The Small Card Frame First Method One of the best and most mystifying appliances to be used in connection with card tricks is the small Card Frame or Sand Frame. Although not of recent origin, it is described here for the reason that some readers may not be acquainted with the detail of its construction. The Sand Frame consists of a frame proper, in which the glass is fastened permanently, and a removable back occupying the space behind the glass. The frame, with the back in position, is first shown to be unprepared. After being covered with a borrowed handkerchief, the frame is given to a lady to hold. A card is then selected, placed in a piece of apparatus (for instance, the Card Box), and commanded to vanish from there and appear under the glass of the frame. The handkerchief is removed and the change is seen to have occurred. The back of the frame is then taken out and the card removed. The frame and cards are then inspected. With nothing but the transparent glass and the frame itself, the construction of which shows no trickery, preparation seems impossible. The secret is a very ingenious one. The glass in the frame really consists of two sheets, separated by a small space (for reasons that will become apparent immediately). The sides and upper ends of these two glasses are hermetically sealed, while the lower end is left open. This opening corresponds with a secret hollow spank in the lower end of the frame, which is filled with fine sand of the same color (either white or black) as the removable back of the frame. Prior to the trick a card is placed between the back and double glass of the frame, which is then turned upside down. The sand thereby leaves the cavity in the lower end of the frame and fills the space between the glasses, causing the frame to appear as if it were entirely empty. While the latter is being covered with a borrowed handkerchief, it is secretly inverted. The sand thus runs back into the hollow space, and causes the concealed card to become exposed. In passing the apparatus for inspection the conjurer exercises due care in preventing the frame from becoming accidentally turned upside down, thus betraying the secret of the trick. The best plan to follow in this case is for the performer to hold the frame, and show it from all sides while taking it among the company. My readers will readily perceive how useful this clever contrivance will prove for the appearance and vanishing of selected cards. The beauty of the trick lays in the fact that, to the minds of the spectators, there is apparently no chance for trickery in the simple construction of the frame, glass and back.   Second Method This version of the Small Card Frame Trick is comparatively little known, and will therefore be of interest to most of my readers. The plan used is entirely different from the one employed in the first method. All parts of the apparatus, that is, frame, glass and back (which is kept in place by means of a pivoted cross piece) being taken apart at the end of the trick and passed around for inspection. Fig 54 The card is previously concealed between the glass and back in the same was as the Sand Frame, but instead of being hidden by sand, a removable curtain or a piece of cloth is used. The cloth, of course, is the same color as the back of the frame. The upper end of this small curtain is stiffened slightly by having glued a narrow strip of cardboard, which protrudes a trifle at the back, coming out between the frame and back. In removing the handkerchief that has been covering the frame, the conjurer seizes the protruding end of the curtain at the same time and carries it away with the handkerchief (Fig. 54), causing the concealed card to become exposed. As there is now no trickery about the apparatus it may be taken apart and passed for examination. While this is being done the conjurer has ample time to remove and dispose of the curtain concealed in the borrowed handkerchief. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.