Magic Tricks

Having watched several performances and figured out how the Unbelievalope works, I decided to buy it (not from Penguin). However, when it arrived and I tried performing it along with the videos, I realised that Jeff has both right and left handed versions in the videos and I had got a left handed one - unfortunately for me, I have a couple of damaged fingers on my left hand which won't straighten properly and make the move very difficult to perform without drawing attention to what I am trying to do.

I didn't really figure this out until I had been struggling to perform it right handedly and the card on display inside not staying in the right place - gravity kept pulling it to the non-gimmicked part of the envelope.

Which kind of brings me to my main issue with the Unbelievalope. I got into magic when I was a kid, over 50 years ago, not out of a desire to perform but to work out how things were done. I'd always look for anomalies or anything (object or movement) which didn't seem necessary - that's how I figured the Unbelievalope out - the window has an odd shape which drew my eyes to the gimmicked area. I don't know why it was not made with a fully rectangular window which does not raise questions and, with a second gimmicked area on the other side would allow for ambidextrous use.

The heavier card makes it a bit awkward to get my fingers in comfortably and the 'lip' in the gimmicked area not only seems a bit unnecessary but with the card being so stiff, cuts into my knuckles.

I like the concept but the issues I have with the design prevent me from giving it five stars. I am going to make my own with less rigid card, a regular shaped window, two gimmick areas and no 'lips' which I hope will work more smoothly.

I'm sure that other people will not have had the same problems and theirs have been fine - I'm just adding my experience without (hopefully) being overcritical nor putting anybody off.