Ben Harris – Machinations (PDF+Gimmicks PDFs)

With Machinations, Ben Harris builds upon an unusual and unbelievable puzzle developed by Martin Gardner and Bob Neale known as “The Trapdoor Card”. This topological effect allows you to essentially turn a card INSIDE OUT.

In effect, you display a playing card (or piece of paper, or ticket, or ANYTHING similar) with a small door cut out just off-center. The spectator can then hold onto this tab as you fold around it and cause absolutely impossible and visual miracles happen. You can cause images to vanish, the paper to turn inside out or even make the entire shape change.

Ben Harris has meditated on this principle and taken it in wild, new directions. If you love “Card Warp” or playing card art, and enjoy whimsical presentations, this is THE book for you.

This gorgeous volume features 100 pages of detailed illustrations and instructions. The book is tactile – the props you need are part of the pages, and additional gimmicks have been tipped in, so that you can follow along in real time. Every effect is incredibly easy to perform and requires no practice.

You’ll learn handlings that involve playing cards, schematics for magical doors, Houdini-based escapes, and how to use “The Trapdoor Card” in a packet of cards.

Machinations features more than TWENTY effects using this principle, including:

Zoo Ticket– Cause a zoo ticket printed with donkey images to impossibly transform into a ticket with penguin imagery.

Houdini’s Escape– Using a paper “padlock,” you assist the famous Houdini in a trapdoor escape.

The Wishing Paper– Showing a paper with birthday candles, the spectator makes a wish. When the paper is unfolded again, their wish appears on the other side.

The Wad of Paper (by Bob Neale)– In this impromptu effect, you and a spectator contemplate the meaning of life while performing the powerful and direct “Trapdoor Card”.

And so much more!

100 pages. Hardbound. Gimmicks included.

Need extra gimmicks? Machinations gimmick refills are also available.

“Machinations is marvelous! Ben Harris ventured through the trap door and boldlywent where no man has gone before. He returned triumphant, toting this trove oftreasure… Highly Recommended.” Tom Frame (Genii Magazine)

A most entertaining, beautiful, and wonderful book.” Richard Kaufman

“Machinations is more wicked than I could have imagined. The glory of seeing a great idea get the ‘all in’ treatment twists my brain inside-out in a good way.” Jonathan Friedman

“A stunning book… dedicated to one mystery, but opening up doors to a whole new world of endless possibilities.” Paul Romhany (Vanish Magazine, July 2020)