Steel Ball and Tube

Steel Ball and Tube

One of the best values in magic!  This classic trick is educational, because it allows the magician to develop a better understanding of angles and handling, but the basic trick is easily learned.  Once you master the basic presentation, there are a number of variations.  This trick will never end up in a drawer!  There are more expensive versions (we sell them too...) but as the hardware becomes more complex, some of the variations of the basic trick are lost as well.

Difficulty:  This trick can grow with your experience.  A beginner can master the basic moves to allow them to work the trick convincingly.  It is definitely a good beginner's trick.  However, more practice can greatly expand the list of tricks you can accomplish with this trick, so you will likely never want to be without it!

Basic presentation:  The solid steel ball is too large to fit inside the steel tube, but under the control of the magician, it slowly slips into the tube!    The magician hands the tube and ball to the spectator, who is unable to duplicate the feat!

Patter:  There are a number of ways to tell a story around the ball and tube.  Find a story line that you are comfortable with, and build on it.  Remember, the story and the presentation is as important as the right trick and technique.   Some ideas might include
 

1. The Hindu mystery--Ancient Hindu Fakirs mastered the art of controlling base metal elements.  On a whirlwind world tour, you met an elderly gentleman who had mastered this art.  Although he told stories of turning base metals into gold, he agreed to teach you a simple trick, but one that would prove that metals aren't as solid as they appear.  He showed you that by special handling and incantations, you can force an object to 'squish' through an opening that would be too small under normal circumstances.  You can use stroking motions on the ball along with the 'incantations' that the Hindu gentleman taught you to make the ball small enough to move down into the tube!  Of course, you'll find that your spectator won't be so lucky...
2. The scientific explanation--Ask your spectator whether water expands or contracts when it freezes.  Put another way, if you have a glass of water with ice cubes that is COMPLETELY full, when the ice melts, will the glass run over?  Many people know that metals contract (get smaller) when they are cooled, and expand when they are heated.  Water doesn't follow this rule when it freezes, because it acquires a crystalline structure that creates more space between molecules, which causes it to expand when it freezes.  This is true, and you can verify this by filling a plastic bottle with water and freezing it in your freezer.  (DONT TRY THIS WITH A GLASS BOTTLE).  You will observe the expansion of the water.  But many people will tell you that water will contract when it freezes, so this can be an opening to discuss the properties of special kinds of space-age steel like the steel ball you have in your hand.  Point out that it will in fact contract when heated to the proper temperature, and will then pass through the tube (which is made of a different metal).  You can then 'warm' the steel ball with rubbing motions (without incantations) and demonstrate that eventually it does contract enough to fit through the tube.  Then step back and have fun as you spectator tries to 'warm' the steel themselves...
3. Mind over matter--ala Kreskin, you can talk about mental powers, telekinesis, etc.

Remember to find a story you like and practice it until you can be convincing.  The trick  is a quality-made prop, and will become part of your 'carry-around' magic reperetoire.

Also consider :  This is one of those tricks that is such a classic of close-up magic that books have been written about performances and performance variations to help you get more out of your props.  We carry one of the best, which is the Robbins Ball and Tube book, for the same price as the trick itself.  You will find that this book is written specifically around this version of the classic ball and tube, and it will greatly expand your opportunities to mystify your friends with this great trick!
Our Price: $4.50
Add to Cart!
Check Cart!