Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
June 9, 2002
By Judy Francis
Vigo County Historical Society
Museum offers magical display
Got magic? The Vigo County Historical Museum does.
Among the fascinating objects in the Toy Shoppe is an Adams’ Real Magic Box. The set was owned by Henry W. Conrad St. and was donated to the museum by his wife, Avice McKibben McCrae.
Inspired by famous magicians like Harry Blackstone and Houdini, the lucky owner of an Adams’ Real Magic Box could spend hours practicing magic tricks. The budding magician might put on a show to entertain friends and family, as the Little Rascals did.
The Adams’ Real Magic Box promised a “high grade collection of real magical apparatus.” And it delivered. The picture inside the box drew one into a world of magic. It showed a magician in white tie and tails, standing beside a table of cards, dice and other essentials for a spellbinding performance. This set was the most expensive (listed in the catalog at $10) of three magic sets offered by the Adams Company. It had three drawers of linking rings, balls, Buddha money mystery and magic cigarette box--29 items altogether. Magic enthusiasts could purchase additional pieces priced from 15 to 75 cents.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Adams” Real Magic Box is its origin. It was produced by the S.S. Adams Co. of New Jersey. Founded in 1906 by Samuel Sorenson Adams, the company took off with its marketing of a sneeze powder sold as Cachoo.
Known as “the world’s largest manufacturer of practical jokes and magic tricks,” the company is still going strong. Anyone who has been a victim of a “joy buzzer” handshake or donned a funny nose with glasses and mustache at a party may have experienced an S.S.Adams product.
Today’s would-be magician can choose from three Adams magic sets, with the Abra Cadabra model, selling for more than $80, being the most lavish. Coming with two instruction books, this set contains many of the same tricks as the model displayed in the historical museum. The company also sells a video with expert tips on presenting magic tricks.
Magicians do more spectacular tricks these days. They don’t always dress in white tie and tails. But the fascination with magic and the desire to know “How did they do that?” hasn’t changed since Henry W. Conrad Sr. received his Adams’ Real Magic Box.
Come discover the magic for yourself in the Toy Shoppe of the Vigo County Historical Museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Web site: http://web.indstate.edu/community/vchs.