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This book, republished in July 2010, explores the mathematics of solving the Rubik's Cube. 'The best book yet written - or likely to be written - on the wonders and the dark, unsolved mysteries of the cube.' Martin Gardner.Drawing on underlying ideas from Group Theory, this book is aimed at people who have 6th form or High School level mathematics.Paperback, 23 x 15.4cm, 204 pp.
Never forget a birthday again! This perpetual birthday calendar enables you to note down all the important dates in the year, such as birthdays and anniversaries, and it will then serve to remind you of all those important 'must not forget' events in your life. You get a month per page, and each month is accompanied by a black and white optical illusion. Hang the calendar somewhere where you will notice it (the kitchen maybe?) and never forget a birthday again. Each month simply numbers the days 1,2 3, etc, so you can use the calendar for ever. However, although it will know that someone's birthday is on March 11th, it will not know what day of the week that is in any particular year, just that the birthday falls on the 11th of the month.
These nitinol springs are approximately 3cm long. They can be stretched to over 20cm long, which will deform the metal. However once they are heated to the activation temperature, they will instantly shrink back to their original length. There are two types of spring. One is activated at about 45 degrees Centigrade, the other one is activated at about 80 degrees Centigrade.Whichever activation temperature you choose, you will get 2 springs.
This refill pack contains 10 sheets of photographic film and additional developer and fixer. It is designed to be used with the Stenoflex Camera (available separately).
The Stenoflex is a complete pinhole camera kit. The cardboard box functions as the camera. Inside you will find 10 sheets of traditional photographic paper (about 3.5 inches square), a red filter so you can set up your own darkroom, developer and fixer, and instructions in both English and French.In the darkroom, you remove one of the photographic sheets from the lightproof bag, and place it in position in the holder inside the camera. You then close the camera, and you are ready to take a picture. The 'hand' at one side of the box functions as the shutter - when you pull the hand, the pinhole slides into position, and the photographic film is exposed to the light. Once you have taken the picture, slide the hand back, and you close the pinhole shutter. On a sunny day, 20 seconds will be sufficient for a correct exposure. On an overcast day, you might need an exposure as long as 40 seconds. Then it is back to the darkroom!You will need to add water to dissolve the crystals of developer and fixer. In the darkroom, remove the exposed photograph from the camera and place it in the developer. You will see the image appear. Once the image has developed fully, transfer the picture to the fixer. After the picture has been fixed, you then rinse it and allow it to dry.Your image will of course be a black and white negative. There are two ways of creating a positive image. You can either scan the image into your computer and use an image manipulation software to reverse the image, to give you a positive. Or you can place the negative on top of a fresh piece of photographic film, turn on the light for a few seconds, and then develop the print that you have created. This contact print will now be the right way round. Developed by the Paris based photographer Eric Marais, the Stenoflex takes us back to the early days of photography, and produces charming black and white images. Watch the video...The box is 11.5x11.5x5 cmWe also have a refill pack available, containing 10 sheets of photographic film and further supplies of developer and fixer.Made in EU
This smart perspex gun comes from Japan, and it fires elastic bands. The clever design means that you can load up to 4 elastic bands, and as each one is fired, the others all move up, so the gun is loaded ready for the next shot. This makes it a semi-automatic gun. Not many elastic band guns can say that!Surprisingly accurate at short distances, the gun comes with 4 perspex targets, so you can practice your sharpshooting, hold contests, etc. Elastic bands are also included. The Peace Gun comes in smart cardboard packaging. Colours vary.Watch the video...Made in Japan
This cardboard panorama, which combines several optical illusions, folds and slots together, to create a picture that you can hang on your wall. But this is more than a picture - as you move, the images seem to swivel, and follow you. This is a really impressive optical illusion, that can be quickly and easily constructed. The cardboard is prefolded and slots together without needing any glue.Free plastic poster hangers are included with every print. The finished image is 66cm wide and 27cm high.Made in the UK
The Sette of Odd Volumes was a club of book collectors that was founded in 1878 by the noted London book dealer Bernard Quaritch. The club held a dinner every month, and the members, many of whom were noted authorities in their own area of specialty, took turns to give fascinating and erudite after dinner talks. These were often subsequently privately printed as small books which were circulated to the members. William Manning was a club member who gave an after dinner talk on his recollections of the great magician Robert-Houdin. When Manning was a young boy he met the great magician and befriended Robert-Houdin's sons. Reading the account of his talk today, over a hundred years after the speech was originally given in 1890, one is still struck by how forward thinking Robert-Houdin was and how down to earth. He developed many famous magic acts that are still performed today. Originally trained as a clockmaker, Robert-Houdin built all his own automata and magic props. He experimented with electricity and even wired his house with clocks and alarms in the 1860s which must have seemed very magical indeed. Manning captures the spirit of his admired friend. His words make the magician seem very contemporary and even more remarkable. Manning's talk on Robert-Houdin prompted another member, Conrad William Cooke, to undertake a brief survey on the history of automata down through the ages. That talk, given in 1891, resulted in the second wonderful book included here. Two Odd Volumes on Magic & Automata collects these two books into a single volume. Carefully reproduced from the original copies this book is a delight to read. Recollections of Robert Houdin by William Manning, plus Automata Old and New by Conrad William Cooke. Soft cover. 14cm x 18cm. 203pp.
This sheet of special plastic contains not one but two optical illusions! There is a border around the edge of the sheet which appears to be higher than the rest of the mat. As you move your head, or maybe tilt the mat to and fro, the three dimensional illusion is very strong. Yet there is no depth to the plastic sheet. It is all created by a new printing technology, which involves thousands of tiny plastic lenses embedded into the sheet. In addition, there is a well known optical illusion printed in the centre of the mat. Two illusions for the price of one!These mats can simply be enjoyed in their own right. However due to their large size, they call also be used as place mats. Invite your friends for an optical illusion meal! Each mat is 30 x 43 cm.There are two blue mats, two red mats, and two green mats. In each case, there are two different optical illusions. So that makes a total of six different mats. If you order a single mat, then we cannot guarantee which colour/design you will get. However if you order a set of six, then we will send you one of each design. If you order a set of six, they drop in price from £9.99 to £7.99 each.Watch the video...Made in EU
Make bright red lights magically appear at your fingertips! This magic trick is easy to perform, and needs no special skills. The pack includes two red D'Lites and an instructional DVD, which shows you all sorts of tricks that you can perform with D'Lite. Batteries included.Watch the video...Made in China
