be sure to check back often.
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 8th, 2010, 8:36 pm

DeLand's Dollar Deck had that name from the time it first appeared on the market in May 1914 until the end of 1918. When SS Adams first put it out in early 1919, they did so with the title, Automatic Playing Cards, and it was under that title that it has been sold until sometime in 2009, when Magic Makers bought SS Adams and changed the title to DeLand's 100 Dollar Deck. I mistakenly thought it was Million Dollar Deck in my earliest post.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Spellbinder
Posts: 472
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Spellbinder » January 8th, 2010, 9:32 pm

Joe: I have forgotten how to add entries for Magicpedia or I would add the "Monte Cristo Deck" myself. I noticed that it is missing from the list.
Phineas Spellbinder
The Magic Nook

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 8th, 2010, 9:39 pm

Spellbinder: It's under the Mechanical Decks subcategory Forcing Decks as Monte_Cristo_Pack
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 8th, 2010, 9:59 pm

Spellbinder: To create a new page in MagicPedia, do a search for the page you would like to create and press "GO" button.

If the result reports "There is no page titled . You can create this page", then click the link for "create this page" and start typing!
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 8th, 2010, 10:02 pm

Its proper title is Henry Hardin's "Peerless Monte-Cristo Cards." It was put on the market in December 1908 and was designed and printed for Hardin by DeLand. It is the earliest version of the Tossed-Out Deck.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 9th, 2010, 9:19 am

Question abot One Card Brainwave

In this effect, from Steve Dusheck Jr. and Jim Hill, a spectator freely selects a card from a DECK behind his back. He then places the card face-up on top of the deck, and then makes one cut to bury the card. The deck is then handed back to performer. The cards are then displayed one at a time face-down until he comes to a face-up card. That card is placed on the table and all of the remaining cards are also shown to be face-down showing only one card was reversed in the deck. The selected card is then turned over and is shown to have a different back design from the rest of the deck. The faces of the deck, with the exception of the one extra card with a different back are roughened. The off color back card is inserted face-up third from the bottom of the deck. The cards are coated with a special solution similar to roughing fluid. The difference is that the cards adhere to do the job for this effect but can also be used for other card tricks requiring a regular deck with much more ease in handling than if they were treated with the standard roughing fluid.

Does anyone know more abot this different roughing liquid?

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 9th, 2010, 11:30 pm

Re: Star Deck

In:
Gibson, Walter B.: More DeLand Card Creations (New Conjurors Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 4, June, 1945) pg 31

"... Mr. Adams has been manufacturing the "Dollar Deck" now known as the "Automatic Deck" along with the "Daisy" and "Nifty" decks. In addition, DeLand designed two other decks for S. S.
Adams, the "League" and the "Star", each incorporating certain individual features."

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 9th, 2010, 11:47 pm

Here are the backs of those DeLand Decks (the all used his clock system):
Image
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 10th, 2010, 12:04 am

Bill Rugh wrote:Does anyone know more about this different roughing liquid?


He describes the commercially available spray in "Dushek's Card Magic" .
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 10th, 2010, 12:16 am

I am aware that Gibson states that the Star deck was designed by DeLand, however I can find no evidence of that either in DeLand's own records or in those of S.S. Adams. I would like to be able to clear it up--perhaps someone will have better luck than me in discovering exactly when Adams first advertised the Star deck.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 10th, 2010, 12:38 am

If this helps any, in the Linking Ring, February 1928 (page 982) there is an ad for "Reilly's FA-KO Wonder Deck" which states "Embodies the principles of almost every deck of cards known including Mindreading Decks such as DeLand's, Adam's, Star, Phantom, Princess of Yogi, 4-Ace, Fly-Away, The Joker, 1-2-3 Mystery, Enchanted Spades, Aero Ace, Transfarmo, Five-I-Tus, Hy-Lo Cards, The Color, Change.


Then in the Linking Ring, January 1930 (page 1233) there is an S. S. Adams ad stating: "Five wonderful decks of Magic Cards: DeLand Automatic, the deck with 12,000 marks; Daisy Deck, for long distance reading; Also the Nifty and League and Star decks, each for different tricks. All Decks $1.00
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 10th, 2010, 12:54 am

There are a bunch of refernces that appear around 1930 to the Star Deck. But these are all heresay. It would have to be much earlier: 1919 to 1920 or so.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 10th, 2010, 1:32 am

I see a reference (looks like around the 1930s) to the same looking back as the "star deck", but being called "STARBACK":
"The STARBACK, latest of all factory marked cards and another of the 'clock style' group. While not exactly a Steamboat card, it is a great deal on that order."

Sure is looking like the deck Adams was selling as the "Star Deck" in the 1930s could have been created by someone other then DeLand, but using the same "clock system".
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 10th, 2010, 1:38 am

Could DeLand still have been creating cards for S. S. Adams in 1930?
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 10th, 2010, 10:25 am

Absolutely not. DeLand was no longer associated with Adams by 1921.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 10th, 2010, 9:03 pm

Bill, would the full name of "Mental Television" you want be "MENTAL TELEVISION THOUGHT CONTROL" (by by Fred Peterson and Burling Hull) which I see in Genii ads starting around 1948?
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 8:47 am

Yes it is. Any idea what the ranging force consisted of - what cards, etc., and how it worksed.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 11th, 2010, 9:12 am

All I've seen is the advertising descriptions.

What are you needing all this information for? Are you building all these decks?
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

Jonathan Townsend
Posts: 8704
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Westchester, NY
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Jonathan Townsend » January 11th, 2010, 10:01 am

Joe, unless the history etc gets recorded pretty quickly, most of it will likely get relegated to a short discussion of marketting effects and basic methodology involving specially printed cards, treated cards both r/s and sticky and mechanical items included in the pack.

An inventory of the empty safe - or just dust - time to get this done before the the tlonists get in and decide it was all just stuff that leaked out of Hofzinser's teacher's cabinet - with inferiour tricks reconstructed and taken to market over the years.
Last edited by Jonathan Townsend on January 11th, 2010, 10:03 am, edited 0 times in total.
Reason: history - or is that baggage?

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 3:16 pm

No, preparing a paper on gaffed decks.

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 11th, 2010, 4:38 pm

Let us know when and where you publish it!
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 6:16 pm

In helping to sell an estate I came across a deck with no instructions. These cards were copyrighted 1993 by the S S Adams Co. They have some marks on the back. Does anyone know who might have a deck with instructions for sale just the instructions?

I would post an image, but I don't know how.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 6:17 pm

Will do, and I plan to send a copy yo all who have helped like you and Richard.

Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 7:13 pm

Note the S S Adams deck I mentioned is NOT the Dollar, 100 Dollar, Automatic, Daisy, Nifty Star or League Deck.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 11th, 2010, 7:48 pm

I vaguely recall seeing a marked deck put out by Adams at some point in the past few decades that was not a Dollar Deck. Can't remember any more.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

opie
Posts: 501
Joined: March 14th, 2008, 10:43 am
Location: austin tx

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby opie » January 11th, 2010, 8:32 pm


Bill Rugh
Posts: 15
Joined: January 7th, 2010, 2:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Bill Rugh » January 11th, 2010, 10:42 pm

That's the much oplder League Deck.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 11th, 2010, 10:49 pm

The League deck was first advertised by J. Pierce in The Magic World in 1918 as part of a larger ad of DeLand material. But the deck was never produced by DeLand (probably for lack of money). It was brought out in 1919 by S.S. Adams along with the new version of the Dollar Deck. A few months later in 1919, the Nifty and Daisy decks came out.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

User avatar
Joe Pecore
Posts: 1914
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Paul Harris
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Joe Pecore » January 12th, 2010, 5:33 am

This is the back design that Bill is asking about:
[image]http://geniimagazine.com/wiki/images/thumb/5/50/S_S_Adams_Cards.jpg/86px-S_S_Adams_Cards.jpg[/image]
Share your knowledge on the MagicPedia wiki.

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27055
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Gaffed Decks

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 12th, 2010, 10:56 am

I remember it. Just another variation on DeLand's clock system.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine


Return to “Close-Up Magic”