The Effect: Pen Pal by Clark Orr
Cost: Varies but $10.00 was the lowest I could find - plus P&P
From: http://www.themagicwarehouse.com/hotitems.html (scroll down quite a bit!) or
http://www.hocus-pocus.com/magicshop/ but the price is higher at $11.95 for non-members.
Difficulty: 1 for the item and perhaps 1.5 for the technique required.
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Examinable: Pen Pal is handed to the spec to use so they do get to handle it - having taken it back and done the business you'd want to put in a pocket asap.
The Blurb: The name says it all: you'll carry pen pal with you everywhere! This special Sharpie© marker does all the work for you. It can be used for many different effects. We have not seen a gimmick like this before! Comes complete with pen pal and detailed instructions.
Review: Pen Pal only just arrived this morning and I can see straight away that it's sneaky little beggar which would be extremely useful to anyone doing mentalism, psychic readings and so on - anywhere where the spec writes something down which the performer doesn't actually look at - the handling does it all and it will take just a little bit of practise. It's described as a utility device and so it is. This is one of those items where any real description tips the gaff, sorry!
A very basic (but convincing!) routine is included as a starter but I'm sure you can make up your own. In effect the spec is handed a black Sharpie and a pad or other similarly completely innocent writing surface. Having written whatever needs to be written, the performer doesn't look at the written page at all yet 'divines' what's been written. This could be a number, a word, a card - almost anything which can be written down. A simple sketch could also be used. My main gripe is that the Sharpie seems to have been left open at some point and there's not much ink left in it to write with which is a bit of a bummer as that's part of the idea! However, I'm sure it can be refilled with endorsing ink, a black ink printer refill or something similar.
Value for money: 7 out of 10 (Would have been higher if there had been more ink in it!)
C.U.P.S.Rating: 5 out of 10