This is the Quantum Tunnel Magic Wagon explained how the penetration trick is done.
How the solid steel ball could drop through the two intersecting bolts.
Being a magic enthusiast, I like to explore how this solid through solid penetration trick is probably done.
For me it is not so much about magic trick secret, magic secrets revealed, secrets in magic, or the trick behind the magic.
I am more interested in the psychology behind magic.
How magic tricks plays with our perceptions and expectations; thus creating a sense of wonder and mystery.
This is another post 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.
Steel Ball Through Bolt Trick
The effect of the Quantum Tunnel trick by Magic Wagon is the same as the steel ball through bolt trick.
But the method is definitely different.
The secret of the steel ball through bolt trick has been exposed in YouTube.
It uses a gimmicked bolt to achieve the penetration effect, as seen above.
Quantum Tunnel Magic Wagon Explained
But for the Quantum Tunnel, it does not use gimmicked brass bolts.
You just drop the steel ball into the wooden tube accordingly as instructed.
It will go past through the two crisscross bolts.
Effect:
A wooden tube with a hole on each side, two solid brass bolts with accompany nuts and a heavy steel ball.
Thread two bolts through the box, and tightly secured with nuts.
Show the spectator the two crossed bolts blocked the hole in the wooden tube hole.
Drop the steel ball into the wooden tube and you can hear a thud sound, as it hits the bolts.
Mysteriously, the solid steel ball penetrates both brass bolts and it drops out through the bottom of the wooden tube.
Alpha Tunnel T-117 Tenyo Magic
The effect of the 1984 Tenyo Alpha Tunnel T-117 created by Shigeru Sugawara is like the Quantum Tunnel.
Again, the method of the Alpha Tunnel Tenyo trick is different.
The secret is a hidden hole in the gimmicked panel, as seen from its patent.
DicEscape Shigeru Sugawara
There is another pocket trick also by Shigeru Sugawara called “DicEscape”.
- Definition of a pocket magic trick: It is also known as a hand trick. It is those small trick props which you can carry around inside your pocket. Usually they are easy-to-do tricks without sleight of hand skill is required. Just pull it out from your pocket and do a little trick for a simple amusement. Magic items like the paddle magic stick, Tel-A-Vision, or Lady To Lion card trick.
Besides having the same penetration effect, the method of the trick is also different.
DicEscape probably has flexible inner walls inside the tube.
As seen from the video, at 1:08 his right hand gives the wooden tube a quick twist and shakes it.
Probably by twisting the tube, it gives a little extra space, so the die could slip past the slim rod.
Now, let’s watch Magic Wagon Quantum Tunnel trick demo video:
Observe the meticulous way Rob Rand releases the steel ball into the wooden tube at 2:08.
It seems he positions the steel ball to his right side of the hole.
The steel ball just falls through, and there is no other suspicious move.
I think Magic Wagon Quantum Tunnel is a self-contained 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.
Quantum Tunnel Magic Self-Working Trick
My opinion is the secret of the trick is the precision of the prop design.
Probably there is a recess halfway through the opening.
Then maybe the positioning of the two bolts.
Look closely you notice the holes of the top bolt is slightly off the the center.
The distance of ‘A’ is marginally wider than ‘B’.
But to casual observers, they would not notice this minor difference.
It’s just a hair’s breath, so to speak.
Hence, one side of the two intersecting bolts is a bit wider enough for the steel ball to past through.
In other words, the performer must knows precisely which side of the hole to drop the steel ball.
Magic Wagon Quantum Tunnel Dot Indication
If I am not wrong, there is this small white dot marking on top of the wooden tube as an indication.
In order to make the penetration trick possible, Rob Rand and Roberto drop the steel ball where the dot marking is indicated.
Wider Gap Between Two Bolts
This is where I think is the slightly wider gap between the intersecting bolts, for the steel ball to ease through.
After the trick at 2:31, Rob Rand shows the top part of the tube with the white spot, where he has just dropped the steel ball.
From 0:50 the steel ball got stuck twice, is because Roberto purposely let it drop into the other side of hole instead.
Furthermore Roberto tilts the wooden tube to ensure the falling steel ball would definitely drop on the ‘blocked’ side of the hole.
That’s where the gap between two intersecting bolts are narrower.
This is the Quantum Tunnel Magic Wagon explained how the penetration trick is done.
Magic Props With Secret Markings
Just like the Quantum Tunnel, Dan Wolf’s arm-through mirror “Looking Glass” prop also uses a secret spot.
It is at the edge of the back of the mirror.
I believe it is to guide the performer when rotating the mirror, to bring out the hidden cut-out hole.
Magician Paul Roberts rotates the mirror with his right hand, while he places the round blue screen over it.
He uses his body to block when doing it, as seen at: 0:22.
Dan Wolfe does the same move to turn out the hole in the mirror in this demo video at: 1:11.
This is the indicator position before the trick.
This is the indicator position during the penetration trick.
You can see the round marking indicator when Paul Roberts spin the “Looking Glass” prop around at 0:58.
U-235 Thayer Magic Trick With Secret Spot
The U-235 Thayer magic trick apparatus also uses the hidden marking, to indicate the shorter legs.
There is a discreet dot marking on the bottom tube to identify the pair of shorter legs.
