The Glass-and-Hat Trick
The effect of this trick is as follows: The performer first exhibits a small table, about 2 ft. square, the top of which is covered with black velvet. He requests the loan of a Derby hat and a handkerchief, then takes an ordinary glass, filled with water, and places it on the table top, covers it with the handkerchief, and sets the hat on top of the glass. He then withdraws a short distance, and at a command, the glass appears to pass slowly through both handkerchief and hat until the hat rests on the table top. The hat is then taken up and is handed to the owner, who finds the glass of water in the hat.
While this is seemingly impossible, the effect can be easily accomplished and the necessary apparatus can be made up cheaply if a table of suitable size can be had, although a kitchen table may be used if so desired, but a table about 2 ft. square is preferred, because it can be easily carried. The table is prepared as follows: Procure a block of wood, about 2 in. square and 1¹⁄₂ in.thick, and glue it to the under side of the table in the center. Bore a ¹⁄₄-in. hole through both the table top and the block of wood. The top of the table must be covered with some black cloth, such as velvet. Using the hole bored as a center, cut out a piece of the table top to correspond with the diameter of the glass to be used, and about ¹⁄₈ in. deep, fit into this depression a piece of round sheet brass. Procure a ¹⁄₄-in. rod, about 6 in. long, and fasten the brass disk to the end of it so that the disk will fit into the round depression when the rod is run through the hole in the table top and block. The other, or lower, end of the rod is filed flat, and a small hole is drilled through it, the edges being smoothed to receive a thread. The top of the brass disk is covered with the same material as is used for covering the table top. This will make it appear to be one piece covering the table top. Fasten a strong black thread to one corner of the table top on the under side, and run it through the hole drilled through the end of the rod, then over a small window-curtain roller fastened into the opposite corner of the table top, where the thread is run down a table leg and through another pulley out under a rug or the floor to an assistant where the thread will not be seen. The metal disk can then be controlled without any apparent power. If the rod extends under the table too far, tape some velvet or fancy cloth around the table edge to cover it.
Apparently the Glass Filled with Water Passes Up through the Crown of the Hat and is Taken from it When the Trick is Completed
Apparently the Glass Filled with Water Passes Up through the Crown of the Hat and is Taken from it When the Trick is Completed
To begin the trick, the performer exhibits the glass of water, then sets it on the table just back of the disk, and in placing the borrowed handkerchief it is put on the disk rather than the glass. As the handkerchief is held in front of the glass the assistant pulls the disk up; thus the handkerchief is placed on the disk and the glass of water is left uncovered just behind it. The performer then starts to put the borrowed hat on the glass, crown up, and when, seeing his mistake, he apologizes, turns the hat over, and in doing so picks up the glass of water and places it in the hat. The hat is then set on the disk with the crown down. In turning the hat the glass is taken up with the first two fingers of the right hand. When the hat is raised, the glass is also raised with it, and while doing this the hat is slanted so as to hide the glass. In turning the hat over, the glass is brought into it. This is quite hard to explain, but a little practice will enable the performer to make no mistake. When the hat is placed on the disk the assistant slowly lets the disk down. It is very necessary to let the hat down slowly, as a sudden jerk is apt to tumble the hat over and spoil it as well as the trick. When the hat comes to rest on the table top, it is removed and handed to the owner with the glass of water in it.