My father was a professional magician and a maker, among many other things. His stage name was Uncle Bill and his business card was Uncle Bill play money (get it?). He’s been dead for nearly 20 years now (don’t worry — he was born in 1909) and I fondly remember the tricks he built. Here are five of his “gadget tricks,” which rely primarily on equipment rather than sleight of hand. They’re all easy to perform after a little practice, but the audience should be at least a few feet away. I’ve included my dad’s usual script and patter, but these are just starting points. As with any jokes, you should fit these to your audience and the current moment.

By the time my dad stopped performing, he was in his 70s and walked with a cane. Yet he still had no trouble captivating young and old with these tricks. They’re classics, and I haven’t seen them since.

Photography by Dan Weiss (left) and David Torrence (right)

Dan Weiss is a second-generation maker who as a kid served as his father’s magic assistant. He remains a big fan of the brotherhood of magicians who perform simple tricks like these for the delight of their audiences.

60 Make: Volume 13