Does anyone know where I might obtain plans or the actual device for a spirit bell or similar device, that could be locked in a cabinet? I would like to incorporate this into my seances as a question and answer tool. It would need to be remotely controlled and possibly pass a brief examination.

Which one?

There dozens of Spirit Bells and similar systems.

PM me and we can talk about a few versions...

The BEST spirit bell is the crystal bell sold in manuscript form from Carlysle. I used it in seances a fair amount.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat

RogueMagic,

Perhaps you'll get an idea from the fact that a vent figure only seems to talk.
The principle is applicable to what you want to do.

Sid

Paul

Anything created by the hand of God causes all other methods to pale...

I've not used anything from Ed that wasn't wonderful! He's one of this industry's great secret treasures!

Mr. Alberstat, could you clarify for me: I don't have Carlyle's manuscript, but his spirit bell sounds suspiciously close to the old crystal-glass-strung-from-a-pencil effect described in Gardner's Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic. Is that indeed the case? If so, it is probably quite effective (although that limitation on who can handle it during the Q&A still bedevils me).

Rogue: the ever-popular Mind, Myth, and Magick contains a homemade spirit-bell-in-a-box effect that uses no electronics (Bellsamo, page 571), yet you can walk away from it and still have it respond to a number of questions.

I can't testify as to how well it works, as I've not experimented with this particular version; however, it appears to be fairly labor-intensive to create (not the actual fabrication part; just the routine). Still, it's a *** clever idea, and I'm sure I'll be trying it myself before too long. Thanks for reminding me of it!

That is the basic effect, the crystal bell, BUT his manuscript gives much more than the bare bones that Gardner does. Caryle's expertise in Seance work and spirit effects is vast and truly one of the best anyone could have. In fact, he has been gracious enough to offer a very limited (only 5 acts may sign up for it) workshop to learn the actual spirit cabinet effect (like Francis Willard does) next June here in Calgary. This is the type of person anyone interested in seance effects wants to learn from. The BEST!

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat

Greetings,

Okay, I am giving away one of my favorites here: Find someone with the Albo series. Check volume 9 (I think) for spirit bells. There are bunches. I got my design from there. It rings while held by a member of the audience. No threads, magnets, insects, projectiles, stooges, radiation, or actual spirit contact required.

Good Luck,
Sam Haine

That sounds really useful. I've had a hunt around for those manuscripts but with no luck. Anyone got any ideas where I could find them ?

Hello,
The best "Spirit Bell" is the one the old masters used. A bell was mounted on a platform and covered with a glass, but it didn`t make the noise. This was done by a wind-up-mechanism with an encased bell. This apparatus was placed into the top of your pants against the tummy. With muscle retraction the bell started to ring. You could walk a little bit away from the covered bell, because nobody realizes, that the sound doesn`t come from the bell which rests on a table, a chair or was held in the performers hand. The performer could even stand in the audience, holding the fake bell.
does that make sense?

The best routine with such a bell was written by the English magician and dealer Fred Loew. As far as I can recall it is in "Pabular". Should you have any questions, feel free to ask!

TED LESLEY

Sorry, in the afore mentioned mail I made a mistake. The routine is not in "Pabular" it`s in "Pallbearers"!

TL

I could never find the right kind of crystal
bell. They all have etchings in them.

Paul, do you know of a source for the proper bell?
Cheers,
James

Beleive it or not searching souvinier and touristy type shops are good to find them as are flea markets. If they have writing on them, put them through the dishwasher a few times and the writing magically disappears.

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat