Are you still wondering how the Magic Wagon Mystic Mirror penetration trick is done?
Then check out my take on the secret of this close-up magic trick.
I supposed it is done with mirrors, or rather with a gimmick mirror, to be exact.
Welcome to another article from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
Where I answer the popular question: how are magic tricks done?
How magic tricks work, or what is the secret behind magic tricks?
The magicians refer to it as the method; the secret technique uses to create the illusion of a magical effect.
Effect:
A wooden frame with mirror which comes with a stand.
There is a slim horizontal wooden bar across the mirror.
The performer taps on the mirror to prove that it is one solid piece.
Then he places a wooden star trap piece at the center of the mirror, on top of the horizontal wooden bar.
Mysteriously, he inserts his finger or a marker pen right through the star trap piece.
Apparently his finger or the pen penetrates the mirror.
After the penetration act, he removes the star trap piece to reveal the mirror is unharmed.
Watch the Mystic Mirror by Magic Wagon below:
Adapted From Dove Through Glass Trick
Magic Wagon Mystic Mirror is an adaptation of the old classic “Dove Through Glass illusion“.
The top mirror is adjustable and it is controlled by a hidden mechanical device behind the frame.
This device slides the upper mirror upward, to bring up the concealed hole, which is hidden behind the bottom mirror.
In other words, the Mystic Mirror is a self-working mechanical trick.
- Definition of a self-working magic trick: It is also know as self-contained magic trick. It means a magic trick that don’t require sleight of hand skill. You just present the trick as the procedure instructed. It could be the props with built-in gimmicks, gaffed cards, or card tricks that rely on mathematical principles, like Jim Steinmeyer Nine-Card trick. Some even consider optical illusion and scientific demonstrations as a self-working trick. Karl Fulves wrote a self-working magic series of ten short books.
It is just like some of these Magic Wagon designs, which include: the “Mystic Bottle“, “Mystic Window Penetration“, or “Diamond Block Mystery“.
Let’s explore this mirror penetration trick works.
Magic Wagon Mystic Mirror Trick Revealed
I think there are either two or three separate pieces of mirrors within the Mystic Mirror frame.
Most probably there are two pieces of mirror set next to each other.
The row of four round holes on the top and bottom wooden frame are NOT design features.
These holes are there to mislead your visual perception.
They want you to see it as one solid piece of mirror.
As I have just mentioned, there are two individual sheets of mirror within the wooden frame, as illustrated below.
For a clearer explanation, I called the top piece as Mirror 1, the bottom piece as Mirror 2.
The Mirror 1 is adjustable, and it is set BEHIND the Mirror 2 which is securely fixed onto the frame.
Mirror With A Hole
This adjustable Mirror 1 has a hole in the center.
The hole is hidden behind the Mirror 2, below the horizontal wooden bar.
The top edge of the Mirror 2 is exactly right behind the thin horizontal wooden bar.
The strip of black color reflected on the Mirror 1, (picture below) is most probably the back of the Mirror 2.
NOTE: The dimensions of the mirrors in the picture above are not accurately illustrated, particularly the Mirror 1.
It is because I do not know the actual sliding mirror device mechanism.
There is a possibility, the Mirror 1 could be shorter in length.
The thin horizontal wooden strip is there to hide the two separates mirrors.
Mystic Mirror With Two Separate Mirrors
Why do I think they are two separate pieces of mirror; one in front of the other?
Firstly when the performer of this video taps his index finger on the the prop at 0:07, only the top mirror (Mirror 1) jiggles.
The Mirror 2 below the horizontal bar does not move at all.
Secondly, I noticed the reflections on the the top and the bottom mirrors are ‘disjointed’.
Even the video clip is shot slightly from the top angle, the reflection on both mirrors should still be continuous.
So I presume they are different piece of mirror.
The Mirror 1 (top piece) could be behind the Mirror 2 (bottom piece).
Thirdly, I noticed the slight difference in the width of inner window frame area.
The inner frame (black color area) of the Mirror 1 above the horizontal bar (Mirror 2) is slightly wider.
This is another image captured from the other video clip.
The forth reason is I noticed the edges of the mirrors above and below the slim horizontal bar are different.
The reflection in the Mirror 1, has a wider or deeper edge (black color).
Whereas the reflection in the Mirror 2, is just a thin black line.
From this I deduce, the Mirror 1 must be BEHIND the Mirror 2.
That’s how Mirror 1 can slide up and down.
Mechanical Device Behind Mirror
Out of the three videos, two of them do not show the viewers the back view of the Mystic Mirror prop, except for Madison Hagler.
When he turns the mirror frame around and back from 2:22, he continues placing his left middle finger on the same spot, just right below the hole.
I believe that is where the sliding mechanism device is, as shown below.
From the image above, I reckon the mirror sliding mechanism device is just below the hole in the Mirror 2.
Madison Hagler could do the penetration trick so convincingly, is because his left hand is all the while behind the frame.
Watch this full sequence from 1:42.
He starts off by misdirecting your attention to his pointed left index finger.
He acts if his pointed finger goes behind the frame, and immediately comes out through the star trap piece hole.
The trick is just before he pokes his finger out, his middle finger operates the sliding device, which is just below the hole, as shown in the picture above.
Similarly when he pulls out his finger from the hole at 1:47, his middle finger controls the device to bring down the Mirror 1.
Then only he lifts the star trap piece away from the mirror.
He uses the same deceptive method when performing with the marker pen.
In addition, Madison Hagler uses patter to misdirect the viewers, as he do his trick.
This image is taken from another video, at 0:48, when the performer uses his right thumb to engage the device, just before he inserts the wane with the scarf through the hole in the mirror.
After the trick, at around 1:28, as he shifts the prop around.
Again his right thumb secretly adjusts the device to slide the Mirror 1 down behind the Mirror 2.
In this video, you can see the similar hand position as the above, when he engages the device to bring the hole of Mirror 1 above the horizontal bar at 0:30.
At 1:29, just before he removes the star trap piece, his left hand covertly operates the device .
This is to bring the hole of Mirror 1 down behind the Mirror 2.
Star Trap Piece With Magnets
Because the Mirror 1 needs to move up and down, the prop needs magnets to hold the star trap piece tightly onto the horizontal bar.
Mirror 1 Movement
The slight movement of the Mirror 1 is not easily detectable, because the mirror wobbles or shakes, when they do the trick.
Probably this is the ruse, by moving the prop around when they adjust the device, so as to hide the sliding movement of the Mirror 1.
Watch this part of the video at 1:47, you can see the Mirror 1 sliding down a little, just before he removes the star trap piece from the Mirror 1.
Focus your attention on the thin black line in the reflection of the mirror, as indicated below.
It drops down abruptly, then it shakes because his finger touches the back of the mirror.
To view it clearer, slow down the playback speed to 0.25.
Thin Black Line Position
Compare the distance of the thin black line from the horizontal bar, as reflected in the mirror captured from the above video snippet.
The image below is when the Mirror 1 concealed hole is raised and it is hidden behind the star trap piece.
The thin black line is a distance away from the horizontal bar.
The image below is after the Mirror 1 concealed hole has dropped down behind the Mirror 2, after the trick.
The position of the thin black line is now closer to the horizontal bar.
These two pictures are taken from Rob Rand’s demo video.
This one is when the concealed hole of the Mirror 1 is still hidden below the horizontal bar.
The objects reflected in the mirror is close to the horizontal bar.
The picture below is when the concealed hole of the Mirror 1 is slid up and it is behind the star trap piece.
The objects reflected in the mirror is now further away from the horizontal bar.
You notice the three red slanting stripes of both pictures remain at the same position.
It is because as I have stated above, the Mirror 2 is a different piece of mirror, that is fixed onto the bottom part of the frame.
Mystic Mirror Trick Vanish Pull
For this Magic Wagon Mystic Mirror penetration demo video, I think he uses the nylon thread to pull the scarf into his right sleeve.
The vanish pull goes from the his right hand across his back to his left hand.
Before the penetrating act, at 0:51 you can see him holding something (clip?) in his right hand, as he walks over to the back of the prop.
Look closer, you would notice there is a fine thread attached to it.
At 1:09, you can see two tiny white dots running across the right lapel of his coat.
It looks like the light reflection of the nylon thread being pulled into his right sleeve.
NOTE: To see it clearer, slow down playback speed to 0.25.
At 1:09, he stretches his left hand fingers to help to pull the scarf all the way into his right sleeve.
To make sure the scarf pulled into his right sleeve completely, he has to lift up the whole Mystic Mirror wooden frame at 1:15.
Inside the the left sleeve, there is an orange color band around his wrist.
I think that is where the nylon or elastic thread of the pull is attached to.
Here you can see the white fabric squeezing inside his right sleeve (indicated), which I believe must be the scarf.
At the onset of the video, there is nothing inside his right sleeve.
From these observations, I presume he uses a vanish pull or a reel to get rid of the scarf.
Well, this is what I think how the Magic Wagon Mystic Mirror penetration trick is done.
DISCLAIMER: This post is only for informational purposes.