Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

THE SNUFF-BOX VASE.--This is an apparatus of frequent use in Watch Tricks, and it may be also made available with many other articles. It is made of various sizes, from five to eight inches in height, and of the shape shown in Fig. 102. It consists of three parts, the cover a, the vase proper c, and a moveable portion b, the latter being made with double sides, so that it fits at once in and upon c. If a is raised without pressing its sides, it comes off alone; but if its sides are pressed in removing it, it lifts off b with it. In this compartment b is placed a small round box of tin or cardboard (from which the vase derives its name), and another box, exactly similar in appearance, is placed underneath b, inside the vase proper c. Whether, therefore, the cover is removed with or without b, the audience see apparently the same box within. The only circumstance that could possibly excite suspicion would be the greater depth of c as compared with b; and this is obviated by making the bottom of c moveable, resting on a spiral spring passing through the foot of the apparatus. When b is in the vase, the bottom of c sinks down to make way for it, but again rises by the pressure of the spring as soon as b is removed. To the eye of the spectator, therefore, the interior of the vase appears always of the same depth.