THE MAGIC THIMBLE
By Richard Robinson

Magic with thimbles sometimes employs subtilties that results in very effective illusion. These two effects by Walter Gibson use what Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin called The Old Method of palming a ball for Cups & Balls work where a small ball is secreted "at the base of the middle and ring fingers, where it is held between the fleshy portions of these two fingers."

Production

A thimble suddenly appears on the performer's forefinger.

Working

The thimble is palmed between the roots of the second and third fingers, the open end of thimble inwards; this palm is similar to that used in the Cups and Balls. The hand is held back towards audience.

To produce the thimble, the thumb comes over and half pushes, half rolls the thimble into the position shown.

At the same time, right forefinger is bent inwards and the thumb pushes the thimble on to the tip of finger; finger is immediately straightened, and the move is complete. This sleight is quite easy, and when it is rapidly executed, the illusion is perfect.

Color Change

The thimble changes color.

Working

A thimble is palmed and a thimble of a different color is placed on tip of forefinger.

To make the change, the thimble on the finger tip is quickly thumb palmed and the palmed thimble is brought to finger tip as in the thimble production described above. This move must be worked rapidly and smoothly, under cover of the knee or elbow.

Walter Gibson's 'Some Thimble Sleights' originally appeared in The Sphinx, Kansas City, May 1917.