. Modern magic. : A practical treatise on the art of istons are placedside by side. The cords are carried behindthe scenes, either directly from the back ofthe table, or down grooves in the legs, andthrough holes in the stage to the hiding-place of the assistant. Where a single piston only is required, it maybe made to work in the central pillar of a light gueridon, or fancytable, such as shown in Fig. 279, the lightness and simplicity of thetable, and the thinness of its top, appa-rently precluding all possibility of thepresence of concealed mechanism. The*cord may be made to pass
. Modern magic. : A practical treatise on the art of istons are placedside by side. The cords are carried behindthe scenes, either directly from the back ofthe table, or down grooves in the legs, andthrough holes in the stage to the hiding-place of the assistant. Where a single piston only is required, it maybe made to work in the central pillar of a light gueridon, or fancytable, such as shown in Fig. 279, the lightness and simplicity of thetable, and the thinness of its top, appa-rently precluding all possibility of thepresence of concealed mechanism. The*cord may be made to pass down thecentre pillar, so as to be quite invisibleto the audience. The mechanical pieces worked bythe agency of these pistons vary greatlyin construction, but they are alike inone particular, viz., that they are set inmotion by one or more vertical rodspassing up the shaft or column on whichthey stand, and each terminating in aflat metal disc, or pedal, which receives the upward pressure of thepiston. Fig. 280 shows the arrangement of the foot of a mechanical. Fig. 280. MODERN MAGIC. 449 piece worked by one such rod only. Another specimen will havebeen observed in the case of the pedestal for the animated money.{See page 186.) Where three or four pedals are necessary, they aregenerally enclosed in a square wooden base, as in the case of theDemons Head, described at page 458. Before quitting the subject of the tables used upon the stage, wemust not omit to say a few words as to what is called the bellows table, though it is now comparatively little used. It was formerly(say forty or fifty years ago) the fashion among conjurors to usetables with drapery hanging to within a few inches of the table being, say, two feet seven inches high, this gave room for abox-like arrangement, of two feet deep, or thereabouts, within thebody of the table. In this box, which was open at the back, washidden an assistant, who worked the pistons, managed the traps,effected necessary substi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlondon, bookyear188
