THE TRAP FOR SECRET APPEARANCE.
 A trap-hole should be cut in your table top, rather
nearer one edge than at the centre, with the edges of the cutting bevelled downwards. To fill this hole is a trap divided into two equal parts, with
bevelled edges, so as to fit the aperture accurately. It is fastened by
two rods at each of two sides (or by a single pair at the centre) to
the small platform, H, which slides freely up and down in the frame. H
is a box, of which usually only the top is used to carry any article
wanted to be brought to the surface of the table; but as it is hollow,
it can be fitted with a hinged top, so that the interior may be filled
with the contents of any receiver placed on the table over the trap.
This top is painted or covered so as to look exactly like the table
top, and has bevelled edges to fit the trap-hole, as do the pieces
attached. A strong but fine cord is fastened at B, comes down under the
grooved wheel, turning on an axle at Z in the bottom of the box, H,
goes up and over the other wheel, and passes by a hole into the
interior of the table leg. This leg is hollowed out longitudinally, so
as to give free play to the descent and ascent of the weight, M. The
cord passing over and half round the grooved wheel is fastened to this
weight.
Action.—A knob at the level of the knee on the outside
of the table leg works a catch, which holds the wheel, O, firmly till
pressure on this knob releases it and suffers the weight to descend. In
descending it draws up the box, D, and it, in its turn, forces the two
sections 0 C of the trap to part and move off under the table, so as to
give free passage for the rising of the box-top to take its place and
fill up the gap. On this top has been placed the article or articles
desired by the performer. A ring keeps the rods well together at their
point of intersection. Blacklead is an excellent lubricant for the
channel up which moves the box.
Performance.—Some articles collected from the company
are juggled away and passed to an assistant, who places them on the top
of the box-trap; or the borrowed articles may be such things as
watches, rings, or coin, of which duplicates have been already placed
on the box. The real articles are juggled away and placed where wanted
for the conclusion of the trick. Meanwhile a hat is borrowed and proven
to be empty, but hardly has it been placed upside down over the trap in
the table, than, simultaneously touching the knob with your knee, the
trap opens, the box ascends with its load, and on instantaneously
lifting the hat, the discovery is made.
Not to render our diagram and explanation too complicated, we have
omitted any detailed description of an addition to the apparatus which
renders it complete. The lower trap was left to fill up the hole in the
table. Now, if the weight is hollow and contains quicksilver, and has a
valve at the bottom, one has but to let a second knob in the table leg
release a spiral spring armed with a pin, which, moving upwards, shall
open the valve, when the metal will run out and be caught in a
receptacle a little lower down in the leg, the box D, being heavier
than the cord, and the quicksilver container will at once descend and
let the other trap close again as at the first. But this time, the two
sections may carry up any thin, flat objects, such as coins, envelopes,
bank-notes rings &c, being themselves fitted with two miniature
traps, circular, or square, moved by springs of only sufficient
resistance to make the trap rise flush with the surface on the removal
of the coins or rings.
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