I am going to explain both Joe Porper Strong Box trick secret in detail, how the item could get into the padlocked aluminum box.
There are two versions of Joe Porper Strong Box, and both used different locking mechanism.
The first design was launched back in 2003, while the second one Strong Box 2.0 was in 2012.
This is another article from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
I am talking about the metal Lippincott box created by machinist/magician Joe Porper.
Some claimed this close-up magic prop Strong Box as the revolutionary Lippincott Box.
NOTE: This is a revised and updated post. It was originally published on October 24, 2022.
For those who do not know, a Lippincott Box is a utility prop used by magicians for vanishing or producing a small object.
It is also referred to the Lippincott Ring Box.
According to Genii Magazine, the Lippincott Box was first marketed in 1949 as Quarter Go.
The idea of this magic puzzle box was said to inspired by the Wonder Box.
You can find out more about the Watch Box, in the Professor Hoffmann’s book “Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise On The Art Of Conjuring“.
- Here is a big list of free books by Professor Hoffmann
The secret of the Watch Box is a hinged doorway, which can be opened or shut when the box is locked.
It works similarly as the Ching Ling Coin Box trick.
Presently the Lippincott Box magic trick comes in various different designs, names and even using different mechanism.
They include: Victorian Watch Box by Dave Powell, Bread And Watch Box (with Rattle) by Mikame Craft, Hanover Watch Box by Martin Breese or Nu Way Watch Box by Max Suko.
Joe Porper Magic
Besides creating magic props, the late Joe Porper is best known for his awesome high quality products in the pool/billiard industry.
In the fraternity of magic, Joe Porper is equally famous for his superb quality magic trick props.
Among them are: Cocobolo Cups And Balls, Growing Spot Paddles, The Nut Box, and Mystery Coin Box.
Joe Porper together with magician Pete Biro, they came up with amazing magic props which include, Folding Key, Folding Money, Flipper Chip, Ghostly Linking Finger Ring and Plumber’s Pole.
Joe Porper Strong Box Trick Secret Explained
Small items which could fit into these boxes, include ring, coin, folded cards and folded billets.
According to reviews, the first version need to be covered when loading or unloading the item.
Furthermore, some claimed the second design could not withstand stringent examination by the spectator.
Anyway, I am going to explore and explain both metal boxes by the late Joe Porper.
In addition, I am also sharing other related magic boxes and their secrets too.
As a cognoscente of magic tricks, I like to find out how magic tricks and stage illusions work.
Actually not so much about the mechanics of the tricks, but the psychology behind the magic tricks.
Joe Porper Strong Box 1.0 Trick Secret Revealed
The gimmick of Joe Porper Strong Box original version has been exposed by a German guy in this YouTube video.
He bought a pirated Strong Box prop from the Mainland China to find out the Joe Porper Strong Box trick secret.
As seen from the video clip, the locking mechanism is gaffed.
The staple of the hasp is not actually screwed tight to the metal box.
It is attached to the box with strong magnets, as shown below:
This is the instruction manual of Joe Porper Strong Box 1.0. explaining the ‘magnetic’ secret.
To open the lid of the box, you just give a tug at the padlock.
Joe Porper Strong Box 1.0 Magnets
Before I came across the above video, I knew Joe Porper’s Strong Box 1.0 uses magnets.
I saw this shipping restriction mentioned in a Vietnamese magic props retailer website.
This original version Strong Box has to be covered when you load the item into it, because you have to open the lid of the box.
From the videos, you can see the hand holding onto the padlock as it is placed inside the paper bag.
It is because they have to secretly open the box by pulling at the padlock, once it is inside the paper bag.
After the marked coin has dropped into the box, the magicians have to covertly close it.
They discreetly close the metal box, when their hands reach into the paper bag to take it out.
There are two key issues with this first version of Joe Porper Strong Box.
You have to cover up the apparatus during the act, and also has the problem with loud clanking sound when the staple magnetically stick to the metal box.
Many who bought this this aluminum Lippincott Box, complained about the noise problem in the Magic Cafe forums.
Strong Box Gaetan Bloom Routine
To overcome this noise issue, in 2005, Strong Box 1.0 was repackaged with a comedy routine by the French magician Gaetan Bloom, and sold it as “The Poor Man’s Safe”.
This routine by Gaetan Bloom masks the noise with the rattling sound of the loose coins and the crumpling paper bag sound.
This is the routine:
Before you perform the trick, placed the Strong Box with its gaffed lid opened together the padlock inside a brown paper bag.
In addition, throw in some loose coins outside the metal box.
Fold the paper bag mouth and closed it up with a bulldog clip, attached with a string and a small key for the padlock.
Begin the act, by introducing this prepared prop to your spectator and gives the bag a gentle shake so he can hear the jingling of the coins.
You borrow a coin from a spectator and have it marked with a marker pen.
Using the marker pen, you draw a short line to depict a slot on the paper bag.
Taking the marked coin you insert it halfway through the marker-drawn “slot”, pause, then you continue to push the whole coin into the paper bag.
Your spectator can see and hear the borrowed marked coin falling right into the paper bag.
To add humor to your act, you insert the small key into the tiny hole of the bulldog clip as if to unlock it.
Then you remove the bulldog clip, and you ask the spectator to cup both his two hands and holds them under the paper bag.
You shake the bag up and down vigorously, until the bottom of the paper bag tears apart, thus spilling out the loose coins together with the metal box.
Of course the spectator could not find his marked coin among the scattered coins.
Using the small key, the spectator himself opens the locked Strong Box, and surprisingly he finds his own marked coin inside it.
This is the Joe Porper’s Strong Box performed with Gaetan Bloom’s routine:
At the onset, the lid of the Strong Box is opened, but hidden inside the paper bag from the viewers’ eyes.
How To Close The Strong Box Inside Paper Bag?
To secretly close the metal box, they all do the same routine by shaking the folded paper bag, under the pretext of straightening it up.
This is the part of the video, where after he has removed the bulldog clip, you can see him gently shaking the paper bag.
Similarly from this video, after he has removed the bulldog clip, he opens the mouth of the paper bag to check on the box inside.
Then he shakes it lightly, as if to neaten up the crumpled paper bag.
Actually he is secretly closing up the metal box, with the aid of the inner sides of the paper bag, together with the shaking movements.
So is this is the famous Taiwanese magician Lu “Louis” Chen (劉謙) does during his performance for CCTV-15.
He gives the paper bag a light shake, before he unclips it.
Then he opens the bag and takes a peek inside, to make sure the metal box is properly closed.
Joe Porper’s Strong Box 2.0
This is my view of the Joe Porper’s Strong Box 2.0.
It is my speculation based on analyzing the pictures online and a video clip.
From what I read, this new version of the Strong Box, you do not need a paper bag or anything to block it.
You just palm the borrowed item and with the help of misdirection, you load it into the box.
Can the spectator discover the gimmick of Joe Porper’s Strong Box 2.0?
As mentioned in a forum, if handled correctly, and with a well rehearsed routine, it would not be detected.
Strong Box 2.0 Trick Secret Revealed
Let’s analyze the metal box design and its features.
The original version, the lid fitted properly onto the box, but not with this new design.
Look at these two pictures below, where the lid is slightly shorter than the width of the box.
As seen from the back, the lid and the box itself is not tightly fitted, as indicated in the pictures below.
From this finding, I assume you can move or shift the box lid slightly to open it up.
Based on what I gathered, it uses a new lock/unlock system.
I noticed the hasp is slimmer and it doesn’t fitted tightly against the staple, compared to its original box.
Then I watched Peter Monticup handles what he called it, the Pocket Vault Locked Box.
It appears to me, his right hand is tugging the padlock, behind the book “Fooling Houdini“.
From these observations, I deduce the gimmick of the Strong Box 2.0 could be the loop of the staple, as indicated below.
Probably this loop is retractable; it can be pulled out slightly and pushed back in, together with a simple locking mechanism.
When it is pulled out together with the padlock, the lid is not tightly shut any more.
Slide the loose lid forward slightly, thus there is a narrow gap behind where you can drop the item into the box.
Once the item is inside the box, press the loop back into the staple to shut the lid.
Most probably the staple loop gimmick is locked with a catch, so it would not be discovered.
Now, look at the differences of the box interior design of both designs; particularly where the lid is pivoted to the box.
The original version, the edge of the lid attached to the box is straight and fitted.
As explained above, the loading of the item for this original box is from the front.
The second version of the Strong Box, the edge of the lid pivoted to the box is curved.
I believe this is to allow more space and easier for the hand to drop the item into the box.
This is what I my explanation of Joe Porper Strong Box trick secret.
Antique Pill Box By Dave Powell
Incidentally, I suppose the Antique Pill Box by Dave Powell uses somewhat similar method for loading, as the Strong Box 2.0.
This time the secret could be the pin in front of the box, that holds the padlock.
I think it is like the spring-loaded momentary push button.
The pin can be pushed downward, and it stays there, until you push it again to release it.
Before the trick, the pin is released, together with the padlock in place.
The cover of the box is not totally shut down, thus there is narrow gap in front where you can load the palmed item.
After dropping the palmed item into it, push the pin down to shut the Antique Pill Box completely.
This is just my view how this Lippincott box secret works.
UPDATED Nov.2024: I think my view how the Antique Pill Box trick works is correct, because the other day i cam across this listing in eBay.
The instruction manual is partially blocked, but I manage to read the text that says, “…let the ring drop into the box closing… inside and close the top then press on…“. And below is the image of the thumb pressing the pin with the padlock.
Magic Puzzle Boxes
These are not different versions of Lippincott Boxes or Watch Boxes.
Their similarity to Lippincott Box or Joe Porper’s Strong Box is the solid through solid penetration effect.
How the small borrowed items could get into these seemingly sealed boxes.
But these props are marketed as puzzle boxes, or brain-teasers.
They are called by various names, and they made of either wood or clear plastic.
Among the product names are: Mexican Bill Box, Wonder Bill Box, Wonder Treasure Box, Magic Treasure Box and Wonderfool Box.
They are fortified-looking boxes, and there are ones which have round glass windows or slits.
You hand the box to your spectators and ask them to look inside and try to open the mysterious box.
Next you borrow a bank note, or any other small object that can fit into box.
Then you secretly load the item into the box and close it.
Ask them to open the box to get the item from the inside the box.
All these baffling boxes share the same secret working method, by sliding out the drawer.
There are two locking gimmicks are well hidden away as indicated in the picture below.
There are so many so-called simple or easy magic tricks which you might know how they work.
Anyway, let’s check out these magic boxes.
Wooden Wonder Bill Box
Wooden Wonder Bill Box Secret
Watch this video showing you how to open the hidden drawer of this wooden Wonder Bill Box.
Clear Plastic Wonderfool Box
Clear Plastic Wonderfool Box Secret
Watch this video showing you how to open the sealed clear plastic Wonderfool Box.
Mikame Pirate’s Box
Mikame Pirate’s Box Secret
The secret door opening is highlighted with the white line.
In fact it is identical as the first box above, or this wooden puzzle box.
Below illustration taken from the instruction sheet of Mikame Pirate’s Box.
