Foo Can - Merv Taylor - Stevens Estate

Merv Taylor Foo Can is a classic vintage magic prop from the 1950s, made by renowned American magic manufacturer Merv Taylor (1904–1974) in North Hollywood. It is a precision-engineered stainless steel "Foo Can" (also known as a Ching Ling Foo Can variant) used for vanishing or producing liquids. Water (or any liquid) poured into the can does not pour out until the magician commands it, thanks to clever internal mechanics—no electronics or threads required.

Specs: Dims: 8.5" Tall with 2" circumference. Includes Merv Taylor earmark symbol towards the top of the handle.

As is obvious this is the handled version as he made some with no handle. Both versions are streamlined and beautiful and have the value of immediately taking us back to a sort of Art Deco world. Generally speaking the handled version sell for more, I believe for cosmetic reasons.

Condition: EXCELLENT

Born in Dennison, Illinois, but lived most his life in California, Taylor started out teaching art, metalcraft, electrical shop and mechanical drawing. He also did some work for the government, but in 1940 a magician performing at the school took one of his broken props to Merv to fix, which sparked an interest in magic.

By 1945, Taylor, who found the magic business more fun than teaching, moved to the San Fernando Valley and went into fixing and creating magic props exclusively. With three of his brothers and a few friends, he built a shop with a retail store in 1948 called [Merv Taylor Magic]]. He employed Alan Wakeling for a time and many people wanted his pieces including Richard Himber and Orson Welles.

With Bill Larsen, he help start the Southern California Magic Dealer Association and was its first president, and two years later, was president of the national Magic Dealers Association.