Magic Tricks

The quality, while certainly better in operation than the other models, is good not great. The first criteria for buying any set is the smoothness and soundlessness of the modus operandi. Second is the degree of visibility of the string. Knocking sounds from the gimmick striking the internals are always the giveaway in low quality sticks. These have a bit of a rattle which required opening up the apparatus and adding a tape coating and lubricant to obviate the unwanted noise particularly when moving the sticks from hand to hand. Tassels are flimsy and lack the visibility that sells the movement of the strings. My solution, after trying to change the tassels to bigger ones which I subsequently found gave too much weight for the gimmick to work, was to thread orange sponge balls through the strings to sit at the top of the tassels. It created a high visibility Chinese lantern effect which suited the effect and made the up - down movement of the strings much more pronounced.The mechanism still worked fine carrying a 2inch sponge ball. Overall quite happy with the item but like many veterans I was spoiled when I first bought my first set of sticks in the seventies (silent in operation, handsome and still working beautifully - perhaps the secret is for the gimmick to be square like my beloved older ones). Back then magic shops sourced high quality low price sets hand made by cottage workshops. My original set from Aladdin’s Magic Shop in Melbourne cost $7.50 in 1973. Beautiful to look at, large white tassels that sold the effect for tv, kids shows and stage - wonder if some of these wonderful sets are lying around forgotten in Australian basements? Last thing - the Japanese authored instructions that accompany the Mikame sticks should be replaced. The syntax and malapropisms would confuse a beginner.