The basic effect is (as its name suggests) is a spelling routine. Your spectator names a card – and you can spell to it instantly. You can repeat this a number of times. Liam adds a final phase where two spectators create a card by choosing a suit and a value – without telling you anything about them. Even so you are able, instantly, to spell to their card without even touching the cards.

What do you get?

You get a specially prepared deck of cards (which makes this all very easy to do) and some, wait for it, printed instructions! For me, this is great news, because I’m one of those odd people who really likes printed material. But don’t worry if you’re not – because there is also a link to a 20 odd minute online video so you can learn that way too.

What do we think?

Spell-O-Matic is a very clever re-working of a Hen Fetsch idea from the 40s (which was itself updated in the 80s by Ken de Courcy). The deck itself does all the work for you – all you need to be able to do is to cut the deck! It would also be very helpful if you can do a convincing false shuffle. One is taught online – or you could do a lot worse than to take a look at the False Shuffles and Cuts Project (you can read our review here).

If I was being really picky, you’re not exactly spelling the card. However, this really is a tiny point, and the cleverness of the method (and so simplicity of the handling) depends upon this. I suspect that unless your spectators are regularly choosing court cards, this will fly by.

The deck could be used for other effects afterwards, but there is a set-up to the deck, so you would have to re-set before you could perform this particular routine again.

Liam’s tweaks to the method have really increased the ease of performance and I think his subtle final phase really helps to cancel out possible methods which might be in the spectator’s mind.

You’ll be able to perform Spell-O-Matic very quickly with only relatively little handling practise. A clever, workable release. Available from MagicShop.co.uk (or in red here) for £24.50 (at the time of writing).

Review copy kindly provided by Murphys Magic to whom dealer enquiries should be directed.

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