Taylor-Made Magic: The Life of Merv Taylor

Though his business was in operation for just ten years, Merv Taylor revolutionized the making of magic. Today, "Taylor Made" tricks are regarded by performers and collectors alike as some of the finest ever constructed. And yet, even though Taylor was the man who made the best props in magic, when asked about them said, “We may make junk, but it’ll last a lifetime!” Taylor was also an outstanding performer in his own right, and this new book chronicles not only his life and times (and his eventual ownership and opening of the first magic shop at Disneyland, where Leo Behnke, the author, worked for a time), but the way in which Taylor changed the fabric of magic manufacturing for the better by using new techniques and construction schemes to design and build among the finest props ever conceived. Included are color photographs and detailed descriptions of nearly every Taylor-made product to come off of his assembly lines and the methods behind the magic. Also recorded are "one-off" props built by Taylor as special orders, giving real insight into the abilities of the Taylor manufacturing team, which could apparently create nearly anything mechanical and magical required by a professional performer - to an exceptionally high standard. Red cloth over black boards, with an embossed Merv Taylor seal in silver, red, and black affixed to the front cover, simulating the look of the classic Merv Taylor boxes used to package the company's legendary products. Portrait frontispiece, illustrated, 273 pages. Limited quantities available. A must for every lover of vintage magic props and collectors of Merv Taylor's apparatus.