A NEW THIMBLE VANISH
By Walter Gibson

A thimble is on the tip of the performer's right first finger, which is inserted into the left fist, the palm of right hand being towards the audience. The thimble is removed by left hand, from which it immediately vanishes.

Props & Setup

A thimble that fits comfortably on the first finger. No setup is required and the sleight can be used at any point in a thimble routine.

The Gibson Explanation

As the right hand is brought towards the left, rather rapidly, the thumb slides the thimble off the tip of the first finger and rolls it to the base of the other three fingers, which promptly bend over it. Hence the left fist closes over the first finger alone, without the thimble, while the fact that the right palm faces the audience seems to eliminate all possibilities of deception.

The performer should stand right side to audience. After showing thimble on the right first finger, that hand drops to the level of his waist, back of hand towards audience.

The necessary movements take place from that position, and the unadorned first finger is shoved into the left fist with a quick upward movement. From then on, everything should be done very slowly and deliberately.

With the back of the right hand towards audience, a reversal of the roll, and the insertion of the first finger suffices to reproduce the thimble.

Handling

The thimble is displayed on the first finger. The second, third and fourth fingers curl in toward the palm. The first finger curls in so the thimble rests on top of the second finger. The thumb tip comes down to contact the rim of the thimble. The first finger pulls out of the thumb and straightens. The thumb rotates the thimble against the second finger so that it pivots into finger palm position behind the curled fingers.

Performance

The performer faces the audience. A thimble is placed on the right first finger tip.

The right arm swings to the right so that the arm is extended and the palm of the hand toward the audience, fingers spread apart slightly.

Simultaneously the left hand is opened and moves toward the right as the right arm swings back toward the body with the right hand revolving at the wrist to keep palm of the right hand toward the audience.

As the right hand moves toward the left hand, the right second, third and fourth fingers curl in toward the right palm, then the first finger curls in to rest the thimble on top of the second finger. The right thumb tip moves down onto the thimble opening rim, pressing the thimble lightly against the second finger. The right first finger pulls out of the thimble and straightens. The thumb rotates the thimble so that it pivots down into the area behind the curled in second, third and fourth fingers which lightly grip the thimble.

As soon as the right first finger is free of the thimble and again extended, the left hand immediately wraps around it. The left hand makes a slight tugging motion and moves to the left as if it has pulled the thimble off of the right first finger and is now holding it in the curled fingers of the left hand.

The left hand is opened to show that the thimble has vanished.

Although Gibson suggests that the left hand maintain the left palm toward the audience during the entire sequence, the sleight appears just as effective with the back of the left hand toward the audience.

Performance Notes

This sleight is extremely deceptive, however a good deal of practice is required to make it an effective illusion. Any hesitation will spoil the effect.

Walter Gibson's A New Thimble Vanish originally appeared in 'The Sphinx' for July, 1920. His handling is unique in that it reverses the procedure for the traditional thimble thumb palm vanish with the thumb manipulating the thimble to hide it under the fingers curling into the palm with the palm facing the audience.