Introduction: One of the first references to the linking
safety pins was the effect Piff Paff Poof, which is credited
to Gene Gordon who marketed the effect in the early 1930's. The
Genii Magicpedia article referenced below (which in turn references
the Jon Racherbaumer article in the Oct 2006 MUM) states the first
printing of a presentation was in the Dec 1934 Linking Ring
magazine. Piff Paff Poof is not really a linking pin trick,
but rather an unlinking trick, performed with un-gimmicked pins. Piff
Paff Poof also saw print in Hilliard's Greater Magic,
which credited "as performed by Don White" in 1938. That same year,
Sid Lorraine published his comedy patter for the routine.
In 1943, L. Vosburg Lyons effect Slip, Snap, Spoof was
printed in the November issue of The Phoenix. This routine
introduced the specially gimmicked pin that was later made famous by
Jerry Andrus. Jerry Andrus' Safety Pin Trix book &
gimmick set has been regarded as the pinnacle of the Linking Safety
Pins by many, at least until the early 1980's. Then in 1982, Han van
Senus published Un-Safety Pins in the Apocalypse Feb 1982
edition, which seemed to spark the linking pins routine again. The
Senus' pin is a "soft" pin, that can also be examined.
Since then, there have been a few other versions, such as the
Slydini pins and Dreamweaver, though I don't have them all so I'm
not certain of their exact differences.
Some good references to the Linking Safety Pins can be found here:
The booklet from Houdini Magic that comes with Stealth Linking
Pins, written by Geno Munari, reportedly has a lot of Linking
Pin history.
and finally, Jon Racherbaumer has an article in the October 2006
edition of the MUM outlining much of the Linking Pin history.
Note: none of the following items is for sale
from this website. This is merely a guide to help you find books,
articles, videos and products on the Linking Safety Pin effect.
Check with your local magic dealer or places like e-Bay for
availability. I apologize for any inaccuracies in the following
list.
Books: (click on a book
title to see the table of contents page for that book)
Alan, Don:
Pretty Sneaky. 1956. Includes Bent Pins, an effective
comedy ending for your linking pins routine.
Andrus,
Jerry: Safety Pin-Trix: An Array of Truly
Bewildering Effects with the Lowly Safety Pin. 1955 Star Magic, 70
pages. Was revised in 1972 by Star Magic, and reprinted in 2006 by
Chazpro Magic.
Klayder, Jim: Watch Closely. 1978. Includes Locked
(Safety Pins); Uses an Lyons' gimmicked pin, a regular pin, and a
small padlock for a quick comedy bit
Mellville, Leslie: Magictales - The Definitive Book of
Storytelling Magic. 2006. Includes The Friendly Witch and Her
Linking Pins, a comic rhyming routine for the Slydini Pins
Norman,
Karl: Here's How,
the Close-Up Magic of Karl Norman. 1985. Later reprinted as
Karl Norman 40 Years at the Forks. Includes Karl Norman's Linking
Pins, using the "soft" pin method, and incorporates the
handkerchief
Racherbaumer, Jim: At the Table. 1984. Anthology of
JR's "At the Table" column from M-U-M. Including Hunter's Foop Fapp
Fipp and Super Pin Routine.
Thompson,
J.G.: Magic to Delight. 1970. Includes
Safety-Pin Up, II, further thoughts on the Linking Safety Pins as a
follow up to his article in Top Secrets of Magic.
Torre, Jose De La: The Incredible Linking Pins. 1993,
41 pages. 3 Safety pins Link & unlink in a very astonishing
manner
Tremaine,
Jon: The Amazing Book of Magic & Card Tricks.
2000. Includes a chapter on Safety Pin tricks, to include Spooky
Matches (two pins magically unlink); Hanky Panky (pin removed from
hanky); A Ripping Yarn! (pin doesn't damage hanky); Drop Out (pins
instantly open when dropped to table); and Pin in a Spin (matchstick
penetrates safety pin)
Andrus, Jerry: Andrus' Giant Safety Pins; The Linking
Ring, Vol. 37 No. 9 (November 1957, pp. 73-75).
Bartram, Richard Jr.: Pinatrated Bill. safety pin
pushed through end of a dollar is pulled to the other end and ripped
off the bill. Bill is unharmed. (need to check). Apocalpyse Vol 10,
No. 4, April 1987.
Bauer, Ron: Linking Pins Routine; The New Tops, Vol.
2 No. 2 (February 1962, pp. 6-7).
- Using the Lyons' style pins and a diaper; utilizes gags from Sid
Lorraine's Patter and Don Alan's Bent Pins gag
Biro, Pete: A Combination Routine; M-U-M, Vol. 58 No.
2 (July 1968, pp. 40-41).
Ellis, Tom: Linking Pin Moves; The Chronicles, No. 4
(April 1978, pp. 1103-1104).
Gardner, Martin: Hugards Magic Monthly, Jan/Feb 1957. Three
quickies described - Pif Paf Poof, safety pin through handkerchief,
and pin release from handkerchief
Garrett, Dan: Variation of Han Van Senus' Un-Safety Pins
under "variations or addition" column, Apocalpyse Vol 6, No. 7, July
1983
Hjalmang, A: New Piff-Paff-Pouferie; Abracadabra,
Vol. 29 No. 743 (May 23, 1960, pp. 233-234).
Hunter, Jim: Foop Fapp Fipp; M-U-M, Vol. 67 No. 12
(May 1978, pp. 20-21). Jon Racherbaumer's At the Table Column.
Joseph, Eddie: Piff Paff Poof. The Tops, Vol. 4 No. 2
(February 1939, p. 9). Eddie's presentation of the standard Piff
Paff Poof effect with ungimmicked pins
Kosky, Gerald: Piff-Paff-Poof Variation; Genii, Vol.
36 No. 9 (September 1972, p. 405). Slightly gimmicked pin for a slow
pull-apart version of Piff Paff Poof
Lyons, L.Vosburg: Slip, Snap, Spoof; The Phoenix, No.
47 (Nov. 5, 1943, pp. 192-193)
- A uniquely gimmicked pin with reference to the Audley Walsh
routine
Marlo, Ed: Super Pin Routine; M-U-M, Vol. 68 No. 5
(October 1978, pp. 20-23). From Jon Racherbaumer's At the Table
Column.
- Routine with four pins, two for the standard Piff Paff Poof, and
one Andrus/Lyons pin and matching regular pin
Pentel, Jens: Pinza Movement. Comedy pins become
permanently linked in spectator's hand. From Stephen Tucker's
Chicanery, Volume 1, Issue 9, February 1987
Poisson, Jean: New Light on Piff, Paff, Pouf;
Hugard's Magic Monthly, Vol. 10 No. 10 (March 1953, pp. 1053, 1056).
- Using the Lyons style pin
Racherbaumer, Jon: Safety Pin Magic. M-U-M, Vol. 96
No. 5 (October 2006, pp. 48-49). A Summary of many approaches.
Rainho, Jim: Linking Pins Routine (Jim Rainho):
M-U-M, Vol. 70 No. 12 (May 1981, p. 36).
- Uses Andrus/Lyons pin - routine to leave an examinable set of
linked pins in spectator's hands
Rink of Holland: Climax for a Safety-Pin Routine; The
Gen, Vol. 13 No. 6 (October 1957, pp. 180-181).
- Two Climaxes for any pin routine - provides specators with linked
pins that can't be unlinked, and a growing pin
Rink of Holland: Rinking Pins; The Gen, Vol. 15 No.
12 (April 1960, pp. 300-304).
- New moves using the Andrus/Lyons pins
Senus, Han van: Un-Safety Pins; Apocalypse, Vol. 5
No. 2 (February 1982, pp. 589-591).
- Han van Senus intruduces a new "soft pin" gimmick.
Slydini: The Mystery of the Gold Pins; Apocalypse,
Vol 1. No. 10 (October 1978, pp. 109-114).
- Uses a slight variation of the Andrus/Lyons gimmiced pin.
Stanfield, John: A Routine With Jerry Andrus' Linking
Pins; The Linking Ring, Vol. 53 No. 9 (September 1973, pp.
94-95).
Straus, Ed: Idea for pin switch for Slydini's Gold Pins, from
the Ellipses column in Apocalypse pg 180
Thompson, J.G.: Safety Pin-up (J. G. Thompson, Jr.):
M-U-M, Vol. 45 No. 12 (May 1956, pp. 552-560).
Tong, Danny: Two Pins & the 'Kerchief; The New
Jinx, Vol. 6 No. 68 (December 1967, p. 277).
Torre, Jose de la: The Incredible Linking Pins:
M-U-M, Vol. 73 No. 8 (January 1984, pp. 17-19). Uses the Senus
soft-pin gimmmick
Van Zandt, W. F.: The Linking Ring, Vol. 14 No. 10 (December
1934, pp. 841-842)
Walsh, Audley: Pin Perplexer, The Phoenix, No. 41
(Aug. 6, 1943, p. 170). A non-gimmicked pin routine where 6 pins are
placed in the fist and they all become linked
Videos:
Andrus, Jerry: Lifetime of Magic DVD. Vol 3. Includes
Linking Pins (performance only): See Andrus perform the now classic
routine he popularized where three safety pins link and unlink under
impossible conditions. Murphy's Magic. $35.
Bloom, Gaetan: Smashing Close-Up. 1984, VHS. Includes
Ultimate Linking Pins
Diamond, Paul: Hardcore Volume 2 DVD. 2001 L&L
Publishing (originally Videonics VHS). Includes Something Different
With Safety Pins
Flip: Very Best of Flip Volume 1 (Flip in Close Up
Part 1). DVD L&L Publishing. Includes Flip Pins, which also
appears on World's Greatest Magic - Close Up Magic #1
Norman, Karl: Close Up Table Magic DVD. Murphy's
Magic. Includes Linking Pins: A quick routine with two safety pins
that penetrate each other, move across the length of a handkerchief,
penetrate through a handkerchief and finally link to each other.
Slydini: As I Recall DVD. Includes Bob Yorburg
performing "Slydini's Linking Pins"
Stone, Sol: Quick & Casual Close-Up DVD. 2002,
Meir Yedid Magic. Includes Acupuncture
Torre, Jose De La: Warren Kaps & Friends "Magic from
MUM" VHS video. Includes performance of The Incredible Linking
Pins
Products:
Andrus, Jerry: Linking Safety Pins. Chazpro. Comes
complete with four regular pins and one expertly gaffed pin. This
set features a new routine by Chuck Leach
Andrus, Jerry: Linking Safety Pins; 1954 Star Magic,
Marketed item
Aranana: Mr. Pearl's: PINcredible. Linking
pins link or unlink in front of spectator's eyes, are examinable,
and could be given away.
Bernstein, Bruce: Linking Pins. 1991. Pins and
routine with DVD.
Blake, George: Plexus Pins. 1960 commercial product.
Search Youtube for an excellent performance by Pete Stedman,
assisted by Jack Stevens
Bloom, Gaetan: Linking Pins. Mayette Magie Moderne. Gimmicked
pins and DVD (dual language). Variation of the Slydini pins that
allows for examination, and the pins are much longer.
Burke, Eddie: Piff Paff Poof Outdone: product
produced in the early 1970's though Magictrix House of Magic.
Included gimmicked pins and a 2 page manuscript. (seen on an eBay
sale)
Garrett, Dan & Bob Sheets: Pin-Demonium, or Grab Your
Pin Head. DVD and pins. An enhanced version of Garrett's
Pin-Demonium.
Gordon, Gene: Piff-Paff-Poof. Marketed item, circa
1935.
Kaushal, Manoj: Manoj Linking Pins. Includes linking
gimmick pins and bonus gimmicked pins and DVD instructions.
Mak Magic: Linking Pins Plus. Marquerie, Jarri: Imperdiworld - Platinum Safety Pins.
Designed to allow you to perform almost any Linking Safety Pin
routine. Set includes 1 key Slidyni, 1 Jerry Andrus key, 1 Jarry
Marquerie key (invisible), 2 Normal-modified, 1 Waning, 1 transport
bag. With DVD instructions.
Mayhew, Chris: Safety. From Ellusionist
Munari, Geno (Houdini Magic)Stealth Linking Pins.
Gimmicked pins, and 30 page booklet includes a good bibliography
Palmer Magic: Slydini Pins, 1984 marketed item -
includes Slydini 5 stage routine, Twist Linking by Palmer, and more
