Читать книгу Modern Coin Magic - J. B. Bobo - Страница 46

One of the oldest methods known for vanishing a coin is this one which is known as Le Tourniquet or French Drop (literally, the Swivel or Twist). Although it is seldom seen today it is good when properly executed.

With the left hand palm upward, hold a half dollar by its edges between the tips of the left fingers and thumb, tilting the rear of the coin up slightly so its face can be seen by the spectators, Fig. 1.

Bring the palm down right hand over the coin, the thumb going underneath it and between the left thumb and fingers. Lift up and close the right hand, pretending to take the coin away from the left, but allow the coin to make a half turn forward as it slides down to the base of the second and third fingers of the left hand where it is finger palmed, Fig. 2.

Keep the left fingers together during this action or the coin may be glimpsed by the onlookers. Move the closed right hand to the right and downward and turn it fingers uppermost, keeping your attention fixed on it. Turn the left hand back toward the spectators and point to the closed right hand as it “crumbles” the coin away. Open the right hand and show it empty.

This sleight is especially useful in vanishing a small number of coins, and the action is exactly the same as for one, the coins being held in a stack with each flat on top of the other. When the coins fall into the left hand they make a jingle which sounds as if they actually had been taken in the right hand.

Whether you are going to vanish one or several coins you should first actually take the coin(s) in the right hand using the French Drop moves, then place the coin(s) on the table momentarily, pull back the sleeves, pick them up and in apparently repeating the moves, execute the sleight. The action appears the same and the illusion is convincing.

The French Drop can also be employed to exchange one coin for another. To use it for this purpose, have a coin hidden in your right finger palm as you show another in your left hand. Bring the right hand over and pretend to take the coin, but execute the sleight and retain it in the left hand as the right hand closes and moves away with its coin. The moves can be used as a color change (by employing a copper and a silver coin) or simply to secretly exchange a borrowed coin for one of your own.

A group of silver coins can be made to change to copper by employing these moves. The possibilities are numerous.