magic collector – MagicShow.Tips

Thrill of the Hunt!

People always ask me where I find all of the vintage magic stuff that I own or sell. Some of it comes from conventional things like digging through bins at magic shops or magic auctions. Then the unconventional things like garage sales or whatever.

I just paid $15 for this box of magic and I’ll pick it up later today. I just happened to be doing a show in the town where it is.

It looks like mostly junk from the picture, but at $15 for the whole box, I’m willing to lose that on the very low odds that there’s something worthwhile inside.

Personally I really like the excitement of not knowing what’s in the box! It’s like searching for treasure. I will say that I have no problem throwing away the junk, and I think that’s where a lot of magic collectors go wrong, they keep everything even the junk and end up with a garage full of crap.

Personally I’m a collector, not a hoarder…despite what my wife thinks!

-Louie

It’s a Warren Simms Vanishing Bird Cage!

A couple of days ago I posted about a new vanishing birdcage. It was sold to me as a Sherms Vanishing Bird Cage. It turns out it’s a Warren Simms Vanishing Bird Cage!

Thanks to the super knowledgeable Doug Edwards!
He also informed me that the “T” stamped on mine meant it was sold through Tannen’s Magic in New York.

It’s always great to learn new things!!!

-Louie

Vanishing Bird Cage!

I love that there are people who know what I’m into and when they run into thing that they think I’d like, they text me! For example, I collect vanishing bird cages and last month at magic live my buddy Clive Hayward sent me some pictures of a vanishing bird cage that was for sale there.

This cage is unusual, you’ll notice the side bars are attached by string!

I have a vanishing bird cage in my collection that’s similar, however it has metal parts that connect the sidebars to the cage. I’m curious if maybe this vanishing birdcage was a “budget” model of one with metal connectors, or if this was a home repair.

I’m glad this one is in my collection!

-Louie

Unique Vintage Circus Poster

Magic collectors always ask me where I the stuff for my collection. I do most of it old school style and hunt for it in person. This is a cool find (non-magic) that I found in person by going to a flea market.

vintage Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey circus poster

It’s a circus poster that was in a tube with RBB&B label on it from April of 1978. I’m guessing this was a going away present for the person who the poster was shipped to. He was a Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey circus promotions person. Since it was sent in 1978, I’m guessing it’s that year’s cast that signed it.

Here’s a close up of the signatures:

This is the sort of thing that I seek out, a unique circus poster! It’s the thrill of the hunt that’s fun for me, not simply googling something and buying what comes up.

-Louie