The School for Scoundrels Perfect Pea is made of an injection-molded polymer and are perfectly smooth and uniform. They are
available in three beautiful colors: a bright green color (like a fresh pea),
Pearl White, and Diablo Red. These colors
show up well against almost any mat or performing surface. They are washable and never lose their grip. They will work fine on any type of surface--even glass or marble. These are regarded by most professionals (including Bob Sheets, Lennart Green, Rich Marotta, and Johnny Thompson) as the best peas ever made available for the shell game. Working Peas are used in the performance of the steal and pinch and other moves, Straight Peas are made of hard plastic and will not come out from under the shell--these are switched in or out in order for the spectators to examine them or handle the shells. Set includes five Working Peas and two Straight Peas.
These are a brand new item, different from our previous version of magnetic peas. These peas are identical to our ‘Perfect’ working peas in every way—the same sponginess, look, and feel. They are a bright green—just like a real pea—and show up well against most other colors. They will work on any surface, including glass and marble. They are easy to control in the various sleights such as the pinch-palm. They are washable, and never lose their friction—identical to our Perfect Peas in almost every way.
However, a tiny rare-earth magnet is contained inside each one. This magnet is about the size of a small finishing-nail head, and can not be noticed even when the pea is squeezed between the fingers. Nevertheless, the magnetic pull is very strong and these work with any magnetic shells such as our Magnetic Golden Shells and Magnetic Street Shells, or with others such as the Bruce Martyn Swindle Shells
These peas can work miracles of chicanery when used with a set of magnetic shells, but are useful even with un-gimmicked shells. This is because the performer can place a tiny magnet under the edge of his table, in his pants pocket, or in his tie and have a simple and effective ‘dropper’ for peas. At any time during performance, a pea can be secretly picked up or hidden on the side of the leg, behind the tie, or under the edge of the table. This enables the operator to easily and cleanly get “ahead” by using more than one pea.
Pop Haydn's Sharper Pens - $55
These are wonderful tools for
the shell game operator. They can be used in a
myriad of ways to enhance a routine, get out of
trouble, and fool even the most knowledgeable.
One pen operates as a secret
pea dispenser. It can hold four or five peas, and
deliver them into the hand secretly one at a time.
Simply by using the pen as a pointer, "You want
shell number one, two or three?" and shifting it
from one hand to another, a pea is easily removed
from the opening at the top of the pen and hidden in
the hand. This is useful to ring in a second pea, or
to restore a pea when one has to be dropped into the
pocket or on the floor. It is easy to dump a pea
into the breast pocket while removing the pen from
or putting it back into the pocket.
The second pen actually writes
and can be held by the spectator. You can give it to
them to point to the shell they want--"Nobody
touches the shells." In the base of the pen is a
powerful magnet. It can be used in a number of ways
with our Magnetic Perfect Peas. Holding the pen in
writing position, one can pick up any shell that
contains a pea, and the pea will stick to the inside
of the shell because of the pen's magnet that is
touching the top of the back of the shell. The shell
can be replaced to the table and the pea left under
it, or the pea can be stolen as the shell is put
down. This method can even be used to place a
"loaded" shell in the spectator's hand, while a
second pea is made to disappear under one of the
remaining two shells.
This is another fine product
from School for Scoundrels, and further ideas for
its use can be found on our new DVD on the Shell
Game, "The Scoundrels Touch." Set includes 2
Sharpie Pens, 7 Perfect Peas, and Two Magnetic Peas.
Scoundrels Touch: Shell Game Volume II - 2
Disc Set
In this two disc Volume II, Chef
Anton, Whit Haydn, and Bob Sheets outline their
advanced system for the shell game and teach
routines complete with patter and alternate
endings for walk around, as well as demo the
methods used by hustlers to work the scam for
money. The psychology and philosophy of the
game are explained and demonstrated. The
advanced system for working the shells that was
briefly outlined on Volume I, is here explained in
full and seen in operation in live performance
videos.
On Disc I, Bob's complete original
instructions for handling his Sheets Acquitment
and his system for working the shells (Absolutely
Nuts) is here amplified and expanded, with new and
more detailed explanations and a live performance
of the routine for a regular audience in the Magic
Castle's Close-Up Gallery. Bob has added a
number of new ideas and deceptive ruses, but more
importantly, you see the whole thing up and
running. Whit adds some maneuvers and moves,
along with some new devices that make they system
unassailable.
On Disc II, Chef Anton performs
and explains his own routine. Whit discusses
psychological outs while contrasting two very
different live performances in the Magic Castle's
Close-Up Gallery of is shell routine.
Incredible video of a street hustler working his
craft at a music festival is shown and explained,
with Scoundrel Member Giuseppe Aliotta discussing
the props and betting cycles used by the
contemporary street hustler. Whit shows how
the Maneuvers can be very useful for working with
a hand held board. New shells and props for
the game are demonstrated. Whit and Chef
discuss the idea of "Thinking like a Scoundrel"
and how it is applied to magic performances.
The Escobar Move is demonstrated along with some
variations by Chanin. Several versions of
the Kick Steal are demonstrated.
Both discs also contain a
number of pdf and other files that can be used as
a further resource and several training aids that
make learning the moves easier. All the
moves and maneuvers from Vol I are briefly taught
here.
Sheets Stack
This is a brilliant
device of Bob Sheets for holding out and secretly
delivering a pea. A stack of four poker chips is
hollowed out so that it can hide one pea like an
invisible fourth shell. The pea and stack are magnetic,
so that the pea is easily lifted away with the stack of
chips. The pea can be stolen in and out of the stack
just like moving a shell. Four magnetic peas are
included along with four matching single chips. Whether
wanting to hold out a pea without having it in the hand,
or whether ringing in and out a second pea, this
incredible device makes working the shells a breeze.
Deacon Dan Shells
Tom learned at a young age how to make shell game
from a real con man by the name of Deacon Dan and to this day each shell is
hand carved by Tom Bartlett from a genuine
American black walnut.
Black walnuts are smaller around than English,
they are jut as tall as they are wide, they have a
natural texture that makes them the easiest to
grip of any shells and require less forward and
backwards movement to load and unload, of any
shells on the market any where.
English walnuts not being common in the south,
the black walnuts may be more like the shells
actually used in the south around the Civil War
period and ideal for period reenactment.
Each set takes almost four hours of labor to
create (a pint of blood in the making of every
set). They come with three Tom Bartlett foam peas:
two working and one "straight".
The pea has a new twist, the working pea and
the non-working pea are almost indistinguishable
from one another and are both soft and spongy but
the non-working pea stays under the shell so it
can be handed out with the shells and the secret
will not be discovered.
The "Perfect Pea"
Can
This is a
beautifully made (Viking) Pea Can that comes with five
working and five non-working Perfect Peas. The operator
can choose a pea out of the handsome corked brass
container, and put it away when he is finished. If the
spectator wants to “try” his hand at the game, the
operator uncorks the brass container and pours out five
peas on the table for him to choose from. The working
rubber peas have been innocently switched for
non-working hard plastic peas.
New Shell Game DVD!
Brand New!
"An Introduction to the Shell Game"
Shell Game
Series Volume I
Featuring:
Whit
Haydn Bob
Sheets
In November of
2004, Bob Sheets, Whit Haydn and Chef Anton
combined their original methods for the ancient swindle, the
Shell Game, and taught this new system to the School for
Scoundrels class at the Magic Castle.
This DVD is far more than an introduction to the game, it is an
introduction to a whole new way of looking at the shell
game, and a new system for performing the game that is rock
solid, unassailable, and easy to learn. You can find large
excerpts from this DVD
Here.Look under Shell Game.
In this, the first installment of a series of DVDs on the
shell game, the beginning student is taught an entertaining
beginning routine with patter, the basic moves and
approaches to the game that make up the system, and given
everything necessary to move from complete beginner to an
intermediary proficiency in the shell game.
But this is not
just for the beginner. Experienced shell game performers
will learn invaluable material from this and the following
DVDs in this series.
These lessons are not just a rehash of what has been
published before, but new and unpublished moves,
ruses, and strategies that will change the way the game is
played far into the future.
There is over an
hour and fifteen minutes of video instruction and over 80
pages of historical information, routines, advanced moves
and maneuvers, illustrations and study aids.
Brand New!
The Colorado Silver Shells
This is our finest
set of shells. These are handcrafted for us from Whit's
original design by Jurgen J. Maerz of the Platinum Guild
International. They are made from solid Sterling silver, and
are a joy to behold and to use. They ring like Morgan Silver
Dollars, and have the perfect weight for advanced moves such
as the kick steal and shot glass finale.
These were
inspired by the story of Nutshell Jim who won so much
money from the silver miners of Creede, Colorado during the
1880's that he had his favorite shell game shells cast in
silver. The sheen of the silver shells gliding across the
table inflamed the avarice of the miners and cowboys who
lost everything they had trying to "follow the little pea."
The beauty and
practicality of these wonderful shells combine to create a
perfect period piece, a reminder of the time when silver was
king, and the miners, gunfighters and gamblers of the old
west filled prosperous and dangerous Colorado towns like
Denver, Leadville, and Creede.
These wonderful
shells are bound to be valuable collector's items.
Molded from Whit
Haydn's hand-carved shells, these feature all the design
elements like the Chanin Dip that make our Golden
Shells and Street Shells so easy to use on any
surface.
They perform like
a dream while dressing up any magic show or gambling
demonstration, and yet they conform to period requirements
for re-enactments, film and other similar productions.
School for Scoundrels Trade Show Shells
Whit Haydn with
the Trade Show Shells
This is a guaranteed
traffic stopper for the trade-show
performer! See the complete routine
Here
(Requires windows
media player).
Whit Haydn and Chef
Anton have created this incredible new
version of the classic swindle that everyone knows and loves! Now you can perform it on stage, on the street, at trade shows, parlor and other venues where before it was not possible!
These beautiful, hand-crafted, virtually indestructible
hard resin shells
perform the traditional shell game with
a hard, 2" pea, and yet the effect is all mechanical--there's no sleight-of-hand required. That's correct --it's
practically self-working!
Three Jumbo Shells measuring an incredible 8"x6" and 2 1/2" deep!
Includes four 2" peas (you can purchase additional peas separately)
Includes a DVD of Chef Anton and Whit Haydn's audience-tested routine and advanced handling tips!
Exact patter used in Chef Anton's trade show act for years
Large enough to load your company's premiums or products
Great visual prop for promotional photos
Not only do the Trade Show Shells play great from a distance, they are an extremely attractive, eye-catching prop with plenty of guaranteed audience interaction!
"Visual, practical, and incredibly commercial! This prop is a people magnet! I already have a dozen ideas!"
--R. Paul Wilson
New - Replacement Jumbo Peas and Magnet This replacement set
includes 4 of our 2" Jumbo Peas along with a
replacement for the gaff.
New - The School for Scoundrels Close-Up Pad/Dice Stacking Boards
Our hand-made Dice Stacking Board/Close-Up Pad features a perfectly smooth, black dice-stacking board made popular by Mike Rogers and on the flip side has a burgundy 4mm neoprene close-up pad. Regular 12”x16”, Jumbo 16”x24”. Easy to travel with, Chef Anton has been featuring this in his close-up routines for years. Now the secret is out!!!
Our professional version is the same top which is featured on The School for Scoundrels Street Table. The working surface is 17”x30”. It features a beautiful forest green velvet which makes an elegant close-up pad. The top can be turned over to provide a hard , slick surface for dice stacking, etc. You can also add a beautifully crafted hard-wood frame made of solid Poplar with a Golden Oak finish which allows the top to be placed onto any base.
This is a set of three shells, seven of our ‘Perfect Peas’, and a suede bag. The shells are expertly created and designed by Whit Haydn, and include little-known features such as the Chanin Dip that when used with our Perfect Peas allow them to work smoothly on any surface – even glass or marble. The metal shells are cast in heavy pewter and then heavily plated in either 24-K gold or antique copper. The Street Shells are cast in museum-quality plastic resin for the look and feel of real walnut shells.
“This set of shells and peas is going to be for the shell game what the Paul Fox cups were for the cups and balls.”
--Johnny Thompson
Made with the beauty and cleverness of our regular Golden Shells and super-realistic Street Shells, these exclusive sets offers the operator a truly "unfair advantage" -- magnetic shells and peas! Imagine the possibilities. Each shell in the set contains a rare-earth magnet invisibly embedded in the front of the shell. The special peas are magnetic—each contains a tiny, undetectable rare-earth magnet.
The shells are designed so that when the shell is pulled back slightly, the pea will be picked up, when pushed forward slightly--the pea is released under the shell. The magnets in both the pea and the shell make this sure-fire and dependable. This is not like a chop-cup, the pea is released from the shell by a smooth, natural motion.
The hand and shell can be shown empty, and the pea can appear under it at will. This makes moves like the Roll-Flash a cinch, and enables the performer to easily place an “empty” shell into the spectator’s hand without him feeling anything, and the pea can be made to appear under the shell whenever the performer is ready.
When used in combination with a second pea under another shell, the magnetic pea gives an unbeatable and mind-numbing advantage. The possibilities are endless. The shells come with five working peas, two straight peas, and two magnetic peas. A suede carrying bag is also included.
Magnetic Golden Shells - $200
Black Fox Shell Game Sets
Jack Chanin Tribute Shells
These beautiful large shells made by Black Fox
especially for School for Scoundrels are nearly
identical copies of the large heavy plastic shells that
Jack Chanin made and sold. They have a dark, rich
finish, and look great. For collectors or performers,
these have a wonderful look and feel, and are great for
anyone looking for a larger set of shells.
Black Fox Superior Walnut Shells
Black Fox Scarab Beetle Shells
Black Fox Turtle Shells
Black Fox makes these shells out of a hybrid plastic, and cleans and paints them personally. The shells are sprayed with at least eight coats of a matte finish. This gives them the look of carved and painted wood. The Black Fox peas are made from a polyurethane rubber. Shells are available in the red Scarab Beetle design, or in the Turtle Shell design which has a very natural, shell-like finish. Novel and attractive. Lots of patter possibilities. Comes with gold lamé carrying bag and five of the Black Fox peas. Used by many professionals, including Bob Sheets who prefers the scarab beetle design.
BRAND NEW - As a special bonus, Black Fox now
includes a fourth shell in each set. This shell
is an extra shell in case one gets damaged or lost.
You can even fill it in with Rock Hard Water Putty and
make the bottom solid which adds another mystery to this
intriguing swindle.
"Never has there been such an artistic, classy approach to The Three Shell Game. The shells are a work of art."
—Joe Stevens, Stevens Magic Emporium
Thimble-Rig
Thimble-Rig
These beautiful solid brass thimbles are designed for Thimble-Rig, the precursor to the Shell Game. We have bought out Al Cohen's stock on this, and only have 45 sets. No more will be made. They are a great collector's item, as well as a beautiful prop for the working performer. Comes with instructions, including history, and a latex-covered sponge pea.
Real Walnut Shells
The Boston Man's Chopped Walnuts - Bruce Martyn
Bruce Martyn proudly presents Chopped Walnuts which are made using real walnut shells. As a result, they look and handle as real walnut shells should. The inside of each shell is coated with an epoxy finish giving them added strength. With care they should last forever.
The set includes three half walnut shells and two latex peas. All of the standard shell moves and routines can be done using this set of shells. One shell has been gimmicked with a magnet as if were a chop cup. Likewise, one pea is gimmicked with a magnet allowing it to cling to the inside of the special gaffed shell.
You can also use the School for Scoundrels Perfect Peas or the School for Scoundrels Magnetic Perfect Peas with these shells.
Peas for the Shell Game
Green
White
Red
School for
Scoundrels "Perfect Peas"
Now Available in
Green, Red, or White
The School for Scoundrels Perfect Pea is made of an injection-molded polymer and are perfectly smooth and uniform. They are
available in three beautiful colors: a bright green color (like a fresh pea),
Pearl White, and Diablo Red. These colors
show up well against almost any mat or performing surface. They are washable and never lose their grip. They will work fine on any type of surface--even glass or marble. These are regarded by most professionals (including Bob Sheets, Lennart Green, Rich Marotta, and Johnny Thompson) as the best peas ever made available for the shell game. Working Peas are used in the performance of the steal and pinch and other moves, Straight Peas are made of hard plastic and will not come out from under the shell--these are switched in or out in order for the spectators to examine them or handle the shells. Set includes five Working Peas and two Straight Peas.
These are a brand new item, different from our previous version of magnetic peas. These peas are identical to our ‘Perfect’ working peas in every way—the same sponginess, look, and feel. They are a bright green—just like a real pea—and show up well against most other colors. They will work on any surface, including glass and marble. They are easy to control in the various sleights such as the pinch-palm. They are washable, and never lose their friction—identical to our Perfect Peas in almost every way.
However, a tiny rare-earth magnet is contained inside each one. This magnet is about the size of a small finishing-nail head, and can not be noticed even when the pea is squeezed between the fingers. Nevertheless, the magnetic pull is very strong and these work with any magnetic shells such as our Magnetic Golden Shells and Magnetic Street Shells, or with others such as the Bruce Martyn Swindle Shells
These peas can work miracles of chicanery when used with a set of magnetic shells, but are useful even with un-gimmicked shells. This is because the performer can place a tiny magnet under the edge of his table, in his pants pocket, or in his tie and have a simple and effective ‘dropper’ for peas. At any time during performance, a pea can be secretly picked up or hidden on the side of the leg, behind the tie, or under the edge of the table. This enables the operator to easily and cleanly get “ahead” by using more than one pea.
Karl Norman's Latex Peas
Hand-made latex covered sponge peas.
These are Karl Norman's, the best
available. These peas are perfect for
Thimble-Rig
Books and Videos on the Shell Game
The Three Shell Game Book - Tom Osborne
This is one of the best books ever
written on the shell game. Tom Osborne
had the real inside dope on the moves,
psychology and ruses of the street
artists who challenged one and all to
"follow the little pea." This is not
magician routines and ideas, but the
real work of scam artists. To appreciate
it, you have to pay close attention and
try to understand the goals, strategies
and psychology of the con man. This is a
must have resource for anyone who wants
to master the shells.
Diversions for the
Shell & Pea Game - Dusty Johnson
- Two entertaining and mystifying
routines; one very magical and one
baffling
- Clear photos showing all moves
- Easy to perform and easy to
understand with NO needless dexterity
displays
- Includes "real talk" patter
- Extensive bibliography of books,
videos and suppliers
DVD - Absolutely Nuts - Bob
Sheets
Bob Sheets was begged not to reveal
these awesome techniques. The new
information on this DVD has fooled
many of the most knowledgeable Three
Shell practitioners in Magic. The
attainable level of control is
guaranteed to drive your
audience...Absolutely Nuts!
"I've seen many of the best Shell Game
workers over the years, including Jack
Chanin. Bob's stuff was all new, and
it fooled me--bad.""
--Whit Haydn
"You could take these techniques right to the
streets...trust me."
--Phil Cass
"Bob's acquitment alone is worth the price of the
DVD."
--Bob Kohler
DVD - Bob Kohler's The
Golden Shells Video
Bob Kohler's professional routine for
the shell game performed using the
beautiful School for Scoundrels Golden
Shells. A great routine. Simple to
learn, yet completely deceptive. This
tape not only shows you the moves, but
the psychology as well. This one of
the best instructional videos on the
shell game available today. This
routine has been perfected in the
corporate and trade show venue over
the last 20 years and is both
entertaining and baffling
Black Fox Turtle Shells 
