Charles Oswald Williams (1864 - 1924) was born in Llanelli, Wales, moved to Cardiff by 1891. He performed under the name Charles Oswald. Member of the Inner Magic Circle. In 1904, he appeared on the cover of The Sphinx magazine as "magician of the Month". His specialty in magic was vast and included 'The Fairy Thimbles', 'The Haunted Parasol', and 'The Invisible Hen and Eggs'. He was also known to be a very good ventriloquist. His 'partner' Sammy had the audiences rolling in the aisles. He was friends of Chung Ling Soo and Cardini. In his later life, he became a magic dealer and contributed ideas to magic magazines and books.
Postscript by Judge Brown: In a lecture on the Rising Card, published in the Magic Circular in 1948, George Sylvestre, MIMC, discussed the use of reels fashioned from spring-operated tape measures. "One must not overlook the many methods employing the spring-reel,” he noted. “A miniature
spring tape-measure affair with thread in place of the tape. The late C. O. Williams, of Cardiff, was an expert at camouflaging these reels to represent wristlet watches, thereby allowing the most blatant operation of the cards without detection.”
Postscript by Judge Brown: In a lecture on the Rising Card, published in the Magic Circular in 1948, George Sylvestre, MIMC, discussed the use of reels fashioned from spring-operated tape measures. "One must not overlook the many methods employing the spring-reel,” he noted. “A miniature
spring tape-measure affair with thread in place of the tape. The late C. O. Williams, of Cardiff, was an expert at camouflaging these reels to represent wristlet watches, thereby allowing the most blatant operation of the cards without detection.”
Very nice and a lovely card. Thanks
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