The Amazing Pen Through Bill

[Houdini]

Informational Guide for the Amazing Pen through Bill



"The Magician borrows a bill of any currency and then takes out a pen. After the bill is examined, the magician takes the pen and smashes it through the bill. Once done, the Magician pulls the pen out, leaving no hole."

The Pen through bill is one of the first effects I really took time to perfect in my Magic. It's also one that I still use today in many of my close up and walk around venues. There are MANY versions and spin-offs and ideas that all give root to the original gimmick.

Some History:

In 1993, John Cornelius released the Pen Through Anything, a special gimmicked pen that allowed the Magician to perform the above effect. The method differs greatly from that of Timothy Wenk's Misled, a pencil through dollar effect made famous during a television performance by David Copperfield. And then taken to the extent of VOID by Daniel Garcia in his "Symphony" DVD. The effect is done (in DG's version) with a bill and a drinking straw.

The original Pen Through Anything was a heavy, expensive, high quality "Mont Blanc" style pen. As cheaper take-offs began to hit the market, John switched to a less expensive pens himself.

There are metal, executive style executive pen that are for sail again today for about $15.

The original Pen Through Anything could not be examined directly. A second gimmicked pen was provided that can be written with and examined to every one's content. Many did not like the switching. (This method is what I grew up with and never had a problem with.)

Side Note:

Although, the effect should not be presented in such a way that the focus is on the pen. Rather, other effects should be done, at least one of which uses the normal pen to allow the spectator to write something. In this, the pen is seen as "normal." Later, when the pen through bill effect is presented, the gimmicked pen is used. Since the spectator has just used the pen to write with, little suspicion would be placed on the pen in use.

This idea of using the pen before you do the effect to introduce the item, may be the stem for the creation of the Sharpie Marker through Dollar Bill. So that you can know use your regular sharpies with card effects.

Back to a bit of History:

Nevertheless, being able to immediately hand the pen out was wanted by many, rather than risk being "caught" with a gimmick in your hand.

John Cornelius responded with the Perfect Pen. (Seen here) This was a version of the Pen Through Anything (Pictures seen Here.) could immediately be handed out for inspection. The pen could be "locked", and the possibility for the spectator discovering the secret would be slim to none.

Near this same time, Doug Edwards developed an alternative approach to the Pen Through Anything using a commonly used ball-point style pen. This was a single pen, that with a simple sleight, could be handed out for inspection with no fear of the gimmick being discovered. Doug's version is called the Wonder Pen-A-Tration. An additional feature of this pen is the ability to perform the Electronic Rating Pen or Double X effect or even Pointless by Gregory Wilson. The main fault with this style pen is that the penetration depth is necessarily less than with the switchable or mechanically locking pens.

But that problem is not seen in Fantasma Magic's Pen-O-tration.

There is one "flaw" in the Pen through Bill effect, which is not usually thought about at first. In reality, if you really pushed a pen through a dollar bill, you would then push the pen back and forth through the hole. With the above effects, the pen is clearly seen penetrating the bill, but the pen stays stationary.(DG's effect shows the straw in a possible moving motion.) And there are methods that allow the pen/pencil to be slid back and forth in the hole, but most also require strange folds of the bill, or require covering the bill with a paper or other objects.

The Three Gimmicks:

The Originals (These are the pens that require a switch with a regular Pen)

• John Cornelius "Pen Through Anything." The original. The pen is a well made, metal executive style, thin pen. $20


• Funtime Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (India):$15-20


• Magic Max's "Laser Pen." Grey PaperMate Flexgrip style pen. $44.95.


• Penguin Magic Pen Through Dollar. Pen is a grey PaperMate Flexgrip Pen in style of Magic Max Laser Pen. $17.96


• The Sharpie We Use at Penguin Magic. Pen is a Sharpie marker. $11.95

Double Sides: These pens don't need to be switched, but clean up with a slight.

• Stealth Pen at Penguin Magic. $14.95


• Pen-O-tration from Fantasma Magic. $19.99


• http://www.exomagic.com/product_82.html " target="_blank">Pen Through Bill at ExoMagic. The BEST deal on Price! $10.95 (Also good for a cheap Pointless.)

The Others: (Different with same idea that you should check out!)

• The Perfect Pen by John C. This one shows the paper ripped. $40.00


• Misled by Timothy Wenk. $15.00


• Driven by Cameron Francis (Impromptu:: No Gimmick) $12.00


• Dough by Jay Sankey. $16.99

Remember when you order a product to mention ExoMagic.com/blog when check out at a store. You never know what you might get!

[Jacob Hatfield]

Originally Posted by prvv

This is an easy and cool trick..

Hey there!

This not a "old" post by any means.

This post come from the ExoMagic Blog.

There are many more articles and fun stuff to read on there. More than what Houdini posts here.

Check it out!
BLOG!