History of Edward Victor's Bat Trick

[Q. Kumber]

I am doing some research on Edward Victor's Bat Trick which later became better known with Jimmy Rogers' routine, I'll Start Again.

Can anyone point me to when it was either first released as a dealer item or if it were published by Victor?

Thank you in advance.

[Bob Postelnik]

There are a few "Bat" routines by Victor in the chapter titled "Classic Routines - All those Bats" starting on page 29 in the book The Magic of Edward Victor's Hands by Rae Hammond.

[Q. Kumber]

Thank you Bob.

[BarryAllen]

A further point of reference, re: Edward Victor can be found in his booklet 'More Magic Of The Hands Part 2' (pages 140-141) released by Davenports, London in 1938. Here, Edward Victor explains an effect titled 'An Impromptu Knife And Salt Trick' whereby salt poured onto a table knife vanishes and re-appears at random. The actual effect is, in some ways, very similar to the 'I'll Start Again' plot.

The first time that the Jimmy Rogers trick 'I'll start Again' was marketed within the UK, was by the Kaymar Magic Company in the early 1950's. Kaymar was owned by Harry Baron and Joe Stuthard (and took the company name from Joe's wife KAY, and Harry's wife MARgaret). Formed over 60 years ago, it was one of their first tricks released. In fact, Kaymar used to have one of Jimmy's actual bats on display in their studio when the shop was in Essex. Just to add that the Kaymar instruction sheet has been copied by other dealers many times since.

The last performer that I knew who used this regularly in his professional work was Joe Riding. Joe had a different spin on the effect and this was outlined within his 'Close Up Magic Course' in 1996.

[Q. Kumber]

Many thanks Barry.
Quentin

[John Bowden]

Was Harry's wife not named MARy ?
An article in an old Linking Ring refers to her as Mary.

Cheers from the Emerald Isle,
John Bowden ...............I've been wrong before.

[BarryAllen]

You could be right John.

Just to add that Ken Brooke used to dem 'I'll Start Again' brilliantly. Would we have expected anything less? ;)