Water From An African River…

From Grand Illusions. Visit Tim’s Toy Shop, at https://www.grand-illusions.com/ _______________________________________________________________________ Next, Tim has quite a few vases in his toy collection, although as you might expect they are not exactly normal vases! First up, a metal magician’s vase, which magically refills itself with water! One of the items commemorating the Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee in…

The World’s First Compass?

From Grand Illusions. This is a working model of a Chinese compass that dates from the 4th century BC. It is believed to be the oldest instrument in the world which is known to be a compass. The square plate is made of bronze, and the spoon or ladle is made of lodestone. Lodestones are…

Tim Misses His Train

From Grand Illusions. Tim has a self reversing train in his collection – every time it hits an obstacle, it reverses direction. However it just consists of the engine. However there was a Japanese toy that was made around 1980, which Tim does not have, but wishes he did! This train has an engine and…

Tim’s Crazy Cutlery

From Grand Illusions. Tim has many items in his collection which are based around cutlery. Starting with his ‘Cutlery Clock’. From a trick fork and a trick knife, to forks that revolve in order to help you eat your spaghetti! A telescopic fork and spoon for otherwise out of reach items… and a spoon with…

Tim’s Magic Book

From Grand Illusions. ‘The Magic Show’ is a book that knows how to perform magic tricks! It was created some years ago by two of Tim’s friends. You can still find second hand copies if you search online. Tim demonstrates two of the magic tricks! There are twelve in all. A book containing signs which…

Tim’s Easter Fun

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Tim’s collection continues to grow, and here are some of the items he acquired recently, a couple of which have a specifically Easter theme! A friend gave Tim an intriguing kaleidoscope, which has two rotating brass wheels at the front. ‘Toys…

Ladies And Gentlemen#SHORTS

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ This optical illusion is also known as an ambiguous object – an object that changes its appearance depending on the direction you view it from. ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ from one angle looks like the figure of a woman. Turn it though…

Heart Metamorphosis#SHORTS

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ This optical illusion is also known as an ambiguous object – an object that changes its appearance depending on the direction you view it from. Viewed from one direction, this object shows the four card suits – diamonds, clubs, hearts and…

Modular Playing Cards

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ ‘Modular origami or unit origami is a paperfolding technique which uses two or more sheets of paper to create a larger and more complex structure than would be possible using single-piece origami techniques. Each individual sheet of paper is folded into…

Rounding Square#SHORTS

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ This optical illusion is also known as an ambiguous object – an object that changes its appearance depending on the direction you view it from. Rounding Square from one angle looks like four overlapping circles. Viewed from the opposite direction, it…

What The Butler (AKA Tim) Saw!

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Optical toys and illusions are the theme of this video. First, a card that Tim received some years ago, which shows a vehicle that looks as if it is 3D, but is actually hollow. So when you turn the base one…

The Jolly Jug!

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Jolly Jugs appear to be quite normal, but they have a rather unexpected trick to them. Fill the jug with water, and you can pour the water out from the spout in the normal way. However you can also make the…

What Is In Tim’s Pocket?

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Tim is always ready to share his puzzles and illusions in order to entertain people. For this reason he keeps a small pack of items in his pocket at all times, ready for some impromptu fun at a moment’s notice. So…

The First Ever Electric Motor!

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ In 1822 the British scientist Michael Faraday, working at the Royal Institution in London, created the first electric motor, where an electric current was used to produce motion. The story goes that he made his discovery over the Christmas period, possibly…

Wink Magic

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Not sure you could find all of Tim’s amazing books at your local library…! Wink Magic has lots of optical illusions that need to be viewed with one eye closed. Then a book filled with images of amazing body art. Amazing…

CUMOS Box

From Grand Illusions. The CUMOS Box, or cubic cosmos scope, is a 3D cubic kaleidoscope. These are hand made by the Japanese inventor, Professor Minori Yamazaki. There is an 8mm viewing hole in the front of the box. “At first, I was trying to capture the vast cosmos within a tiny box that would fit…

To Hold Infinity In The Palm Of Your Hand

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ This simple little experiment shows something that we find quite profound. Create a random pattern of dots on an A4 sheet of paper, and then make an identical copy of the dots on a sheet of acetate. Place the acetate on…

Tim The Bookworm!

From Grand Illusions. Tim shares a few more of his most unusual books. First up, a Swiss book he bought about 20 years ago. The title on the front cover is almost invisible, unless you shake the book up and down, and then you see the title which is SEE. The book explores all kinds…

iKaleidosphere

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ The iKaleidosphere turns images and videos on any smart phone into amazing kaleidoscopic pictures! Simply use the heavy duty rubber bands to attach a smart phone to one end of the iKaleidosphere, and then look into the other end of the…

Tim’s Box Of Delights

From Grand Illusions. Sign up for the free Grand Illusions newsletter, at http://conta.cc/3dplns1 _______________________________________________________________________ Tim has many friends around the world who share his passion for collecting physics toys and unusual gadgets and gizmos. Tim shares items he has found and in return people send him items in return. He recently received a parcel from…