(This contribution has been the best answer to the production of a full deck query which was in The Jinx #7 for April, 1935. I’m still trying to get the last part, the vanish, cleared up. Ed.)
In effect, the performer shows two tambourine rings and a sheet of tissue paper. A drumhead is formed with paper and rings and freely shown on both sides. Holding it hanging down in the left hand, the right is shown perfectly empty and then plunged through the tambourine from back to front. In the hand, upon appearance, is a full deck fanned faces out. The broken tambourine is tossed aside and the deck used for a subsequent effect.
Needed for this very effective opener to a card routine is a simple wire gimmick other than the deck, tambourine rings about 10 inches in diameter, and tissue paper. Take a piece of tissue and cut a strip about 1 ½ inches wide and long enough to go around the width of the deck. Fold the strip lengthwise to make three thicknesses. Lay the deck on the strip, bring the ends around and glue so that deck is tightly fastened together. From piano wire painted black, construct a feke as shown.
| Constructing the Feke |
|---|
| Separate the cards near the center of the lower edge and insert the feke, pulling it up to the tissue band. |
| The other end of the feke is brought over the top edge of the deck and the whole assumes the position as shown. The cards thus prepared are placed in the breast pocket of the coat so the upper edge is just about flush with the top of the pocket. The wire loop extends above the pocket and is at right angles to the body. |
Now you are ready. Show the rings and fasten a sheet of tissue between them. Hold the tambourine in front of the body between thumbs at back and fingers at front, the hands being at the opposite sides. It must be slightly more to the left than to the right of the body. Turn the tambourine over slowly, or rather revolve it, the axis being parallel with the floor. On the last revolution it is held at one side between the fore and middle fingers of the left hand, and on the other side between the fore and middle fingers of the right hand. This leaves the left thumb free and it immediately engages the wire loop. Now comes an important move. The right fingers let go of their edge which allows the tambourine to swing towards the left and hang directly in front of the breast pocket, it being held now at the top by the left fingers.
The right hand immediately moves to the right and is shown empty and as attention is directed towards it, the left hand moves up and outward. The action brings the cards out and behind the tambourine. It is now being held at the top with the fingers in front and the thumb behind. Hanging on the thumb against the back is the deck.
Plunging the right hand through the paper from the back to front, the lower part of the cards is grasped as it goes through. The wire cuts through the tissue paper band and pulls out through the top of the deck. As the deck faced the performer, it was grasped by the right thumb on the face and the fingers on the back. When through the paper it is fanned and the hand dropped downward which leaves the deck fanned and facing the audience. The tissue band drops to the floor as torn paper.
The remains of the tambourine are tossed onto the table, the wire feke slipping off the left thumb and staying underneath. The wire feke is never seen because it is painted black and is behind the fragments of tissue paper still attached to the rings. This ‘surprise’ can be used at any time during a performance.
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