This amusing little puzzle is done with a coin the size of an English shilling or an American quarter. You need also a pack of cigarettes of the type with a slide drawer. These are very common in England and are obtainable in several different brands in the States. The coin is placed at the bottom of the cigarette packet... just inserted so that it protrudes slightly from the bottom... coin being between outside of the packet and the back of the drawer that contains the cigarettes. The problem is to get the coin to the top of the package…
(Note by Cedric: Arthur Dowler has been tearing the hearts out of the cafe mongers on his voyage to New York, and the Normandie bartender never will be quite the same. It creates instantaneous enthusiasm. It appeared new to many of the boys although not original with Arthur. I am sure, however, it will be of interest and indeed a new item to most Jinx readers.) The effect is that a beer bottle cap (Coca-Cola and Orange Soda caps worked as well for me. Ed.) is shown and placed downwards on a table or hard surface, that is, the closed…
Contests are funny. My first, in Jinx #48, didn't pull as many answers as I expected although a Jinx Extra was at stake. Maybe it was the thought of getting an Extra? Maybe magicians don't like to win? I don't think I make them too hard. Here's one more. Deadline by postmark is midnight April 30, 1939. All correct answers get the Summer 1939 Extra. The problem? Lay 9 cards on the table as outlined below. A - 2 - 3 3 - A - 2 2 - 3 - A Make three distinct moves, an exchange of two cards,…
Effect: The magician shows a wooden block puzzle that has a ring on it. It is given to a spectator with the request that he take off the ring, but after trying for a few minutes it is declared impossible. Putting it behind his back for a second, the performer takes off the ring and gives them both for inspection. Secret: This is one of those bare faced things which a magician can delight in doing for the tried and true puzzle addict. The fact that it is impossible to do is where the Sam Lloyd students will run into…
Death From a Top Hat, by Clayton Rawson, contained a super puzzle as an example of perfect misdirection. With permission from the author of that excellent murder mystery of magicians, by a magician, and for magicians, it is given here for those who pride themselves on common sense, especially mathematicians. X is the center of the circle. The distance AB is 5 inches and the distance BC is 9 ½ inches. What is the diameter of the circle? The time limit is one minute flat for a Jinx IQ of "quite a bit above normal". You'll do better if you…
Three men apply for a vacant post. The prospective employer, liking each applicant equally well, proposes a test. The light will be extinguished and the employer will mark a cross in chalk on the forehead of each man. He has chalk of two colors, blue and white, and the cross may be either one of the two. The light will then be turned up and any man who can see one or more blue crosses is to stand up. THEY ALL STAND UP. The employer then asks if any man can state the color of the cross on his own…