Owen Magic Rare & Vintage Magic Trick Collection

Personal Collection, Not For Sale.

Find magic tricks for sale in our Magic Shop – CLICK HERE

My small collection of Owen Magic. A collection I try to expand when the opportunity presents itself. Owen magic is certainly considered the “king of the hill” in terms of fine, quality magic props. To have an Owen Magic prop is to own the best in magic for many.

Background

Owen Magic Supreme is a world-renowned manufacturer with origins that trace back to 1902 and the Thayer Magic Company, founded by Floyd G. Thayer. Delivering on professional-grade magical apparatus, Owen Magic is widely considered one of the premier names in the magic industry. Known for meticulous hand-craftsmanship and precision engineering, the company has historically provided illusions for legendary performers such as Harry Blackstone Sr., Doug Henning, and Dante.

The start of Owen magic can be traced to August 1902 when Floyd Thayer placed his first ad, offering for sale “Wand of the West”. The company quickly gained recognition of Thayer quality and the magic beginnings of this venture started to expand. In 1913 Carl Owen entered the company followed later by his brother Emmett. In 1933 Thayer divided the company into two parts, Thayer Manufacturing and Thayer Studio. The Owen brothers purchased the Thayer Manufacturing and continued to operate this for many years to come. During those years Owen purchased other companies including Merv Taylor Magic.

• Expansion (1933): Carl Owen, a master craftsman, purchased the business and eventually rebranded it as Owen Magic Supreme.
• In 1959 Owen Magic Supreme moved to a new location where later Les and Gertude Smith would acquire the company in 1963. The Owen Magic Supreme shop has been in its current location in Azusa California since 1978 where it is known world-wide.
• The Smith Era (1963): Les and Gertrude Smith acquired the company, further elevating its reputation for quality over several decades.
• After over a century in business, including a long-standing physical presence in Azusa, California, the company moved to a primarily online and P.O. Box-based operation in La Verne following pandemic-related challenges and the retirement of Alan Zagorsky in 2020.

Notable Products and Apparatus

• Blue Phantom: A precision-engineered effect involving checkers jumping through a stack.
• Cups and Balls: Polished spun aluminum or copper sets recognized for their balance and graceful design.
• Illusions: The firm is famous for large-scale apparatus like the Girl-from-a-Cannon illusion and the Owen Miracle Mirror.
• Blueprints: They remain a standard source for authentic, practical illusion plans used by do-it-yourself builders.

Check out Milson Worth, another well known manufacturer of quality, collectible magic props.

Below is my small, limited collection of Owen Magic: