The Chink Box

Here is an effect that was manufactured for me by a craftsman who has now retired and will not be making any more of this fantastic effect. We have about a dozen in stock and then until I can find another skilled craftsman to make this for us that will be that.

As you will see on the demonstration this is not only a great trick to fool layman but knocks magicians out as well. The effect is that a small box is shown and passed out for examination. It has a slot at the top of the box and a similar slot directly underneath. Inside the box is a small sheet of glass which is removed for examination. The magician has the box examined and the sheet of glass dropped into position and a coin such as a half dollar or £2 coin is also passed for examination. The coin is gently placed into the top slot and then slowly pushed through the sheet of glass and it emerges out of the slot below.

Click here: The Chink Box - Martin Breese Watch Martin Breese demonstrate  the Chink Box.

I used to demonstrate this effect at conventions and Stephen Tucker who used to work for me and was also the editor and publisher of his magazine Spell-Binder wrote up the effect in his magazine and called my routine the "Breeze Wheeze" and told the story how at a convention I was demonstrating this effect and mystifying a potential customer.

I don't really remember the incident which took place years ago. I showed how the coin would penetrate the glass in one box and then had the inspiration to pick up another box from the table. This was held underneath the original box and the trick was performed but with the variation of allowing the coin to penetrate not just one box containing a sheet of glass but with two boxes. Then I picked up another box and allowed the coin to penetrate the glass in all three boxes. The magician asked the price and said that he would take all three boxes! If I had had any sense I would have done the trick with at least four boxes!!!!.

Now there is something very special about this trick and routine in that the Chink Box is generally faked and has a sliding device which can be pulled back with the thumbs so that the glass momentarily clears the slots and the coin can be dropped through from top to bottom. The same trick has also been released over the years with a metal ball that slowly penetrates through a round hole and a sheet of glass.

Now when I perform for magicians they automatically assume that the trick works in the traditional manner which basically is mechanical and using a feked box. With my version of the Chink Box the box can be thoroughly examined for the simple reason that it is not feked in any way. It is just a box with two slots a hinged lid and a sheet of glass sitting within the box. I just love watching knowledgeable magicians seeing the effect and then smiling and then giving the box a rigorous examination and when they find out that the box is not feked in any way .... quite simply they haven't got a clue.

The price is £45 and the box is inlaid with different woods and made by one of the top craftsman in the world. A modicum of bluff is required and the sort of sleight of hand that anyone can learn in 5 seconds. I always say that if I can do a trick then anyone can do it. I can do and so can you or anyone else.