Necklace of Sheba (c. 1947).

Necklace of Sheba (Pearls of Prussia) by A&B Magic Products

This effect dates from 1827. After being out of sight for a few decades The Great Carmo was reintroduced in the UK around 1932 and is still often referred to in the UK as Carmo Beads.  The rights to Carmo were purchased by Davenport’s from The Great Carmo around 1938 and marketed as The Great Carmo Bead Mystery.  This did not prevent U.F. Grant from publishing it as The Arabian Bead Mystery around 1939, and it became a favourite effect of Jay Marshall. It was renamed The Beads of Prussia by John Fedko and is the current name in the US.

This version was made by A&B Magic – the “A” stands for Alexander the Great, and before A&B magic worked for Abbott’s and Tannen’s.

Effect: This is a visual effect, which can also be presented to an interesting story line. The performer displays several large loose beads, which can be examined. These are dropped one at a time into a clear cylinder, which can also be examined. Performer makes a magic pass, and tosses the beads out of the tube, and they are found to be strung together in a necklace.

A possible story line for a general show would go as follows. These were a magic necklace, belonging to a beautiful princess, and as long as she wore the necklace, she was the most beautiful princess in the world. Then a wicked witch broke the necklace, and the princess started to wither away. Many people tried to put the necklace together, but could not do so. Then you “the handsome magician” came along, and magically restored the necklace, and with it the princess’s beauty…