Since the inception of The Jinx, many improvements have been received from readers who have tried out and tested the various effects. Any trick will stand variations in method and presentation. Periodically I will submit these contributions and hope they may make more practical for YOU tricks you have perhaps passed by.

Jinx #1 – October 1934
The Supreme East Indian Needle Trick

Eliminate the faked spool. As the needle load is wound only at the eye ends, it can be stuck with points down on the right lower vest pocket of your business suit or tuxedo. Have the spectator on your left and let him cut off the thread. As you turn towards the left and take the tray of loose needles with your right hand, your left fingers take the load and it is in the correct position. Everything else is the same in the routine and you can leave the spool with the audience as the load principle in spools has been exposed several times of late.
Improvement by Annemann

Jinx #1 – October 1934
Hallucination

Work by putting two heavy rubber bands around the deck, one each way. This covers the fake card to hide the cut lines of the card and also seems to the spectator to guarantee that the cards are not manipulated.
Improvement by Charles W. Fricke

Jinx #2 – November 1934
Your Card!

Rather than take out the 4th and 13th cards, take out the 12th and 13th. You’ll get the same results without having to stop at the 4th.

Improvement by Orville Meyer

Jinx #3 – December 1934
The Bending Swizzle Stick

Some have had trouble bending the glass rods. It is a fact that you can hold the ends and a gas flame at the center will not be felt. However, if one works over a gas stove burner, just lay the rod on the arm of one burner, light it and the rod will sag by itself when hot enough
Improvement by Annemann

Jinx #4 – January 1935
Cigarette Perception

Use ladies instead of gentlemen because of the greater difference in footwear.
Improvement by Frank N. Dodd

Jinx #7 – April 1935
The Lemon and the Dollar

Instead of using three lemons, have three different kinds of fruit, say, for instance, an apple, orange and lemon. It makes for easier and more correct working because at a glance the performer can tell which bill is out without having to give the lemon a more apparent look-over.
Improvement by Leo H. Sullivan

Jinx #9 – June 1935
A Matter of Policy

Use ten instead of twenty cards. Five Republicans and five Democrats. Eliminate every fifth card instead of tenth. The order from left to right is R-D-R-D-R-D-R-D-D-R. It all makes for quicker working and sustained interest.
Improvement by Max Holden

Summer Extra 1935
Par-Optic Vision

For a possible repeat at a later date, and for those who don’t want to touch the deck after the selections, one can use a three kind alternating force deck with every third card wide and long. This is made by cutting all other cards short and narrow. False shuffle and cut. Put the deck on the table and have the spectator cut off a bunch and continue with the next three. You can’t miss.
Variation by Annemann

Jinx #10 – July 1935
Extra-Sensory Perception

Do this with two people rather than three. The effect is better and the third time doesn’t become a boring repetition. Also lightly pencil or secretly dot the pasteboards so you can quickly stack them in the correct order by number rather than by a list or memory.
Improvement by Annemann

Jinx #10 – July 1935
Twentieth Century Cards

Because Mr Jamison got so much from this effect using a ribbon he worked out this stand to give it a better ‘front’. The uprights are about 7″ apart and the stand sets about 7″ high. Holes are bored in uprights for a nickled rod which extends at ends about an inch. The screen is about 4½” square and made of cardboard and decorated. It is of a size so that when set in front of the stand, it will come just above and below the cards on the rod and allow clear vision all around it otherwise, giving the performer free use of both hands. At the finish, the entire stand can be given out for examination of the cards on the rod.
Improvement by R. M. Jamison

Jinx #11 – August 1935
A Divination With Matches

It is not necessary to use a new paper of matches as the effect will work as long as most of them are there. You can thus take them from a spectator. Note the number of matches left by picking up the paper and lighting a cigarette or cigar.
Improvement by Herbert R. Hood