Procesamiento de ECG

Professor Hoffmann (in “More Magic,” p. 437), describes a bullet trick that is undoubtedly the best in its class. A marked bullet, sawn nearly through, is fired from a pistol on to the end of a piece of dangling ribbon, also marked, suspended from a convenient support. More completely convincing than its predecessor, the trick in which the performer professedly catches a bullet fired directly at himself, it has none of the element of risk historically associated with that tragic feat.

Hoffmann’s bullet trick is, I believe, universally appraised among magicians for its ingenuity, but it has seldom been seen; probably for the reason that, as contrived by its inventor, it needs an assistant to pull a release line to effect the appearance of the bullet. The trick is perhaps too small for the theatre, while drawing-room entertainers do not want tricks that necessitate taking an attendant; and the stage or platform arrangements in

concert halls and banqueting chambers seldom offer the facilities for the setting of such tricks.

By devising an automatic version of the apparatus, I have dispensed with the need for an assistant and made the trick possible of performance in practically any surroundings.

The support for the ribbon is, for convenience m pack~ng, made in two parts, a rod and a base the former screwing into the latter. The “rod” is really a tube, half an inch in diameter and a little over two feet high. The upper end is curved: an ornamental collar encircles it at the beginning of the bend, and a similar spinning forms an ornamental knob at the end. The latter has a loosely hinged cap, closing the opening, and in the space within is room for the bullet—a ball bullet five-eigths of an inch in diameter, or a shade over. Beneath the opening is a hook, to hold the ribbon (Fig. 81.) Within the tube is a cane, moving freely up and down. To allow it to run easily in the curved portion, it is given extra flexibility at this part by a number of saw-kerfs, cut half through at a distance of a quarter of an inch apart. The lower end of the cane terminates in a metal cap. The length of the cane is such that a movement of half an inch will push out the bullet from its hiding. The source iof power and the means of transmitting it are both photographic appliances, an “antinous release” and a “self-timer.” The antinous release is a flexible metal tube carrying within it a stranded steel cable that is pushed out at one end by the operation of a metal plunger at the other. This is the device familiar to photographers for shutter operation. The self-timer is a device to enable amateur

photographers to share the penalty of their victims. It is made to grip the plunger of the release and to shoot the latter at a pre-arranged number of seconds after setting, so that the photographer can recede to a distance to pose in the picture and leave the camera shutter to itself for automatic operation.

Here, then, is an invaluable aid to the magician.

The base into which the ribbon support is screwed, is an inverted shallow metal pan, 8 inches diameter, enamelled black, to look like a disc of solid wood. In the exact centre of the inside of this, the end of the antinous release is fixed and at a convenient distance, the self-timer.

There are several makes of timers, mostly mechanical, i.e., “clock-work.” They are almost silent, but not quite. For that reason I chose a “Kodak” self-timer, which is on a different principle to others, controlled by an air valve, and is positively silent. It consists

of a small cylindrical piston chamber with a powerful spring piston working within it. The latter is pushed down to its lowest point, and there it will remain indefinitely, held by an internal catch., A clip is formed on an arched bracket attached to the piston chamber, which grips the plunger of the antinous release, which is bent round to meet it Fig. 82 shews the internal arrangements of the base, as seen from the under side. A minute release catch protrudes from the outside of the piston chamber, and this is so disposed in fixing it to the base that it can be operated through a hole in the latter, by pressure on a metal tongue lying flush with the top of the base on the outside. This is so far invisible that nothing could be seen even if I

illustrated it; I must therefore invite the reader to take my word for it. Certainly its concealment leaves nothing to be desired, and I can guarantee its reliability of action. The timing is variable by means of an adjustable collar on the plunger and if set for twenty, thirty or forty seconds, and the performer, after all the preliminaries, presses the external tongue, he can take his gun, walk away, and timing his actions andpatter accordingly aim at the support. In twenty, thirty or forty seconds, as the case may be, the internal release will act and the bullet will be shot out of its container. The hinged cap at the end of the ribbon support quivers slightly just before discharging its contents, and if watched closely, and the gun fired at the same instant, the report will correspond with the appearance of the bullet. A thin wooden or metal rim screwed to the under side of the base strengthens it and encloses the fitments.

With regard to the gun, either a pistol or a rifle may be used. For the former I use, in preference to the type of pistol recommended by Professor Hoffman, which is undesirably heavy and unnecessarily elaborate, an old-fashioned muzzle loading pistol, of rather large size, of a very plain and cheap type. The regular barrel is cut off and (the stump being first plugged and pinned) replaced with a six inch length of 4 in. bore tubing jammed over the stump. No charge is used, only a percussion cap to make a report, the performer explaining that the pistol has been loaded beforehand, to save time.

A rifle makes a more imposing show. This is practically a dummy. An air gun has its regular barrel cut off and replaced by 3/4 in. bore tubing, as before. The report is produced by a miniature safety pistol, firing small blank cartridges, fixed to the side of the rifle, adjoining the trigger of the latter.

The pistol recommended by Professor Hoffmann is an old type of conjurer’s pistol, converted from a cumbrous weapon suggestive of a highwayman’s professional equipment. It carries a ramrod, sliding in a lesser barrel below the main barrel. The main barrel is plugged and whatever is placed in it remains there, independent of the firing. The nipple is connected through to the lesser barrel, which takes the charge and is the real source of the explosion. Such an arrangement is not entirely devoid of risk. If, for instance, from absentmindedness or other cause, the ramrod were returned to its cavity before

discharging the pistol, it might be uncomfortable for somebody. Then again, if the plug was insecurely fixed and wore loose with age, a serious accident might result. It is unlikely that an intelligent mechanic would fix such a plug in such a way that it could wear loose; moreover, powder fire causes rust, and it is not in the nature of rusted joints to wear loose.

Still, it is said to have happened. Better not give it a chance. Little, if anything, is gained in illusion.

It only remains to explain the general procedure. The automatic release is set for use, the gun is loaded with cap or cartridge and a plate is provided with some ribbons of different colours and a bullet. In a get-at-able pocket a duplicate bullet is carried. Leaden bullets of the required size can be obtained from fishing tackle shops. They must be sawn about three quarters through and the two halves forced slightly apart so that a ribbon can be easily introduced into the slit. The ribbons, about eight inches long, are knotted at each end, and a small shot or other pellet enclosedin the knots to prevent them being forcibly drawn through the hook by the weight of the large bullet.

The plate is handed out with the request that the bullet shall be marked with a pocket knife, and a ribbon selected and marked with a pencil. While this is being done, the performer gains possession of the duplicate pellet and secretes it in his fingers. Taking the plate back, he picks up the marked ribbon, and at the same time secretly abstracts the marked bullet, leaving the duplicate on the plate in its place. He runs the ribbon through the slit of the concealed bullet, draws it through as far as one of the knots and fixes it by pressing the two halves together. He then puts the ribbon through the hook at the extremity of the tubular support and, under cover of the fingers, introduces the bullet into the cavity. Then he drops the substituted bullet into the gun barrel, puts in a piece of tissue paper over it, as a wad, and rams it down with a ramrod. All is now ready. He presses upon the tongue that puts the time release into action, walks to a distance for shooting, takes aim, and keeps on the alert for the signal to fire. In due time the air valve discharges its piston, the piston operates the cable release and, through the medium of the cane, pushes the bullet out of its cavity. Its weight causes it to fall, and the two ends of the ribbon are instantly reversed.

By careful trial and repeated rehearsal, the performer should be able to time the denouement to a second or two. To prevent an awkward pause and sustain a sense of interested expectancy, while waiting for the bullet to announce its appearance, I use a series of broken phrases, that can be interrupted at any point without detriment, thus—

“Steady, please, in the front row.... The other night I shot a man’s ear off.... Quite an accident.... I warned him to move his ear.... He moved.... the wrong ear.... I’ve got his other ear at home, now!.... Bang!

The performer walks back to the stage, holds a plate beneath the bullet, with a pair of scissors daintily cuts the ribbon off close to the hook, and passes the plate out for identification of the contents.