The history of the multiplying billiard balls

The multiplying billiard balls is a manipulation routine in which one ball becomes two, three and four between the fingers of one hand, then the balls vanish one by one. Based on our research, the earliest mention we’ve found is Buatier de Kolta’s billiard-ball trick in Professor Hoffmann’s More Magic (1890). Two of our sources credit the Chicago magic dealer August Roterberg with the fingertip version most magicians do today.

The multiplying balls is one of the classic manipulation acts. This post traces where it comes from, using only what our sources support.

What are the multiplying billiard balls?

The magician shows one ball, which becomes two in plain view. A third and a fourth appear in the same hand, between the fingers. Then the balls vanish one at a time until one is left. Some routines add passes in which the balls seem to travel through the body or out of the mouth.

The balls are made in wood, plastic, metal and silicone, and sets vary a lot in size, finish and price.

Where does the trick come from?

Based on our research, the earliest mention we’ve found is Buatier de Kolta’s billiard-ball trick in Professor Hoffmann’s More Magic (1890). Its chapter on ball tricks opens with “The Billiard-ball Trick” (p. 261) and “Another Method” (p. 265), and Conjuring Archive credits the first to Buatier de Kolta and Robert Hellis. Wikipedia gives the book’s date as 1889; our other sources give 1890.

Wikipedia, summarizing a 2003 article by Tom Stone in the Swedish magazine Trollkarlen, says de Kolta performed an effect in 1875 in which one ball became three, held from underneath in one hand. That date rests on one source, so we give it as Stone’s research.

Who was August Roterberg?

August Roterberg was a German-born magic dealer in Chicago. Genii Magicpedia says he was born in Hamburg in 1867 and ran a magic shop in the lobby of the old Palmer House hotel. He wrote The Modern Wizard (1895 in two of our sources, 1894 in Wikipedia) and Latter Day Tricks (1896). The contents of The Modern Wizard list several billiard-ball tricks, including “A New Billiard Ball Trick” and “Another New Billiard Ball Trick”.

Genii Magicpedia credits Roterberg with the multiplying billiard balls at the fingertips. Wikipedia, again following Stone, says Roterberg sold a routine called the “Excelsior Ball Trick” with props and handling that match the modern standard, and concludes he likely created today’s version. Genii adds a note of doubt: in 1949 John Braun suggested in The Linking Ring that George F. Wright, who worked at Roterberg’s Chicago store, may have been the creator. We leave that question open.

How did the routine spread?

German magic magazines such as Die Zauberwelt and Der Zauberspiegel printed billiard-ball tricks from the mid-1890s, according to Conjuring Archive’s list. In London, David Devant included a multiplication of billiard balls in his part of Our Magic (1911). John Northern Hilliard’s Greater Magic also covers the routine: Wikipedia says it contains the full Roterberg handling, and magicref.net describes a decent section on multiplying billiard balls.

Why won’t we teach the method here?

We sell multiplying ball sets and a video course on ball manipulation, and we never give away the secret of a product we sell. The good news is that both come with teaching, so you can learn the routine properly from them.

What helps you take it further?

• Perfect Manipulation Balls by Bond Lee are silicone balls in eight colours, with four balls and two shells per set, in 1.7 inch (45 mm) or 2 inch (50 mm) sizes, and a basic routine tutorial included.
• Express Basics Quick Mastery of Manipulation Series “Balls” by FISM award-winning manipulator Eden Choi is a one-hour course covering ball rolls, one-, two- and three-shell work, a one-ball vanish and an all-in-one routine.
• Our Magic by Nevil Maskelyne and David Devant (1911) is a free 512-page PDF that includes a billiard-ball multiplication in Devant’s section on the practice of magic.

Browse our stage magic collection, and read about David Devant and Horace Goldin.

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