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Elite user
scotland
450 Posts
Posted: Mar 16, 2014 02:27 pm Hi guys, I'm looking to find an illusion where the magi shows an old antique style book with a pen resting on the page, when it stands up and writes on it's own!....
I need it for a specific writers meeting, where I think it would spook!!!
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Kenny.
Magic ain't an illusion ! it's a "way of life"
Special user
Never a dull moment with
940 Posts
It would definitely spook, but you are asking a lot. This is on the level of a movie special effect and you want to do it live? Consider how much you want to spend on development and how much time you have to get it working to your satisfaction. Also consider that under the right circ*mstances just having the pen move would spook just fine.
Custom Props Designer and Fabricator as well as Performer from Indiana, USA
V.I.P.
Beware Vampire, I have
3912 Posts
Zombie ball/quill... is a solution. But you have to hold the book.
Loyal user
Phoenix, AZ
261 Posts
I'm not much of a dyi guy, but consider a neo or other strong pk type ma*#⬠t in a false space in the book, with a steel point tip on the feather quill. Ways to move the neo/pk device so the quill moves or stands up even minimally would be spooky enough I would think! 
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" (the original F. Baum)
Veteran user
Iowa
395 Posts
There is the glorpy. It is not as straight forward and amazing as the effect you are describing but it certainly is a similar effect. Just under a handkerchief.
Perhaps place a blank, aged parchment inside of the hanky with a small fountain pen. It would require a switch of the parchments but a clever person could figure that out.
===========================================
Clever stuff goes here!
Regular user
196 Posts
0
Saw one of these in an auction last year in Austin. Worked quite well. Had not heard of the group who made it.
Special user
California
880 Posts
Didn't Peter Loughran make something like that?
Elite user
scotland
450 Posts
Hi Doc, thought about
m@+?$ets
, it would be nice to develop a way of'remotely' controlling it, any ideas ?
Kenny
Magic ain't an illusion ! it's a "way of life"
Inner circle
5001 Posts
I am not sure if this is still being sold. I haven't seen it for a long time. But yes, there is a (magic) trick (prop) that does this. It is a really nice looking pen that stands up and writes.
This isn't the one that I was talking about, but check it out anyway.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0fHEEj0W_qc
Ray
V.I.P.
Ontario, Canada
2683 Posts
Simon Coleman used to make this illusion and I supplied the electronics and gimmickry (inside guts) for the prop. But he is no longer in the business of prop building anymore that I am aware of.
I make an effect where a pen or pencil stands up and writes on a note pad sealed inside a glass box.
P.
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Veteran user
356 Posts
Quote:
On Mar 16, 2014, Peter Loughran wrote:
Simon Coleman used to make this illusion and I supplied the electronics and gimmickry (inside guts) for the prop. But he is no longer in the business of prop building anymore that I am aware of.I make an effect where a pen or pencil stands up and writes on a note pad sealed inside a glass box.
P.
Would very much like to know more please 
Special user
u.k
626 Posts
I have seen these around! It was a mechanical/magnetic thing, and I'm positive it was a 'Harry potter' themed you. Looked good though!
K
Regular user
Stockholm, Sweden
188 Posts
Somebody recently posted about this here at the Café - he was making a prop for a theatrical performance. The solution was genius and as ever, simple. I can't remember which thread so I'll describe it here.
Remove nib from a pen or use a quill with hollow tip. A straightened wire coat hanger is fed through the pages of the book (think going in straight under the bottom edge of the page) and then poking out of the top edge. Curve in a U shape around the top edge and the wire continues back on itself towards the middle of the page. Then bend the wire at 90 degress, form a straight little bit and cut off. This little bit goes into the space where the pen nib would be. The pen then lies flat on the paper and a simple twist of the wire between forefinger and thumb makes the pen stand up. Mpve it back and forth and up and down to simulate writing.
Maybe not good at close range but the beginnings of an idea maybe.
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream
Special user
u.k
626 Posts
I remember where I saw this. A great guy called 'Steve Ace' had one at his 'school of wizardry' magic shop in Great Yarmouth. Steve is a well know performer in Norfolk/Norwich in England, so should be easy to contact. As I remember, he may have made it himself from a common kids toy. It had a battery operated flat board that he fitted into a hollowed out book, and it concealed a magnet that whizzed around in it. It may have been for a little toy mouse originally? Anyway, there was a small flat magnet on the tip of the quill, so when it was placed on the board in the book, the magnets connected and the quill looked exactly like it was scribbling away. Really good illusion. I recently saw a video of Steve's show in YouTube, posted by himself, so I'll see if he's still on there and ask how he made it.
K
Special user
Greece
638 Posts
Unfortunately, Steve died a few years ago.
I never saw the effect you are discussing, but I'd love to see a video if you find one.
Loyal user
Phoenix, AZ
261 Posts
Quote:
On Mar 16, 2014, kenny kadabra wrote:
Hi Doc, thought about m@+?$ets, it would be nice to develop a way of'remotely' controlling it, any ideas ?
Kenny
Some of the below ideas are better than I might come up with. I have not used any remote devices,...yet(other than large PK ma#&et*).
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" (the original F. Baum)
Special user
u.k
626 Posts
AJB. Wow. I'm really sorry to hear that. :-( I only saw him a few years back, and visits to his shop were always a great time.
He'd just opened a club in Norwich I think and was excited about the future. Man, he wasn't very old was he? Any more info?
Kneill.
Loyal user
Canberra, Australia
244 Posts
There's always Black Art with the pen on the end of a black rod...
Cheers
Geoffrey
New user
1 Post
Looking for similar item. Quill that writes in book (does not have to actually write). I have seen the Stoltz solution. If any one has an idea of how to automate it, the solution would work for my needs.
Quote:
On Mar 16, 2014, kenny kadabra wrote:
Hi guys, I'm looking to find an illusion where the magi shows an old antique style book with a pen resting on the page, when it stands up and writes on it's own!....
I need it for a specific writers meeting, where I think it would spook!!!
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Kenny.
Veteran user
322 Posts
Contact Chuck Caputo at Anverdi-museum, he is a member of the Café and quite an inventor. Perhaps he would have some ideas for your project.
John
It's never the wand, it's always the magician
