225: John Martin-made Locked Ring Boxes

Locked Ring Boxes. London, J. Martin, 1945. A vanished ring reappears inside the innermost of two engraved and gilded silver boxes, even though the smaller of the two boxes is locked with a key. Included are two keys (one gaffed), the original invoice from Martin (laminated), an ALS from Martin describing the working of the box trick and a watch pull, and both engraved boxes. Largest box measures 2 ½ x 2 x 1”. Fine condition. Martin, whose main source of income was the manufacture and repair of watches and clocks, also had the honor of maintaining the works of that famous London landmark, Big Ben. He was discovered by Arnold DeBierre, who was the first magician to engage him in the manufacture of conjuring apparatus. For years, DeBierre was Martin’s only magician customer. Then, After DeBierre’s death, the secret that was John Martin got out, so to speak, and he began building elaborate and beautiful mechanical tricks for the profession’s top conjurers, among them Cecil Lyle, Cardini, and Frakson.