Reprinted from my column "The Magic Collector Series”.

Thayer Modern Rabbit Box Production

With credit courtesy of Dr. Harlan Tarbell, the Modern Rabbit Box Production made its appearance in the 1928 Catalog Number 7 of Thayer Magical Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles, California. For that matter a partial section of the illustration used in the ad for the Modern Rabbit Box Production within the catalog appeared as the cover illustration for Catalog Number 7.

In Dr. Tarbell’s writing he mentions that this apparatus is valuable not only for the production but also for the vanishing of a rabbit and also the possibility for use as a device for transformation of items with suggestion of changing a white rabbit into a black rabbit and so on. In typical Tarbell fashion he provides encouragement for the practitioner of magic to step out and take the initiative to devise something of original creation. To a degree it is reminiscent of the often seen “Use you favorite method” but delivered with a more palatable style that would make a student of magic want to be more creative. One suggestion by Dr. Tarbell is a presentation calling the apparatus a Man’s Hope Chest.

Explaining he has a wishing chest the magician directs attention to a chair having the separate pieces of apparatus to the chest. Lifting the first piece, which is merely a frame work stand, this is shown all around turning it over so it may be seen to be simple of construction. This framework stand is placed upon a tabletop or the floor to act as a base for the rest of the pieces to follow. The next piece that is leaning against the chair back is seen to be a flat board, larger in overall outer dimension than the frame base and used as a top to the base. Next shown is the magic wishing chest which is a beautiful four sided unit being a chest with no top or bottom and shown all around with the magician extending his arm through it to show it positively empty. After showing it is placed on the base and the last piece remaining on the chair is picked up also showing all around and placed upon the chest as a top lid completing the assembly.

Step by step the audience has watched carefully as the magician explained his actions as the chest came together and if assembled on the floor a view underneath due to the open space between the legs will certainly satisfy that no stage traps are used and if assembled on a table top the table may be devoid of any drape. Addressing the audience the magician says, “This chest is one that makes wishes come true. Will you make a wish, sir?” as if having the ability to read a person’s thoughts the magician continues, “What a strange wish, sir. The gentleman wishes for a rabbit’s foot. No doubt, to keep the evil spirits away.” As this is said, the lid is lifted and the magician reaches in the chest and from within he pulls a squirming and kicking live rabbit! As soon as the rabbit is seen the magician says, “There you are, sir, not only one rabbit’s foot but four of them.” With the apparatus used as a Man’s Hope Chest and depending on the venue the magician for a little comedy may state that whatever a man wishes will come into it. Directing attention to a man that is follicle challenged (Political correctness?) the magician states “Ah, the gentlemen wishes for a little hair (Hare). Here you are, sir-a little hare.” Followed by the production of the rabbit.

In Thayer’s description it was stated “This wonderful outfit can be appreciated only after it has been seen and used. All parts are beautifully built and decorated. All in all it is one of the most striking effects of the small illusion class in our entire collection.” That was quite a statement when all of the other beautiful items by Thayer are taken into consideration. In the assembled condition the apparatus stands 19 inches high and the wishing chest portion measures 11 ¾ inches wide x 9 ¾ inches deep x 10 ¼ inches high with the lid. These dimensions giving the magician an inside volume spacious enough to actually accomplish the color changing rabbit Tarbell suggested with ease. The tabletop of the base frame is stencil painted felt and the balance of the apparatus is stencil painted with some Asian like characters in blue with gold shadowing and a handsome hand cut stencil design on the chest portion and all finished with a dragon sprawling across the surface of the top lid.

The Modern Rabbit Box Production is a far departure from the commonly thought of image of a rabbit being pulled from the hat but then if it were not devised we would not have this strangely beautiful and rare apparatus from Thayer to marvel over today.

In very fine condition.