Anti-Gravity Matches

Effect: A box of matches is opened and the drawer held upside down. The matches defy the laws of gravity and do not fall out – until you command them to.

Secret: Wedge a match across the drawer of a box of matches. You will probably have to shorten the match to do this. When you take the drawer from the box, hold it by the sides to keep the secretly-wedged match in position. Command the matches to fall and release the pressure on the wedged match. All the matches fall from the box on your command.

Where Are The Matches?

Effect: Two empty matchboxes and one containing some matches are moved around on a table. The spectators are unable to identify which box contains the matches.

Secret: All three matchboxes are empty. Attached to your right arm and hidden by your sleeve is a matchbox containing some matches. Shake a box with your left hand it sounds empty. When you mix up the three visible boxes you can make any one appear to be the full one, simply by shaking it with your right hand. The spectators think it contains matches because they hear the sound from the hidden box.

Match Rise

Effect: A match rises from a matchbox.

Secret: Make a small hole in the top of a matchbox. Push a match into the hole as shown in the illustration. When you push the drawer, the match will be forced out through the hole. If you tilt the matchbox slightly with the end of the drawer facing the audience, it will give the impression that the match rises from the drawer as it is opened.

Match Maker

Effect: Matches appear in an empty box.

Secret: The matchbox drawer is secretly prepared by cutting it in two. One section is longer than the other. Put the two pieces of drawer in the box and fill it with matches. To show the box empty pull the long part of the divided drawer from the box. The matches will remain in position inside the cover and the drawer will appear to be empty. Close the drawer. To show the box full push the drawer from the other end. This moves both pieces of the drawer and the matches make their appearance.

Stop!

Effect: A matchbox obeys your commands.

Secret: Run a thread through the end of a matchbox drawer (see figure 1). Put a small eraser or a block of wood in the drawer on top of the thread (see figure 2) then close the box. You are now ready to show the trick. Hold each end of the thread, with one hand above the other. The matchbox should be near the top of the thread. If you hold the thread loosely the box will slide down the thread but if you secretly tighten the thread the box will stop (see figure 3). With practice you can make it stop or go at your command.