141 entries in Pen & Pencil / Miscellaneous
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Mit Röntgen-Augen one of four different colored pencils is placed inside a box, divination of the color
1927 54
Tom Sellers Spook Pencils four pencils of different color, spectator writes with one of them and performer knows which color has been used
1931 5
Tom Sellers An Amazing Dictionary Feat word selected as performer is out of the room is divined by him, secret message inside pencil
1933 13
Theodore Annemann Pencil Routine outline, combining puzzles, gags, effects
Aug. 1936
The Jinx (Issue 23)
142
Breaking A Pencil With A Dollar Bill
1937 20
David E. Swift The Pencil Fountain water is produced from borrowed pencil
1938 831
Peter Warlock Pencil Note on Nail secret cue sheet, recipe
Apr. 1939
The Jinx (Issue 55)
390
John B. Ward Pencil & Peg Mystery three holes in pencil, small peg jumps from hole to hole
June 1939
Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 1 No. 12)
4
A Dollar makes a "Break" bill to coins, bill breaks pencil (outstreched finger)
1943/27 127
Ralph W. Read Tapping Pencil spectator feels "impulses" that still pencil makes on back of his hand, or on table or box
Also published here 1945 184
John Booth Pen-Plexity code a number to a medium with a fountain pen
1945 197
Robert A. Nelson Radar Pencil Mental Routine one of four cards is picked up secretly, card is detected, radar pencil
1945 22
Milbourne Christopher Salt Passe salt vanishes and appears back in hand, hollow pencil
Nov. 1946 264
Dr. William Weyeneth Fabrication d'une cigarette dans la main paper and tabac transform into cigarette in fist, using pen, followed by german translation "Fabrikation einer Zigarette, frei in der Hand"
Jan. 1946 4
U. F. Grant Chalk Penetration chalk mark is rubbed through a table or surface and appears on the performer's other previously examined hand
Oct. 1948 14
Floyd Catlin Silk Vanishing Pencil same mechanism as silk vanishing wand, in paper cone
1949
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1949)
37
Jack Yeager Flying Ink ink from a pen and water in a glass transpose
Also published here
  • Jack Yeager's "Second Portfolio of Tricks"
1951
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1951)
8
Don Alan The Inflation Pencil gag pencil, to vanish objects
1951 7
John Murray Murray's Muse ideas for Herpick's Phantom Pencil
Apr. 1953
The Phoenix (Issue 279)
1115
George Schindler Radar Magnet idea for the radar pencil
Apr. 1953
The Phoenix (Issue 279)
1115
Martin Gardner Pencilvania ideas for effects with pencils, with ribbon, naming color
Dec. 1955
The New Phoenix (Issue 334)
146
Everett Lyda Who Gets the Prize humorous routine for Loop Pencil puzzle, as competition with two spectators
1956
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1956)
6
Don Alan Ball Point Pen gag, ball appears on pen
1956 37
Don Alan It's a Small World gags with a small pencil sharpener globe
1956 42
Jerry Andrus Reversing Pen orientation of pen reverses in paper tube
1957 1
Tony Corinda (3) A Pocket Trick pencil is removed from a box, color is divined, fake pencil
1958 42
Tony Corinda (1) The Billet Pencil loading a billet in an envelope
Related toVariations 1958 86
Dr. Spencer Thornton The Fantastic Bill Transposition bill vanishes from handkerchief and appears inside envelope, using Corinda Billet Pencil
1959
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1959)
15
Tony Corinda Publicity Pencils branded pencils
1960 385
Dr. William Weyeneth Magische Feinkost torn and restored cigarette, using a pen
1961
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 22 No. 5)
112
Dr. William Weyeneth Die rote Birne red light bulb, red writing is invisible, some ideas
1961
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 22 No. 6)
126
Everett Lyda Impromptu Atomic Routine several tricks combined into a routine with atomic theme, Glorpy, Adam's Atomic Crystal Spot, break-away pencils
1962
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1962)
40
Leo Behnke Spot Everywhere spots drawn on sugar cube, cube is dissolved in water and spots found on spectator, stamp with the aid of sugar cube
1962 8
Peter Strange In the Pen message appears on pen
May 1963
The New Phoenix (Issue 380)
348
Jack Yeager Tipsy Turvy Pencils using Blake's Rotating Pencil, do as I do presentation
1964
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1963-64)
29
Cecil Keech Gozinta Pencils two different colored pencils change places, tube and pocket, then both pencils are put into the tube, which should be too small
Variations 1967 275
¿Fuma Ud. Boligrafos? smoking a pen, with a match
1973 21
Sam Dalal Double Vision two cards predicted on paper slips, using ballpoint pen with pencil lead, mirage deck
Also published here
  • Magigram (Rough-Smooth part, by Sam Dalal)
June 1974 743
A Puzzle drawing a circle and a dot on a paper without lifting the pen
1974 34
Francis Carlyle Germain's Paper billet switch with pencil, unclear if by Germain or Jacques Remanaux
1975 126
Vic Perry The Perry Pen! x made in book, force, special two-sided pen
1975
Magick (Issue 118)
588
Karl Fulves (1) The Pencil That Remembers What It Writes after examining pencil, performer knows what was written with it, electronics, no details given
Related to 1976
Interlocutor (Issue 6)
20
Karrell Fox A Switch on Dave Hoy's Switch using pen with two tops instead of bulldog clips
Inspired byRelated to 1976 91
Barrie Richardson The Magnetic Force spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand
Also published here Dec. 1977
Pabular (Vol. 4 No. 4)
504
Salt Routine salt vanishes from hand, reappears in pen
1977 5
Al Mann The Frankenstein Affair several dead ants and a dead fly come back to life, ladybug recommandation
Related to 1977 12
Robert Cassidy Mentalists' Problem Number 1 pencil placed under small aquarium, some or all fall over, posed as a problem
Related to Aug. 1978 1
Robert Cassidy Mentalists' Problem Number 1 pencil placed under small aquarium, some or all fall over
Related to Sep. 1978 2
Tony "Doc" Shiels Mentalists Problem Number One - A Solution pencil placed under small aquarium, some or all fall over
Related to Dec. 1978 2
C. L. Boarde Reference Procedures - Variation C on hiding a list of words, pens and crayons
1978 12
Karrell Fox On the Other Hand ideas for steel animal trap, Abbott's Daring Spring Trap, pencil snapped in two, fake hand in trap
1979 253
Significant Digit No. 6, spectator writes number on one side of small paper, it is torn in half with writing down, performer knows which half has writing and the number, pencil writing transferred to moist finger
1979 8
David Himelrick Bio Test! building a pen with a prompter sheet, accessing word index
Variations 1980
Magick (Issue 266)
1328
Frederick M. Shields Brain Echoes book test, prompter
Inspired by 1980
Magick (Issue 272)
1358
Karl Fulves Satan's Hammer No. 5, cardboard hammer breaks pencil
1980 5
Ken Brooke, Cecil Keech The Gozinta Tube two different colored pencils change places, tube and pocket, then both pencils are put into the tube, which should be too small
Inspired byAlso published here 1980 205
Steve Dusheck E.S. Pen double writing with pen that has small pen hinged to it
Also published here 1980 ca. 13
The Mind Dowser No. 44, paper balanced on the edge of a coin moves when pen comes close
1981 54
Karl Fulves The Mind Transmitter No. 49, pen code, coin value divined by medium
1981 60
Stephen Tucker, David Britland Gags? with books, cards and pens
July 1981
Spell-Binder (Vol. 1 No. 3)
44
Hen Fetsch Bleistiftfühlen feeling color of pencil behind back
Oct. 1982
Intermagic (Vol. 9 No. 3)
105
Hen Fetsch Der Uri Geller Bleistift bending illusion with pencil, apparently soft
Oct. 1982
Intermagic (Vol. 9 No. 3)
106
Karl Fulves Sharpening Pencil in Card Case "the old pencil-sharpener in thumb tip gag"
1983 6
Alan Shaxon Index Pen window in pen, can be turned to see other information
1983 13
Steve Dusheck I.O.U. finger ring vanishes, using gaffed ballpoint pen with hook
1984 59
Barrie Richardson Heavy Metal! spectator is not able to lift pencil from performer's palm
Also published here Aug. 1984
Magick (Issue 336)
1677
Daryl Martinez The Multi-Colored Pen starting with "pen writes any color"-gag, out to lunch principle
1986 15
Kugelschreiber & Füllfederhalter four impromptu magic items and gags with pen and pencils
Dec. 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 3 & 4)
131
Flip Hallema Pen Steal apparently putting pen in pocket
1988
Magical Arts Journal (Vol. 2 No. 7 & 8 Arcane)
3
Flip Hallema Body Holdout holding pen against body
1988
Magical Arts Journal (Vol. 2 No. 7 & 8 Arcane)
5
Karl Fulves Non-Working Trix #4
  • "Unexchange", pseudo-switch of two small items, like chess figures or Okito boxes
  • secretly exchanging the pen caps of two pens even though apparently nothing happens
Related to 1988
Interlocutor (Issue 50)
239
Steve Beam The Magic Maker marker is put in pocket without putting cap on it, big ink stain on shirt, then cap vanishes and reappears on pen and ink stain vanishes
1989 489
Gaëtan Bloom RemarKable! spectator writes name of a card next to any number on a list and writes other cards to the other positions, performer divines selection
Aug. 1990
Magick (Issue 444)
2219
Mike Rose Pen Gag steel ball from "ball point pen"
1991 738
Karrell Fox The "Magic Marker" splotch of ink on shirt, gag
1991 151
David Harkey Crib formula written on finger, it is smudged and than becomes clean writing again
1991 243
Jonathan Cooke Thurston Remembered Voice Print effect, list with names, divining special person
1991 25
Steve Beam Unleaded several mechanical pencils, spectator removes lead from one which performer divines
1992 825
Scotty York Scotty's Cigarette Switch Using a Fountain Pen
1993 85
Tony Slydini Water Leak paper on pencil used to catch drops of water from apparent leak in ceiling
1993
Rigmarole (Issue 5)
53
Steve Dusheck E.S. Pen double writing with pen that has small pen hinged to it
Also published here 1993 38
Ali Bongo Pick-A-Pencil / Pick-A-Lollipop bunch of pencils, all removed but one, prediction
Also published here 1994 3
Alan Shaxon Index Pen window in pen, can be turned to see other information
1994 16
Al Mann The Swords of Thoth on pencils
  • Living and Dead
Related to Nov. 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 5)
15
Al Mann The Swords of Thoth - Part 2 on Ed Mellon's Instrumental
Related to Dec. 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 6)
15
Felix Farrell Air-Brush handkerchief appears with the aid of a felt pen, vanishes and appears inside the pen
1995 13
Alexander de Cova Der "Profi-Halter" impromptu multi-purpose holder (Universalhalter)
Also published here Mar. 1995
Intermagic (Vol. 19 No. 2)
48
Al Mann The Swords of Thoth - Part 3 on pencils, billet pens
Related to Jan. 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 7)
15
Al Mann The Swords of Thoth - Part 4 on pencils, nail writer
Related to Feb. 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 8)
12
Al Mann The Swords of Toth Part 5 names in envelopes are taken home by performer, after a couple of days name is revealed
Related to Mar. 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 9)
12
Didier Chantôme Criterium Voice Print, special name is divined among others using pendulum
June 1995
Vibrations (Vol. 17 No. 12)
14
Karl Fulves Penmanship "Unsolved Mysteries"
money maker roller principle with two pens, posed as a problem
1997 147
Larry White Un-Capped apparently uncapping pen while pushing it through fist
Sep. 1997 9
Cecil Keech, Ken Brooke Die Gozinta-Tube two different colored pencils change places, tube and pocket, then both pencils are put into the tube, which should be too small
Inspired byAlso published here 1997
Intermagic (Vol. 21 No. 1)
29
Martin Gardner Magnetized Pencils
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
two pencils held together with force, they seem to cling together then
Feb. 1997
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 6)
73
Barrie Richardson Pencil Pusher spectator is unable to pick up a pencil on performer's open hand, small thread loop
VariationsAlso published here 1999 71
Karl Fulves Hypodermic Needle Gag actually a pen, comedy prop
2000 151
Martin Gardner Pencil Magnet pencil in paper cup, pencil is held and cup remains suspended
Related to 2000
Discoverie (Issue 3)
39
Chris Wardle The Giant Pencil Prediction three large different-colored pencils, spectator chooses one, it is predicted
Inspired by 2000 18
Gene Raye Radar Coin pencil answers questions with sound in glass, glass in which billet is put in divined, secret sugar in glass, radar pencil
2001 139
Christoph Borer Alcon words written on paper change color, clever switching pad
Also published here 2002 7
Barrie Richardson The Power of Suggestion: The Heavy Pen
  • From My Thoughts
spectator is unable to pick up a pen on performer's open hand, small thread loop
Inspired by Jan. 2002
Genii (Vol. 65 No. 1)
60
Alexander de Cova Der "Profi-Halter" impromptu multi-purpose holder (Universalhalter)
Also published here 2002 11
Ryan Swigert Trans-Mentally Challenged color forced, performer takes out different pens and divines the one with the wrong color, but only cap is wrong and it writes in correct color
Also published here Jan. 2002
Magic (Vol. 11 No. 5)
71
Gaston Quieto Campana Bolante "Bell Ball", steel ball from ballpoint pen, small bell pushed into ball bearing, ball now sounds like a bell, see next column
Related toAlso published here Aug. 2002
Magic (Vol. 11 No. 12)
84
Docc Hilford The First Experiment name of chosen object appears on card, pencil breaks on chest, sound in box, performer stops pulse in process
Inspired by
  • Ned Rutledge's "Green Bean Trick"
2002 11
Al Baker Developing Messages before the Audience secretly reading extruded messages, powder in pen
2003 708
Ali Bongo Pick-A-Pencil / Pick-A-Lollipop bunch of pencils, all removed but one, prediction
Also published here 2003 3
Nathan Kranzo Sharp! broken pencil tip is sharpened with fingers
Also published here Feb. 2003
Magic (Vol. 12 No. 6)
86
Wesley James One-handed Pen Re-Cap
2004 175
Axel Rutstam TuschPush line drawn on back of hand with marker, that line is moved up the arm
2004 10
Don Nielsen Supercharged Silver ring changes to coin, involving a magnetic coin that is moved from sleeve to hand with magnetic pen
Related to 2005 414
Max Maven The Ruling Class
  • The Other Month
spectator moves fingers together under ruler, where they end up is predicted by length of pencil
Inspired byAlso published here July 2005
Genii (Vol. 68 No. 7)
32
Bob Ostin Transfusion plastic pen is placed over card and visibly ink fills up, color is missing from card
2005 157
Christoph Borer Alcon words written on paper change color, clever switching pad
Also published here 2006 14
Jack Avis Lipstick on Pen Point to detect what was written or crossed out first
2006 36
Karl Fulves Breakage paper wrapped around pencil, pencil breaks inside by itself
2009
Prolix (Issue 6)
365
Max Maven The Ruling Class spectator moves fingers together under ruler, where they end up is predicted by length of pencil
Also published here 2009 5
Max Maven The Ruling Class spectator moves fingers together under ruler, where they end up is predicted by length of pencil
Also published here 2010 3
Max Maven The Ruling Class spectator moves fingers together under ruler, where they end up is predicted by length of pencil
Also published here 2011 4
Max Maven The Ruling Class spectator moves fingers together under ruler, where they end up is predicted by length of pencil
Also published here 2011 4
Barrie Richardson Mesmer's Pencil
  • Phase I - The Rise (pencil stands up on hand, small thread loop)
  • Phase II - The Heavy Pencil (spectator cannot lift pencil off the performer's hand)
  • Phase III - The Feather Test (variation of Phase II with feather on top, Chuck Smith idea)
Inspired by 2011 13
Barrie Richardson Billet Switching Rod pencil with two caps
Related to 2011 75
Barrie Richardson The Click Switch using pencil with clip
2011 213
Bruce Bernstein One Of Many lie and truth plot
Also published here
  • Bruce Bernstein's "One Of Many" in "New Invocation" N°36, 1986.
2012 24
Wayne Dobson Sharpie 2 four mini sharpies, spectator uses one, performer divines which one
Inspired by
  • "Sharpie" (Wayne Dobson, WD40)
2013 12
Kazu Katayama Penkerchief
  • Tokyo Workshop
silk pushed in hand with pen, it vanishes, silk reproduced from end of pen
Dec. 2013
Genii (Vol. 76 No. 12)
51
Alexander de Cova Der Federgag giant metal spring is shaken out of non-working ballpoint pen
Also published here Aug. 2013 18
Daniel Madison Sharp Punch Using a Sharpie pen cap as a card punch
2014 35
Alexander de Cova Der Federgag giant metal spring is shaken out of non-working ballpoint pen
Also published here 2015 244
Roberto Giobbi Classy Sharpie
2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Apr 12)
107
Jeff Prace Pb
  • Left-Handed
monte routine with mechanical pencils and lead that either rattles inside or not
Nov. 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 11)
38
Alexander de Cova Riesenedding ideas with a jumbo pen (actually pen holder in shape of pen)
  • Der Stift
  • Die Vergrößerung
  • Die Chop Cup Routine (giant hollow pen as chop cup)
Inspired by 2016 194
Rick Maue Maue's Pen humorous demonstration on controlling the spectator's decision
Also published here
  • Rick Maue, Raw, 2008 & The Road, 2010
2017 89
Alexander de Cova Tuch in Edding marked bill travels into pen, using Antonio Romero's bill tube pen, different loading strategies
2018 162
Alberto de Figueiredo Adivinación de la tinta four pens with different colors, one is selected and name of color written on a paper, performer divines color, three phases
Inspired by
  • a routine by Mac King
2018 129
Pierre Barry Thoughts Are Colorful one of three different-colored pencils is placed in a matchbox, performer divines the color
Mar. 2020
Genii (Vol. 83 No. 3)
76
Ryan Swigert Trans-Mentally Challenged color forced, performer takes out different pens and divines the one with the wrong color, but only cap is wrong and it writes in correct color
Also published here 2022 43
Gaston Quieto Campana Bolante "Bell Ball", steel ball from ballpoint pen, small bell pushed into ball bearing, ball now sounds like a bell, see p. 115 for credit correction
Also published here 2022 113
Nathan Kranzo Sharp! broken pencil tip is sharpened with fingers
Also published here 2022 168
Jean-Pierre Vallarino Card or Money signed selection visually changes into dollar bill, bill placed into clip of pen and changes back to card with a twist of the pen
2022 221