Himber’s Wonder Box by Merv Taylor, Richard Himber

Here is another fine Himber-Taylor effect, and as with the other items it is well made with tight tolerances. The real challenge with this one is finding a production item that actually lands. Silks or ribbons do not have enough impact, and anything that does not expand, like coins or knives, is a non-starter. The production needs to look meaningfully larger once it appears. I tried it with Alan Wong’s Deluxe Spring Flowers, and they are surprisingly perfect. You can fit seven flowers into each chamber and still show the box cleanly empty as described in the instructions. The adverts say it “defies close inspection,” and I am not convinced. You certainly could not hand it out before the items are produced. After it does lock down tight, but if someone had long nails or a business card to poke around with, they could probably work it out quickly. I would only hand it out briefly, if at all. Even so, it does look ungimmicked even from close-up, I am just not sure I would stake my life or my reputation on the secret surviving real close inspection. Includes: Nested Wonder Boxes, both hallmarked. 2 sets of Deluxe Spring Flowers with seven flowers each (not eight as advertised) (Bonus). _EF Magician shows two glistening cubes, open at both ends. Inserting one empty cube inside the other to form a box, magician produces large silks. After separating cubes and again showing both empty, magician produces more silks. Self-contained, yet defies cursory inspection. Made of shimmering stainless steel.