It’s time to get to the Ultimate Penetration Frame secret hiding behind the wooden slider.
How the three brass rods could apparently go through the solid glass, without breaking it.
Before I penetrate into the secret of this closeup magic apparatus, let me say this:
I DO NOT own this Ultimate Penetration Frame by Magic Wagon, and I do not know exactly how the trick is done.
My review and reveal of this magic trick is solely based on viewing the only video available in YouTube.
Plus, a little help from the few pictures of this prop from various websites.
As usual, I backup my explanations with supporting pictures and video snippets.
Welcome to another post from the Info Ruckus Magic Trick Secrets Revealed series.
This is another mechanical Magic Wagon magic tricks.
In other words, the secret working of the trick is at the apparatus itself.
Effect:
The performer shows a wooden frame prop with a sheet of plexiglass.
It is attached with a 3-hole wooden slider over the frame.
Drag this wooden slider to the center of the plexiglass.
Insert three slim brass rods through the three holes.
In other words, the three brass rods seem to penetrate through the plexiglass.
Then the performer pulls the brass rods out, and removes the slider to reveal the plexiglass is completely undamaged.
Watch the demo video of Magic Wagon Ultimate Penetration Frame:
Magic Wagon Ultimate Penetration Frame Secret
NOTE: When I say LEFT in the following explanation, I mean YOUR LEFT, as you view the video or the pictures.
Let’s explore step by step and get to the mystery of this penetrating magic trick.
Shift Ultimate Penetration Frame Plexiglass
Just like this “Impossible Glass Penetration Trick Secret“, you have to move the obstacles.
It doesn’t matter a simple closeup trick or a spectacular stage illusion, like walking through a brick wall, a mirror or floating through a piece of steel.
Likewise when magician David Sandy performing the popular Dan Wolfe’s Thru Steel illusion (Smoky Mountain Magic).
The secret of the Ultimate Penetration Frame secret is you need to shift the plexiglass.
Two pieces of plexiglass, to be exact.
The method of the trick is similar to Tenyo T-114 Wonder Window by Shigeru Sugawara.
In the beginning of the video, I noticed the performer DOES NOT show us the the side view of the right frame and the bottom frame.
He does shows us the back view of the frame and I noticed there is a C-shaped raised section on the left frame.
I would talk about this elevated part of the frame later.
The Plexiglass
This is the claim made by its ad:
…the trick seem impossible is that the frame is only 1 inch wider than the actual size of the glass…
This is the most intriguing part of this trick.
When you shift the window plexiglass to the middle, its width would definitely exceed the width of the whole frame.
In other words, one side of the plexiglass must be outside the frame, as I have illustrated below.
In the video, the performer conveniently uses his left hand fingers to cover it, while it is holding the frame.
I will show you the overshot plexiglass shortly.
As I have just said, there must be a gap or an opening on the side of the right frame to allow the plexiglass to slide out.
As you can see from the visual below, there is a narrow slit opening on one side of the frame.
The Glaring Evidence
To prove to you the plexiglass really extends out from the side of right frame, here are three scenes captured from the video.
You can see the glare reflected on the plexiglass between his third and fourth finger of his left hand.
NOTE: To see it clearer, slow down the playback speed to 0.25.
This captured image is taken from the video at 0:52.
The second time is at 0:56
Then at 0:58 you can see it very clearly the reflection on the plexiglass for the third time.
Obviously, my speculation is clearly correct.
The Stand
There is another clue which confirmed the overshot plexiglass is the vent or slit found in the stand.
After the slider is slipped into the frame, you can perform the penetration trick with the stand provided.
Hidden inside in one of two upright slots, there is a vent to accommodate the extended plexiglass.
The Big Hidden Secret
Now, let’s take a close look at the key Ultimate Frame Penetration secret.
Remember this is my opinion how this penetration trick works.
As I have already mentioned earlier, there are TWO sheets of plexiglass.
The one within the frame window (Plexiglass 2) before the trick.
Then there is another narrower piece (Plexiglass 1) concealed inside the left frame.
One piece of the plexiglass is behind the other.
I think they are fastened together with a short foldable metal bar at the top and the bottom.
This short metal bar or strip is pivoted on both plexiglass.
In other words, the Plexiglass 2 can be folded in and out.
NOTE: For a clearer explanation, I purposely drew the length of the foldable metal bar holding the two plexiglass longer.
See the illustration below:
What happens is this:
When the slider moves to the center of the frame, it drags both pieces of plexiglass towards the right side.
Now the concealed plexiglass (Plexiglass 1) is out from the left frame with its right edge hidden inside the slider.
Simultaneously it also pulls the window plexiglass along (Plexiglass 2).
See illustration Pix B above.
The gap between Plexiglass 1 and Plexiglass 2 is blocked by the slider.
I think the gap between the two plexiglass is wide enough for the brass rods to go through it.
That’s why it needs a slider to hide it.
Yes, that is the gap where the three brass rods go through.
Here is a closeup view of the gap between the two pieces of plexiglass where the three rods goes through.
Once the show is over, the slider is drawn back to the left frame.
This will pull the smaller plexiglass (Plexiglass 1) back inside the left frame, and the window plexiglass (Plexiglass 2) in its original position.
The Mechanism
I admit I do not know the actual mechanism of shifting both plexiglass of this apparatus.
It could be the bottom plexiglass edge is fixed with a sprung roller catch.
The catch is inside the bottom of the slider.
That is why the performer is carefully making sure the catch is at the bottom the slider, before he slots the frame into it.
Then he straightens slider over the left frame.
Once it is properly locked in place, he uses his thumb and index finger to grip the slider and drags it across.
Watch this sequence here.
Then at the end of the trick, he pauses at the left frame, before he pulls out the slider from the frame at 1:22.
This is to ensure both plexiglass are properly drawn back to their positions.
Raised C-Shaped Frame
Remember there is this raised part on the back of the frame which I highlighted earlier?
I think this elevated C-shaped piece acts as a stopper for the slider.
It is to ensure the both plexiglass are precisely positioned in the middle of the frame.
At the same time, it also prevents the problem of over-sliding both plexiglass.
This is my Ultimate Penetration Frame secret that might not what it’s cracked up to be.
I just give it a crack and see whether I could penetrate the secret hidden in this Penetration Frame by Magic Wagon.
The secret of Ultimate Card Penetration by Magic Wagon is the bottom section of the back piece can be folded outward.
It is done by secretly sliding out the two bottom turn buttons (latches).
DISCLAIMER: I do not own or upload the book here. It is copyrighted to their respective owners. All content cited is derived from their respective sources.