ZIG ZAG CIG
Double Zig Zag by Shinichi Yamashita

In this routine you can cut and restore two different kinds of cigarette and a pencil.

You need:
  1. A plain white cigarette and a filter cigarette. These items can be borrowed.
  2. A pencil, the same length as a regular cigarette, plus two short pieces of pencil, one of them sharpened.
  3. A cigarette cut to one third of its normal length.


Preparation: Pull the center portion of the case all the way to the right until it stops. Insert the short pencils and the short cigarette into the windows as shown in Fig.1.

Close the case and place it onto the table with the two regular cigarettes and the regular pencil alongside. (Fig.2)
(Fig.1)
(Fig.2)

Performance: Display the plain cigarette and insert it into the case. Slide the center section of the case to the right, holding the left thumb just inside the left inner edge of the bottom window. This will prevent the 'inner' case from moving, and will cause the center section to stop as in Fig.3. Show that the cigarette has been cut into three pieces. Slide the center section back to the left and tip out the 'restored' cigarette. Pick up the filter cigarette and cut and restore it in the same fashion. You can even ask a spectator to make a mark on the filter with the pencil that is on the table. The filter on the borrowed cigarette can be any color.

(Fig.3.)

Leaving the restored cigarette on the table, place the pencil into the case. With the right thumb placed just inside the right hand edge of the center window to again prevent movement of the inner case, pull the center section to the right as in Fig.4. Show that the pencil has been cut into three pieces as in Fig.5. With the right fingers positioned as in Fig.6, pull the center section of the case fully to the right. Leaving the center section covered, show the case to the audience as in Fig.7, clearly showing the cut pieces of pencil.

(Fig.4) (Fig.5)
(Fig.6) (Fig.7)

Transfer the case from the right hand to the left. As you do so, insert the left thumb into the right edge of the bottom window as before, and return the case to the position in Fig.5. Three pieces of pencil are still seen. Close the case, tip out the restored pencil.
Instant Pencil Transportation by Hideo Kato

This uses 2 short pencil stubs, each of which is one-third the length of a golf pencil. Sharpen the tips of both pencil stubs so that they appear identical to each other. Fig.8. Place the case on the table so that its opening is to the left. Pull the center portion away from you, and tape one pencil inside the window of the center portion with double-sided tape. Fig.9. Close the case to complete the preparation.

(Fig.8)
(Fig.9)

Hold the case so that it is parallel to the floor, and insert the remaining pencil stub into the window on the right side. With your right hand, hold the center portion of the case as shown in Fig.10, and quickly pull it away from you. It will appear that the pencil has instantly jumped to the center portion of the case. With the case in its open condition, slightly tilt the entire unit to the left. This will cause the loose pencil stub to slide secretly into the far left portion of the case. Return the case to its horizontal position, and rapidly close the center portion of the case. It will appear as if the pencil has jumped once again - this time to the left window.
(Fig.10)