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The Magic Cafe Forum Index :: Deck the Halls :: Spreedreader Marked Deck (a Magic Portal review) (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

Good to here.
canaday
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Florida
746 Posts

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Speed Reader Marked Deck
$12.50
https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=63998

The Hype:
Immediately identify ANY card WITHOUT seeing its face.
Imagine having a BICYCLE deck with the EASE and READABILITY of a marked deck... for less than $15.

Introducing the GT Speedreader Marked Deck Standard Version (BICYCLE 809 Mandolin).
Available in red and blue.

Includes online version of The Trick That Can't Be Explained from the GT Speedreader DVD by Kozmomagic absolutely FREE.

The GT Speedreader Standard is very EASY TO READ...yet SPECATATOR SECURE.

Very easy to read, yet not screamingly obvious when in view.
Intuitive marking system on a BICYCLE backed card.
Read it INSTANTLY, right out of the box.

The GT Speedreader Standard marking system is 100% UNDETECTABLE by the spectator when the deck is spread, because the marks are CONSEALED.
Design best suited for right hand performers.

These marked cards are even undiscovered by people "in the know" about marked decks.

Based on concepts from Ted Lesley, EVERY ASPECT of these cards were thoughtfully designed for working magicians AND how spectators examine cards.
Even includes a poker hand guide card as a subtle convincer to your spectators as you open a new deck -- that they are everyday cards.

In fact, your favorite magician is probably using them and you don't even know it!
100% undetectable by the spectators when spread
NO strange symbols or codes
NO cheat sheets
NO special counts or stacks required
NO special equipment needed
Manufactured by US Playing Card Company with 809 BICYCLE Mandolin Backs
Includes marking instruction card
Includes a marked double backer AND Jokers
Additional routines and instruction available separately

My Take:
The first time I ran into a marked deck was at a Paul Diamond lecture in Rhode Island where he absolutely fried everyone using a Ted Lesley deck (Also the weapon of choice of Dave Cresey, the King of Koils). Then, at my first magic convention ever on Cape Cod, I had the pleasure of meeting Boris Wild and watching him demonstrate his marked deck.

But like a lot of you, I have the decks but they now reside in a drawer. The problem with the Lesley deck is that you cannot read the cards when in a ribbon spread. You can with the Wild deck (and the positioning of the suits cuts your searching for the proper suit by 75%) but where the Speedreader shines for me is that all the markings are in one location. Once you get used to looking there they are easy to read. If you have someone just name a card and you find it face down, Wild is the superior deck but if you spread the cards face down, have someone pick a card and have you name it, the Speedreader would be my choice. Each deck does have the advantage in different areas.

One problem a lot of the older guys have is being able to read the cards due to poor eyesight. This will not correct that but it does make the job much easier. The marks are always in the same location. There is no looking for different positions or counting filled in locations on the cards.

The card quality is standard Bicycle and handles nicely and as the promo copy says it will never be caught by an audience. I handed a few cards out to some friends, told them the cards were marked and 10 minutes later they gave up. Absolutely undetectable but once you know the secret there is no problem. The marks are nicely integrated into the back design of the cards.

In my opinion, the Speedreader is a step up in the marked deck genre and at $12.50 is a steal.
The Great Dave
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My Wife said "It's Me or that Stupid Magic Website!" this many times.
201 Posts

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AND - Vanishing Inc. has them on sale for $5.75 per deck. Snatch up a bunch!
Academy of Magical Arts

Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat! Whoops, wrong hat ...
psychod
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I may not be a millionaire but at least I have
247 Posts

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The Great Dave-

Thank you for mentioning that these were on sale at VI. I picked up a few decks after reading your post.

Dave
Just adding my 3 cents worth because anybody can add their 2 cents worth...