Greetings, all!

Another "what the heck is it" question: I have a mentalism/mental magic prop in my possession about which I am quite curious. It is a small (about 1 1/2 inch diameter by 1/4 inch thick) glass disc. The disc is lightly etched on each side with a playing card. The etching is so light, in fact, that it is invisible to the naked eye until "fog" is applied to the glass disc (a'la a steamy breath or mist rising from a hot beverage.) My question - What is the name of this prop? Is it still being made? Where can I find routining/handling information regarding this unique (at least from my limited perspective) prop?

Thanks in advance for your helpful insight!

Robb Randall

There should be a card index on one side, and another on the reverse side. I found a good use for these (I actually have about 5 of 'em)...if you'd like to discuss it further, I'd rather do it in an email to: stevethomasmagic@aol.com.

I also have the same device in a pair of "grandfather's glasses"...with cards on each lens. VERY old piece, too. This one's probably from the 1950's. I don't use it, though.

Steve Thomas

I bought one new in the mid 1990s. It was sold under the name "ghost glass." I even remember seeing ads for the fluid so you could do your own etching on any glass.

I don't remember a patter, but it lends itself to the mystical. As a gospel magician I used the theme of the breath of life being breathed into Adam, or the word spirit and wind being the same in greek.

You could go a bizarre magic route, and use that as well - wind/spirit are the same word in ancient Greek. Your breath is like your spirit, and it seeks out the hidden truth, revealing your card on the glass.

I believe there are called breath crystals.. I think Viking still makes and sells them.

Viking still sells the liquid for making your own "impromptu" version of this. You would use it on a glass secretly in a restaurant (don't do it on very fine crystal) or even in the bottom of a glass ashtray.

Steve Thomas

The first time I saw one of these I thought that it was absolutely miraculous.

I think "Ghost Glass" was the more recent mass marketed incarnation. I had one under a different name in the seventies (but it goes back further) and there have been a couple of marketed versions with ESP symbols over the years (I had a nice one from Harries Magic in Sweden.)

I recall a lovely presentation angle by Mary Tomich appearing in Magick Magazine years ago in which the disc represented a dead river gambler's monocle...

Paul.