Description

The shell design of the School for Scoundrels Shell Game Set was crafted by Pop Haydn to perfectly augment the use of our Perfect Peas. The pea we recommend, of course, is based on the hard rubber peas used by grifters since the 1860’s. These hard peas are superior to the foam, latex, and latex-covered foam peas favored by magicians during the last 50 years since they never wear out or lose their friction, and they can be used on any performing surface including glass, wood, or marble.

Pop’s shell design incorporates all of the little-known features of the true street artist. It is this that makes the use of the shells easier and more deceptive. These features include the Chanin Dip, a slight curve of the bottom of the shell that is barely noticeable. When the forefinger pushes down on the front of the shell (as in the picture above) the back of the shell lifts slightly making the exit of the pea smooth and effortless.

The entire outside back of each shell is rounded at a specific height that causes the pea to be pulled under the shell when the shell is moved back into contact. The inside back of each shell has a deep, flat, nearly perpendicular wall that prevents the shell from rolling on the pea when it is loaded and released. A more slanted surface is a serious flaw in some shell designs. At the back of the shell is a slight indentation that looks like the spot at which the twig would have been connected. This indentation gives the pea a little more room to exit the shell.

The front of the shells interior is angled so that the pea can be easily felt and controlled for moves like the roll flash. This design also makes possible the unique features of our magnetic shells–the pea can be picked up or released while under the shell with a tiny push forward or back. The special rare-earth magnet in each magnetic shell is actually molded into the pewter in the casting process before the shells are plated. It is located in the front of the shell in a position such that the pea can be picked up by the magnet, and yet retain contact with the table. When the shell is lifted, the pea has disappeared. When the shell is returned to the table, by pushing forward and slightly to the right or left, the pea can be rolled away from the magnet and released. At this point the shell can be lifted to show the pea, or the pea can be stolen from the shell, or if necessary, the shell can be pulled back so that the magnet is re-engaged.

Your set includes: 3 Antique Copper Shells, 7 School for Scoundrels Perfect Peas, Carrying Bag, and a Shot Glass