Petrie & Lewis Magic Trick Collection
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Personal Petrie & Lewis Magic Collection, Not For Sale. Find magic tricks for sale in our Magic Shop
My Petrie & Lewis magic collection. Petrie & Lewis is a classic in magic. My collection has focused mostly towards their bottle sets, however all their props are certainly a treasure in themselves.
Background
Petrie & Lewis (P&L) was one of the most prominent and respected manufacturers of high-quality, professional magic apparatus in the United States. Operating out of New Haven, Connecticut from 1919 to 1968, the company built an enduring reputation for engineering precision metalwork, spun copper, and beautifully lacquered props. Today, original hallmarked P&L items are highly sought after by vintage magic collectors and professional performers alike.
John Petrie who founded the Petrie & Lewis factory, which was located at 157 Valley Street in New Haven CT along the West River. An American magic dealer and magic manufacturer. First opened Swastika Magic Company in 1899, followed by Mysto Magic Company (co-founded with A.C. Gilbert) in 1909, and finally, in 1919, Petrie-Lewis Manufacturing Company. P&L produced some of the best magic equipment in the U.S., and it is highly collectible today.
Iconic P&L Magic Apparatus & Effects
- Phantom Tube: A highly celebrated production effect consisting of a metal tube that can be held up to the light to show it is completely empty. The ends are sealed with tissue paper, which the magician breaks to pull out a massive bounty of colorful silks.
- Lota Bowl / Vase: Spun from premium copper or aluminum, this classic water vase allows the magician to pour out all the liquid until it is entirely empty, only for it to repeatedly and mysteriously refill itself.
- Cups and Balls Set: Known for their distinct, heavy conical shape rather than the standard rounded edges found in other sets. This precise engineering gave professional magicians superior handling and control over the balls.
- Cherchez La Femme: Created in collaboration with legendary magician Al Baker, this utilizes a swiveling stand holding two Jacks and a Queen. Despite viewers tracking the Queen through cutout holes, she impossibly shifts positions every time the stand rotates.
- Deceptive Changing Bag & Spirit Bag: Exceptionally quiet and smooth mechanical changing bags used to cleanly switch, vanish, or produce items like playing cards, rings, ribbons, and mentalism billets.
Original Petrie & Lewis pieces are typically identified by a stamped P&L hallmark on the metal. Because the original manufacturing run ended in the late 1960s, complete historical guides like the P&L Book from Penguin Magic are heavily relied upon by historians to verify true antique apparatus.
Magic information provided courtesy of MagicTricks.com
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Below is my magic collection featuring Petrie & Lewis vintage magic tricks.
