Back in 1921, Thayer's Magical Bulletin ran an ad for a mysterious contraption known as Eli's Dice Box. This little marvel allowed magicians to manipulate regulation dice in ways that left audiences scratching their heads. Impressive, right?
Fast forward a century, and while the concept's been kicking around for ages, the actual box has been MIA for decades. Sure, a few knock-offs popped up, but they vanished quicker than a rabbit in a hat. If you happen to stumble across one of these vintage beauties on the second-hand market, be prepared to fork out a small fortune. They’re rarer than a unicorn at a dog show.
Which is a real shame, because this humble device has some seriously intriguing potential.
So, what exactly is an Eli's Dice Box?
It’s a nifty little box designed to hold three or more dice. Shake it up, and you can get all sorts of unexpected outcomes.
Make predictions. Perform card tricks. Create Book Tests without breaking a sweat. The possibilities are endless (seriously, we could be here all day).
It’s delightfully simple; while not entirely self-working, it’s close enough to make you feel like a wizard without all the hard work.
What can it do?
Here’s a cheeky example:
You introduce the box and give it a good shake, making sure everyone hears those dice rattling around. Open it up to reveal three dice and jot down their top numbers on a pad.
Your helper rolls the dice on the table, and you note their total (because we’re keeping track, of course).
Pop the dice back in the box, give it another enthusiastic shake, and open it up to reveal yet another total. Now, add all three totals together.
Surprise! You reveal that you predicted that exact total ahead of time. And guess what? Everything is completely examinable (no funny business here).
After a good bit of tinkering, I've finally managed to resurrect this fascinating device. Allow me to introduce…
Eli's Box
Created by Ralph E. Hackman
Presented by Mark Strivings
For the first time in yonks, we’ve got a modern 'Eli's-style' box made from tough-as-nails plastic that won’t crumble at the first sign of use. Everything you could do with the original Eli's Dice Box is now possible with this shiny new version.
Included is the box (which looks rather unassuming), three dice, and a full set of instructions. It’s straightforward, completely examinable, and ready to pull off a multitude of magical mysteries.
You get the lot — the robust box, three regulation dice, and all the instructions you need to work your magic with this brilliant device.
