Designer: Robert Harbin

The Magic Carpet was created by Robert Harbin and detailed in the “Magic of Robert Harbin. Owners of this book are authorized to build and perform the illusion.

Harbin created this illusion c1969. He performed a trial run of the prototype at a British Magical Society dinner and voted it too slow. Since that performance, “after a number of disastrous trials and tribulations, [he] eliminated all the snags and standardized the presentation.”

The magician wheels a cart onto the stage. He removes a carpet which he places on the floor. A length of rope though appearing normal, when placed over the carpet, becomes rigid. The carpet is explained to have magical properties that allow it to defy gravity. A board is introduced and set vertically in the center of the carpet. The audience is allowed to inspect two sets of limp, plastic streamers. These streamers are attached to either edge of the board in the center. The board then remains rigidly upright without falling over. The board is then turned to a horizontal position, with the streamers acting as fulcrums although they have no substance, as the audience has seen. Two wooden trestles, rectangular in shape, are places on either end of the board and an assistant lies down on the board. The wooden trestles are removed and the board remains suspended only resting on the streamers. One of the trestles is then passed as a hoop one time over the assistant, the glittering plastic being swept aside on both sides as the hoop is passed. The lady is removed from the board and everything returned to normal.

Harbin performed this effect on David Nixon’s “Magic Box” TV show in the UK in 1970. Harbin actually performed on the “Magic Box” twice that year. The first performance was for Season 1, Episode 4 on March 30. The second was for Season 2, Episode 1 on December 14.