Davenports Exclusives

Beginners magic course of three days.

Dates are now set to be the 20th, 27th February and 6th March 2010, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Held in our studio, accessed via the shop.

A full set of notes will be supplied, along with all the props and equipment you will need for the course. We do not however supply lunch.

Please note that tickets are transferable (given prior notice), but not refundable.

his is an incredible, yet simple mentalism item.

A spectator is asked to hold a coin in any hand, the magician can, without touching the spectator at all, divine which hand the coin is in. This is the basic plot, but the possibilities of presentation are virtually endless. It is a high quality device which enables you to perform miracles. Consider using a group of people, can be repeated with no reset. An amassing devise, totally new to the market.

This device is a major breakthrough in detection mechanisms.

Sixth Sense can detect the location of a coin or a
variety of different items, reliably and silently.

Sixth Sense is an incredibly small device that can easily be palmed. This gives it a flexibility of use unique today. It is a single unit, no extra battery packs, wires, hook-ups etc. The unit weighs a mere 9grams - that is equivalent to six playing cards! It is 2”x1” (5x3cm) and less than 1/4” (5mm) deep.

Designed by Hugo Shelley with the professional mentalist in mind, sixth sense comes complete with wrist strap, poker chip or pound coin, extra magnet and full set of instructions and routine ideas.

The possibilities are endless.

'The Davenport Story' Series

Volume Two 'The Lost Legends'
Robert Harbin, Edward Victor, G. W. Hunter.

Edited by Fergus Roy



The second volume , The Lost Legends in The Davenport Story series unveils three hitherto unpublished works by eminent authors who were close personal friends of the family. These works were only recently discovered during research for this series.
The first by Robert Harbin, 'Magic Marches On,' was acquired by Davenports in 1946. Initially its non publication was mainly due to manpower shortages in the immediate aftermath of the war then, with the sudden passing of Gilly, the manuscript was genuinely lost. It was not until 1996 whilst researching this series of books that it was discovered amongst Gilly's papers. This work includes 42 never-before-published tricks, illusions and escapes. Among the ingenious magical novelty effects are Glass and Cloth Eating, a Canon Ball Production and a completely new method for the classic Clock Dial trick. There are 14 new illusions, and one, 'The Middle Bit' ingeniously incorporates five different effects.
The second, Edward Victor's lost fourth book 'With Magic Hands,' adds to his famous trilogy and thus completes his series. Again ill luck conspired against its publication. At the time he sold it to Gilly Davenport, Gilly was an ill man and was to pass away shortly afterwards. The manuscript was then lost amongst the heap of papers in his private office at home. There are chapters on Sleights with Cards with a Straight Deck and with Prepared Cards together with new routines for the Cut & Restored Rope and Cups & Balls feature plus new effects with a paddle and other novelties.
Finally, the last work 'Mystia' or 'The World of Magic' is by the accomplished author and inventor G. W. Hunter. This was written at the end of the 1880's and in this work We are convinced that to have been able to describe how these superb effects were done Hunter must have had access back stage. It was probably because of this espionage that he resisted publishing or parting with this work until shortly before his passing in 1939. The author analyses and reveals the secrets of the tricks of 36 leading magical acts in an era where innovative presentation was of the highest order. Acts include those of de Kolta, (with actual drawings of his Chair illusion set up), Maskelyne, Kellar, Bertram and Alexander Herrmann. The last chapter holds a number of surprises.
The front cover of the volume replicates a publicity photograph of Harbin which was inscribed 'To George and Family - Robert Harbin 1946.' George of course, was his friend Gilly Davenport. This photograph was taken at the same time as the manuscript was purchased by the Davenport family.

The Davenport Story

Volume One



The Life and Times
of a Magical Family
1881-1939

Davenports reveal in spectacular detail, secrets gathered over 110 years as dealers, performers and hoarders of magical memorabilia. The first volume of 'The Davenport Story,' entitled, 'The Life and Times of a Magical Family, 1881-1939' tells how Lewis Davenport, at the age of 16, founded his business in a highly competitive market. How that business prospered and ultimately became one of the most recognisable names in magic. In addition he and succeeding generations were magical performers, so interwoven into the story is how they developed their acts and interacted with leading magicians and events. The story calls upon unique archive material acquired from the likes of The Servais LeRoy Company, Chung Ling Soo, Maskelyne's, Will Goldston, Arnold De Biere, Okito, Cardini, Kalanag, The Great Levante, Murray and many others. Other volumes are to follow and the second in the series, 'The Lost Legends' will include Robert Harbin's unpublished 'Magic Marches On,' Edward Victor's lost book 'With Magic Hands' and as a bonus, a brilliant unpublished work by G. W. Hunter, 'The World of Magic' Volume One of 'The Davenport Story' is hard bound with colour dust cover and has 441 pages with over 500 illustrations including 16 full pages of colour.

Collectors please note that Volume One will be published on 18th. August, 2009 and all paid orders placed before that date will receive a specially printed card autographed by the Davenport family.

Post Paid Price Volume One: United Kingdom £76, Europe £84, U.S.A. £95.

One gift voucher, which we can accept in payment against any of our tricks, books, DVDs and courses.

Please note that we would not charge postage for the voucher (even though the system appears to add it at checkout).

This wand offers the ultimate in both finish and looks. Made by Davenports. The body of the wand is made from wood and varnished, to bring out the patina of the grain, and for long service. The ends are of solid turned and polished brass. Approximately 35 cm. long (13-3/4 inches) with brass ends 4/7 cms. (1-7/8th inches) and 12 mm thick this wand is perfect for the close-up worker wishing to present a class setting for his act. The balance of this wand lends itself ideally for the cups and ball routine where the spinning of the wand hides some of the finer sleights and movements.

By Roy Walton. This volume follows the highly acclaimed first volume and comprises over 100 original sleights and effects. Davenports have ensured that Volume Two is a perfect match to Volume One and completes over 400 pages of some of the best card effects from a prodigious innovator. This volume has been superbly and comprehensively illustrated by Gordon Bruce one of Britain's most accomplished card conjurors. This work is directed towards the dedicated card magician with a knowledge of sleights and handling. Hard back with gold block lettering, 169 pages, 5-1/2 x 8-3/4 inches, fully illustrated.

By Arthur F. MacTier. Published by Davenports and now recognised as a major reference work. The sub title of this work is "An Anthology of Numerical & Sequential Principles within Card Magic". Discussed are not only all of the classic mathematical principles, 31 in all, used with cards, but also 70 tricks using these principles are included in a novel way. Each principle is explained in easy-to-understand terms, then tricks involving the particular principle are explained in a step-by-step instruction. This is the only book to cover these principles so comprehensively and took years of research. One does not need to be a mathematician to understand and use the principles involved as the author cleverly gives examples of how you can use them without knowing the maths. The tricks are virtually self working yet they involve the best mathematical principles developed. Hard bound with gold block lettering, 301 pages, large format 8-1/4 by 11-1/2 inches.

This is made for use by the serious performer who needs to carry his props in a case that will convert to a good sized table which can be rolled onto the performing area and rolled off when the act is over. Designed and manufactured by Davenports, it is made from the finest materials. The table is finished in black silk finish paint with red and silver glitter chevrons in front. The working top is covered in green baize cloth and it has three working shelves, as well as the base for props when in use. Although lightweight in construction, it has an aluminium stress bar to ensure that the structure will take the strain when full of magic props.

Rugged tyred wheels ensure that it will travel over pavements. A quality leather carrying handle and a case latch with brass padlock allows you to lock it with your props inside for added safety when not in use. In addition there are wheel cups in the event that you are performing on board ship or on a sloping stage in which the wheels will sit and thus ensure that the table will not move during your performance. An exclusive and novel feature is the pulling leather strap which allows you to pull the table along behind you when transporting it from place to place in the event it is too heavy to carry when loaded with your props.

When the table is collapsed and secured for carrying its dimensions are approximately 17 inches wide by 24 inches long (43 x 61 cm.) and 17 inches (43 cm.) high, excluding the castors. When erected for use, the overall working height (including the castors) is approximately 36 inches (91 cm.). The working top folds out and secures to give a large area of approximately 24 inches wide by 14 inches deep ( 61 x 35 cm.). The total weight is about 26 lbs (13 Kgs.)

Please note that this prop should be collected from our premises as sending by post is expensive as a special wooden case has to be made in order for it to arrive undamaged. The additional case cost would be £60.00.
The weight of the table when packed in its special case is about 56 lbs (25 Kgs. The table can be supplied without any of the glitter decoration on the front as many magicians prefer to have their own logo on the front.
Please advise when ordering.

This is a standard six movement ventriloquist head, hand made from paper-mache in the UK. It is the traditional pivot jaw type. The movements are:

Lower lip
Right eye lid
Left eye lid
Eye brows
Eyes
Ears

By Lewis Ganson. Also includes "Exhibition Card Fans" We believe this work to be one of the very best on the subject of classic card manipulation, including as it does a comprehensive section on card fans, techniques and methods rarely seen or used today. Here are a few extracts from Paul Fleming's Review. "We have no hesitancy in pronouncing it one of the very best discussions of back-hand card manipulation we have ever seen. If oneÕs knowledge of back-hand work and its possibilities were to be limited to a single source, we should be disposed to vote for Expert Manipulation of Playing Cards. The student is carried smoothly along from the simplest to the more complicated moves of this intricate sleight. To magicians who experience difficulty in building manipulative sleights into finished routines, the half-dozen pages of Section IV will be of much assistance. The author gives three complete series of manipulations, which are followed by several other suggestions for working oneÕs sleights into an effective "act". So far as the material itself is concerned - and especially the section on back-palming - it is of so high an order that we can scarcely conceive of any card manipulator, whether expert or beginner, denying himself the pleasure and profit that a study of this book is sure to provide. Regarding the Card Fan sections. The instructions are so complete and so well illustrated that they should enable the would-be card-fanner, springer, spreader, and catcher to practice to his heartÕs content with every assurance of acquiring the desired skill." Hard Bound with gold foil lettering, large format A4 size on quality paper, 121 pages and 269 illustrations.

A Davenport exclusive and one of the most baffling effects in the history of card magic and it is really weird yet so simple to perform. A single playing card defies all the known laws of logic. The card is folded in half lengthways, so that only the back design shows. The card is then pushed through a cardboard folder and as it emerges from the other side is seen to be now inexplicably face up! The spectators can visibly see that half the card is face up and the other half is face down. The effect is now repeated and the third sequence is an effective finale, that leaves the apparatus in the spectator's hands. The playing card is an ordinary one. No extra cards are used, nor are there any difficult sleights to perform and a patter theme about a 'Time Tunnel' would fit perfectly. The 8 page, A5 size booklet of instructions that accompanies the cards you need is superbly printed on high quality art paper and has a rich red art board cover. This is the original version.

A Demon exclusive so do beware of imitations. Although listed in the Close-Up section it is an ideal prop for stage work. This wonderful prop was used brilliantly by the late George Davenport, known affectionately as Gilly, and comes complete with a comprehensive booklet by Pat Page illustrated by Ali Bongo. This is a miracle and that is all! It's greatness lies in the fact that you simply make things disappear from in front of your audiences eyes! Isn't that what magicians are meant to do! You can do this surrounded by your audience, at a bar, on stage ... simply anywhere anytime! You can vanish anything from a pack of cards to a glass of whisky! Gilly Davenport often made a tumbler full of rice disappear leaving the tumbler empty! For the price it is a wonderful, wonderful prop that will last a lifetime but beware - it does need practice!

This is a COLOURFUL version of Roy Walton's original 'Cascade' where the original routine has been altered to incorporate brilliant colour changes from normal backed cards to quite stunning holographic material backed cards! To the late Terri Rogers must go the credit for the innovation of using cards with a special reflective material affixed which creates a stunning and totally unexpected finale. Taking these things into consideration ' Rainbow Cascade' has become substantially different in effect to the original and is now regarded as a classic in its own right. A degree of basic card skill is required for this effect but the instructions do give full details of the moves involved and these are readily acquired with a little practice. Note that this is an exclusive Davenport item. To see it ... is to buy it ... a miracle! The stock used is the hugely popular Bicycle Poker sized cards. Comes complete with a handsome 6 page, A5 size art paper booklet of instructions. with a distinctive blue art board cover.

A great double-use utility prop that can be used for both a production or a vanish. Made by Davenports, this is hand crafted from the finest birch ply with a natural wood finish and hard varnished with a solid brass knob. This is a prop that will give a lifetime of service and can be used in an almost infinite number of ways. For production, the box is shown to the audience and the drawer pulled out to show that it is empty, then pushed back in. It is then pulled out and now contains a drawer full of silk handkerchiefs or whatever. The vanish is equally astonishing. One can also use it to vanish an item then produce it later or indeed during your performance you continually show the box empty then go back to it and produce an item from it. External dimensions 9-5/8 inches long, by 5-5/8 inches wide and 4-1/4 inches deep (237mm x 143mm x 107 mm)

Beautifully handcrafted natural wood where the patina of the wood grain can be seen and admired under the rich varnish. The effect is stunning. Our boxes are made by our own craftsmen and are as closely made to the original Goldston boxes of yesteryear. You show a box or hat to be empty save for a large die. You take the die out of the box and place it in one compartment of a two compartment wooden cabinet, mentioning that you are going to make the die disappear! When you have placed the die inside, you clearly tip the cabinet, indicating to your audience that the die has slid down to the other side. You open up the original cabinet compartment revealing it to be empty! When your audience shout at you that it has slid to the other side, you tip the cabinet over to the other side, to the accompaniment of another loud clunk and open the other compartment revealing it to be empty. The audience will now be on the verge of lynching you but you can go on milking this effect until you finally give in to the audience and open both doors, plus the rear doors, revealing the compartments and the cabinet to be completely and totally empty. You declare the whilst they were watching the cabinet, you had magiked the die back into the hat! You move to the hat, which must be empty but there for all to see is the die back in the hat. A truly remarkable effect and so simple to perform.

A positively uncanny reputation making effect using two 42 cm. lengths. The performer holds the two lengths side by side in one hand and it is seen that at the ends furthest from the performer a length of cord, with a tassel attached passes through the sticks and is affixed to a small ring on the top. The performer explains that by pulling the tassel on one of the sticks, this causes the other tassel to rise up to the stick. Obviously the cord must pass from one stick and into the other, but you now separate them at the outer ends and again pull on the tassel and once again the one on the other stick is drawn upwards. The audience thinks that the sticks must be connected at the ends nearest you and the cord must pass from one stick to the other at this point, but you disprove this by completely separating the sticks and tucking one beneath your arm. When you pull on the tassel this time, the one on the other stick still rises, as if they must in some way be connected, but they aren't! You can even allow the spectator himself to pull on the tassel, the result will be still the same. Little skill is required and the many combinations of moves possible are quite astounding. You can present this as a puzzle or make it a feature in your performance. Hand made in England in Davenports own workshops.

One gift voucher, which we can accept in payment against any of our tricks, books, DVDs and courses.

Please note that we would not charge postage for the voucher (even though the system appears to add it at checkout).