Care and Use of the Funken Ring

Sent out May 27th 2001

Dear magic friend

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CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE:

CARE AND USE OF THE FUNKEN RING
Can your old Funken Ring come back to life?  Try these tips, and maybe...

RICOCHET
A card trick that will knock your socks off! Easy to do - and you'll want to do it all the time!

SPONGE EGGS
Finally they're available again. Produce eggs from anywhere!

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Note: This article was written in 2001. I now sell a much better and improved version of the Funken Ring. It even comes with a one year guarantee!

CARE AND USE OF THE FUNKEN RING (Copyright 2001 Jarle Leirpoll)

I know that a lot of you have Funken Rings in your drawers because they don't work any more. That's a pity, because these days they're almost impossible to find. (Sold out from the manufacturer). But don't despair - maybe the tips below can make your old Funken Ring throw sparkles again!

THE FUNKEN RING 
is a truly great gag, and if you use it right, it will give you lots of fun. Unfortunately, it's not made of too durable materials, so you have to be careful not to break it by accident. There are a few things you can do to make it last longer. Read this manual carefully before trying your new Funken Ring, and never point the sparkles to someone's face.

The principle of the Funken Ring is very simple. You wind it up, push the trigger, and it shoots sparkles. The ring is there so you can wear it on your finger, but personally I don't like the ring, so I take it off with a pair of pliers. This makes it much easier to get rid of the Funken Ring after you've set it off.

Winding it up
You have to wind up the mechanism with the winder tool to be able to release the sparkles. Make sure you don't wind it up too much, because then it will not go off, but get stuck. You probably know the problem from wind-up toys. Every Funken Ring has a maximum number of turns it can take before it gets stuck. To find out how many turns your Funken Ring can take, wind it up until it gets stuck (while counting turns). Now you know how many revolutions it can take, and from now on you wind it up one or two less.

Let's say your Funken Ring can take 9 half revolutions. Then you can use 8 or 7, and it will never get stuck on you again... (To loosen it when it's stuck, you will have to use the winder and wriggle while you press the trigger. This will loosen the spring, and the sparkles will shoot out.)

Shooting sparkles
The Funken Ring is designed for wearing it on the right third finger, with the sparkle opening between the right second and third finger. You set it off by pressing the trigger with your right thumb. Remember to press straight down or a little away from the side where the sparkles come out. Never press towards the side where the sparkles come out. The button will come out of its track, and the spring might get out of place. It's very tricky to get this back in place, so always push in the right direction.

Changing the flint
After a few hundred showers of sparkles, the flint will wear out, and you'll have to replace it. Unscrew the little screw beside the trigger and remove the spring and the worn flint. Put in the new flint and the spring and fasten the screw. Don't tighten it too much, or you will not be able to set off the mechanism. For a maximum of sparkles, you might have to tighten this screw occasionally as the flint wears down.

Tips
If you don't want the spectators to know where the sparkles come from, you can throw it into a pocket or a Topit. It's very natural to withdraw your hand quickly as the sparkles come, and then you can easily ditch the Funken Ring.

Try the Funken Ring the next time you push the elevator button and watch the reaction of the people around you! Or pretend there's something wrong with your microphone, and then release the Funken Ring! Pull the cables behind the computer in the computer store and watch the salesman as the sparkles fly! If you're a man, release it at the urinal, and pretend like nothing has happened... As you can see: Endless possibilities both on stage and in your daily life. I hope you get as much fun out of the Funken Ring as I have!

Jarle Leirpoll

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RICOCHET (Trick offer)

A truly impossible looking card-trick from R. Paul Wilson. Prepare to be blown away! Paul certainly blew me away with this at the Blackpool Convention.

Two spectators hold a handkerchief outstretched between them as an impromptu tabletop. Four court cards and four spot cards are removed from the deck. The performer isolates the court cards face down on top of the handkerchief. The four spot cards are cleanly shown and then, one at a time, transformed into the court cards. Suddenly, just when they think it's all over, the court cards and the spot cards suddenly change places, leaving the audience gasping for breath and shaking their heads in disbelief. The kicker ending looks just fantastic. Paul floored me!

And the best thing is: You can do it without any difficult sleight of hand! Concentrate 100% on the presentation. Perfect for walk-around. Involves two spectators and can be instantly reset. 

Extremely Visual
Easy To Do
No False Counts or Difficult Sleights
Includes Complete, Illustrated Instructions and Custom Made Gaffs

"This isn't a card trick ... it's card magic. Paul Wilson has entered a zone where few gain entry, and returned with magical gold. My highest recommendation."   - David Regal

Go to http://www.leirpoll.com and click on "Ricochet" in the navigation bar on the left.

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SPONGE EGGS (Trick offer)

Finally in stock - sponge eggs! Made from sponge and covered with a protective layer that makes it look just like a real egg. You can produce or vanish it from anywhere, it will even fit in a thumb tip or Sanada gimmick!

Go to http://www.leirpoll.com and click on "Sponge Eggs" in the navigation bar on the left.

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All the best
Jarle

Jarle Leirpoll
D. Gronosetsv. 34
N-2407 Elverum, Norway

http://www.leirpoll.com

Phone: +47 907 63363  Fax: +47 850 23736