Harry A. Weitzel – “America’s Leading Thimbleist”

This throw-out card is about a magician who was known for a particular specialty. I have always found it interesting because as a playing card, it is slightly smaller than average, but it has a great look to it with the image of the performer and the sewing thimbles on each side of it. The manipulation of sewing thimbles was what this magician was remembered for more than anything else.

Throw-Out Card of Harry A. Weitzel

When I started to look into the magic career of Harry A. Weitzel, I found many references to him in magic periodicals on the Ask Alexander database. He was mentioned frequently as a member of the Pittsburgh Association of Magicians during the late teens of the last century, and into the nineteen-twenties, acting for many years as their secretary.

From the Billboard for September 25, 1920

Two things about Weitzel really came through about his involvement with magic. He was very good when it came to the manipulation of thimbles, and he was incredibly shy when it came to showing it. In The Sphinx for June of 1918, the Pittsburgh Association held an annual show and they had this to say: “Next on the bill was without a question the biggest surprise that the association has ever had.  Our esteemed most bashful brother, Harry A. Weitzel, made his appearance and did several mechanical tricks, one of which was the production of a cake a la Hoover, then Harry made the hit of his life by some very clever thimble manipulation that was well worth the gracement (sic) of the Palace, New York.  Harry had them all guessing and made an appearance that would be hard to equal.”

From the Billboard for December 31, 1921

Weitzel was variously known as “Harry Thimbles”, “Baron Thimble”, and Weitzel of “Nimble Thimble” fame. Charles J. Colta referred to him as “America’s Leading Thimbleist”. The Sphinx even said about him that he “does thimbles so much that his head is getting shaped like one”. It also said that he used “the regular Woolworth Red Celluloid Thimbles”. Perhaps the oddest comment in The Sphinx stated: “Incidentally, Weitzel is still single and it looks as if he will be for some time as he spends more time practicing thimble manipulations than he does making love”. I thought that was an odd and maybe inappropriate comment for a magic magazine in 1922!

While Weitzel’s prowess with the thimbles was well documented, trying to find out anything about his personal life outside of magic has come up empty. The Harry A. Weitzels I have found in my available resources, I could not confirm for sure which one was really him. I guess Weitzel, as a magician, left us with one last mystery to ponder.

De Weird –The Great Mystifying Wizard

James Thomas Riley Weir was born on October 19,1885, in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio. His father, James and mother Elizabeth, and the family moved to a home on Carey Alley in Pittsburgh. Three years later, James’ father passed away. A year later, young James’ twin brother Sylvester passed away. By the age of fourteen, James, along with his older brother and sister, took on the chores around the house. When James was fourteen, he got a job as an elevator boy in town. He had been performing small magic for the school he went to as well as other small shows.

The back of this card is Bicycle's Chainless #18 design.

            In 1906, he played a week in Altoona at a local venue featuring his skills as a magician and escape artist under the name of Professor James De Weird. He married Elizabeth Miller in 1907. James worked in a pet shop as a salesman while practicing his magic for customers. By 1914, he was a member of the Pittsburgh Association of Magicians where he was elected to the office of Vice President. His fellow performers enjoyed his skill and James was always trying ideas out on the members to hone his abilities. His forte and expertise was in escapes from handcuffs.

The back of this card is Bicycle's Mobile #2 design.

This is James Weir's WWI draft card.

The back of this card is Bicycle's Latern #2 design.

Some of the other members included George Wanner, Silent Mora, Copenhagen Paul, Charles "Baffles" Brush, Jack Gwynne, and Harry Rouclere. By 1918, James was nearly thirty-three when he registered for the draft. He was working as a salesman for a local pet shop on Smithsfield Street in Pittsburgh. James continued to perform at ladies clubs and local fraternity organizations for many years. In 1940, James claimed to be employed as a salesman at a Bird Seed Store. One of the last reports found was in 1942, where James was employed to entertain at a senior woman’s club in Pittsburgh. 

The back of this card is Bicycle's League #35 design.

This is James Weir's WWII draft card.

His last non-magic-related employment was as a night watchman. I received an email from a relative of James, or as she remembered him as "Uncle Jim." Evelyn mentioned, "...that he entertained all of us kids at family gatherings; he was the delight of our lives." James Weir passed away on August 17, 1951, and is buried Saint Michael's Cemetery in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.