What Is It? April 2022

 This is a magic apparatus called “the Sliding Die Box.” The die has a black open back side. Magicians reverse the die when placed into the box, close the doors and tip the box. Audience hears a clunk. Magician opens the elevated front door to reveal nothing. Door closes and magician tips box the other way (clunk). Audience thinks they know the secret until magician opens both doors and die has disappeared.”

 This die box is from the 19th century. This version was made in 1920 by the Thayer Magic Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles.

 Byron Roderick of Broomfield, Colorado tells us, “I have this classic ‘The Sliding Die’ magic trick. Also known as ‘The Sucker Die Box’ as audiences think they know the secret, but are fooled. There are several “You Tube” videos of this trick. He defines his die box (pictured below) as a 1950 era trick. It is in a finely crafted box, with a solid 3” die and  two metal die shells.”

 William McLaren of Anchorage, Alaska agrees that the April “What Is It” appears to be a mini miracle die box, usually called a Sucker Die Box. He says, “It is a classic magic trick device whereby a die is made to seemingly disappear. By the way, a Die is the singular form of Dice which applies to a pair (of Dies).”

Congratulations, Byron and William! You have both won a year’s subscription to the Mountain States Collector.