The Simple Thimble Routine

Alright we got thimbles. That's a prop that is rarely seen today. I can see why. It seems a bit outdated and who want's to be outdated. But then again it's an unusual prop. And unusual props generate natural interest. So why not use it? So basically I start with explaining the premise of the first effect. And believe it or not it usually is not perceived as a trick right away. But as a genuine display of skill. And that is a good thing. The karate coin trick is a magic trick. Simply because it's not possible. With a thimble however it is. So naturally the interest curve peeks at the moment of the effect, creating a nice intro to the endless thimble production.

DUDE IT IS REALLY HARD TO SAY: "Fifth thimble", especially for a guy like me who's first language is German. Speaking "th" here equals speech impediment. We are trained from the very beginning not to have a lisp.

After that endless production there is the color changing sequence. It's not much of a sequence, but the change is so startling (the last one) that handing out the thimble is required at that very moment.

more later

Das Supergedächtnis by Verne Chesbro

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 126

Personal Comment: Faking remembering a deck of cards is not a new thing. Harry Lorayne has got like dozens of versions. This one is by Verne Chesbro. I never heard of the guy before. But the thing is so bold, that it is hard not to like.

Difficulty 2/5

The Indian Rope Trick by Ken de Courcy

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 124 et seq.

Personal Comment: The version in the book is much easier and can be done with any card. But in that version no tearing/restoration happens. The version here was described to me by Jochen Zmeck himself years ago. I tried to do it justice. Does anybody know the original source? I'd like to read it.

Difficulty 3/5

Doppelte Kartenwanderung by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 115 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is not ungaffed so I'm breaking my own rule here. But it wouldn't be the first time I do it. But this time I got a reason. You don't have to use the deck, making this a perfect "in your wallet trick". If my wallet wouldn't be so small (smaller than a card) I would carry the needed cards with me at all times. Seriously. A transposition from the spectators pocket to the magicians. You cannot get very much stronger than that. And technically speaking this is self working. So I love this. The main idea is not by Jochen Zmeck, but as far as I know he is the one who came up with doing it with the spectators pocket.

Difficulty: Self Working

Schwarz Rot Asse by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 120 et seq.

Personal Comment: Basically a color change, Two reversals and the black aces finding the red mates. So naturally this is a little routine that people tend to appreciate. It has surprises, flows naturally and is easy. If I had to teach someone slightly advanced card magic this is the routine I would go for. It's practical (the setup is within reasons) and with little tweaking this could greatly benefit from advanced moves.

Difficulty 2/5

Die Karte auf der gewünschten Zahl by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 73



Personal Comment: Bold as hell, but it works... The element of fail makes the trick work, so it is needed. So this might not be for the pro, who fails as little as possible. But for everyone else: Go for it!



Difficulty 1/5

Rot-Schwarz-Wanderung by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 83



Personal Comment: If this seems like a blatant rip off of Jacob Daley's famous trick... well it is. The method is slightly different, but otherwise everything remains the same. Why is this in the book? Well the "Handbook of Magic" is a beginners book. So Jochen Zmeck decided to include this great little trick in the "glide" section of the book. Does it belong there, without any credit... nope, yet it is a great little trick. And there is a black sheep in every family.



Difficulty 1/5

Bitte nachmachen by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 79



Personal Comment: Another Do As I Do but this time with four cards, which is more of a standard. This I wouldn't teach to kids, as it involves a sleight that they shouldn't know about. However I have seen a variation on this using a double backer. That made it self working. If you like that sort of thing, try it.



Difficulty 1/5

Tuwit by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 83



Personal Comment: Do As I Do is a weird plot, as it basically is all about the spectator losing. If that could be twisted in a way so the spectator would win, this might interest me. But this one is great for kids. It's easy. You don't teach them the good stuff. (All you need is the glide) And they have something to show off to their friends. So I sort of like this. Also this is great for bars, If you wanna win a drink, this is the thing to go with. You can do it with coasters too. Just saying.



Difficulty 1/5

Mir nach, Kanaillen!

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 100 et seq.



Personal Comment: Follow the Leader as basic as it gets. This could be a nice lead-in quickie for a longer Follow the Leader routine with more switches of the leader cards.



Difficulty 2/5

Die Letzte! by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck

Page 102



Personal Comment: There is no way to do this on camera alone. But I hope you get the effect. Basically you are eliminating cards until the spectators is only left with one. The card of the spectator who picked the card. I have a hard time to tell you how strong this actually is. It's good. Really good. Try it. This slow card revelation is cool. The basic method... well everything you can think of will work.



Difficulty 1/5

Ein König dreht sich by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 97 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is only interesting from a technical point of view. The same effect can be achieved even easier with the cards counted in "Biddle Style" But of course this kills in a real performance. Actually I did it today and the color change in the end got me a reaction I was not prepared for. So I recommend the effect, but not the method.

Difficulty 3/5

Verliebt Verlobt Verheiratet by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 128 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is cute and kills. Hard to believe I know, but I tried it. People seem to dig this cute story. Personally I would change the method drastically, but the book that this is in was written for laypeople ergo this is simplified. The routine has a fulfilling climax and could be a neat encore trick.

Difficulty 2/5

Das abgenommene Auge by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 77

Personal Comment: I tried his trick recently. It is good. Nothing of importance, but good nevertheless. I see this more in a longer routine with all sorts of stuff happening to the pips. But this trick ends the Jochen Zmeck homage. For this time ;)

Difficulty 2/5

Die Korrektur des Zufalls by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 53 et seq.

Personal Comment: A great trick for a beginner. Simple and direct. Nothing for the pro, but you gotta love the method here.

Difficulty 1/5

Die unsichtbare Karte by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 48 et seq.

Personal Comment: To force the card would have been a better way than to do that bold peek. But some might get a kick out of this ultra bold peek. The effect is straight forwards and simple. But one thing: In Germany one of the most common games to play is Skat so most of the sold decks are intended to be used for a game of Skat. A deck of Skat only has 32 cards and no joker. Therefore the effect would be much quicker.

Difficulty 2/5

Doppelte Verwandlung by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 47 et seq.

Personal Comment: Really cute trick. While this might not end up in a professional's act I can see this one done at a bar among bar bets and such things. Easy to do, no setup (well openly taking out the Jacks) and a visual effect. Cool stuff. If part of a longer routine this might be worth checking out.

Difficulty 2/5

Eine außergewöhnliche Wanderung by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 46 et seq.

Personal Comment: It is easy to underestimate this one. Especially for most German magicians I know as they generally tend to underestimate the value of the book. There is a saying among German magicians: "Everybody owns it, nobody reads it!" Well I read it and I gotta admit some of the stuff in this book is really good. The book is for beginners. Hard to believe if you see the trick. The could be a trick in a Marlo book (perhaps it is). I like it, although it is not my style to handle packets of cards so "squared".

Difficulty 2/5

Das Kümmelblättchen by Jochen Zmeck

Handbuch der Magie (German book) by Jochen Zmeck
Page 79 et seq.

Personal Comment: This is version that works from a complete deck and is impropmtu. The use of the whole deck enables you to do the switches with little problems. It is a higly practical and commercial version with a real ending and it is deceptive to a lay person. I use it my self whenever I feel it is the right time to do it. Magicians will get a kick out of this, as the DL and TL serve a different function each time.

Difficulty 2/5