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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
298
THE
VANISHING
PLATE,
OR
SALVER.--This
is
a
most
useful
and
ingenious
piece
of
apparatus.
In
appearance
it
is
an
ordinary
japanned
tin
tray,
of
about
ten
inches
in
diameter;
but
it
has
the
faculty
of
causing
money
placed
upon
it
to
disappear
in
a
most
surprising
manner.
A
number
of
coins,
collected
from
the
company,
are
placed
upon
the
salver.
The
performer,
standing
but
a
few
feet
from
the
spectators,
openly
takes
them
off
one
by
one,
but
each,
as
his
fingers
grasp
it,
vanishes
utterly.
His
sleeves
(which
in
conjuring
come
in
for
a
vast
amount
of
undeserved
suspicion)
may
be
rigorously
examined;
but
even
though,
as
a
concession
to
popular
prejudice,
he
should
bare
his
arm
to
the
shoulder,
the
result
would
still
be
the
same.
A
closer
inspection
of
the
salver
(which
the
performer
takes
good
care
not
to
permit)
would
reveal
the
fact,
that
though
apparently
consisting,
like
any
other,
of
only
one
thickness
of
metal,
it
is
in
reality
made
double,
allowing
sufficient
space
between
its
upper
and
under
surface
for
the
concealment
of
any
number
of
coins
laid
singly.
The
centre
portion
of
the
upper
surface,
though
apparently
of
a
piece
with
the
rest,
is
in
reality
moveable,
though
pressed
upwards
and
kept
in
its
place
by
the
action
of
four
small
springs.
When
the
performer
apparently
picks
up
a
coin
(which
he
takes
care
shall
be
on
this
centre
portion),
he
presses
smartly
upon
it,
at
the
same
moment
drawing
it
sharply
towards
the
outer
rim.
The
moveable
portion
of
the
salver
yielding
to
the
pressure,
the
effect
is
as
shown
in
the
figure
(Fig.
98),
and
the
coin
is
shot
under
the
outer
rim,
between
the
upper
and
under
surface
of
the
salver,
the
moveable
portion
rising
again
to
its
place
as
soon
as
the
momentary
pressure
is
removed.
The
tray
is
japanned
in
such
manner
that
the
circular
lines
of
the
pattern
correspond
with
the
outline
of
the
moveable
portion,
and
will
bear
any
amount
of
mere
ocular
inspection,
so
long
as
it
is
not
permitted
to
be
handled.
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