Description
It was May 24 2016 when I was visiting Mike Caveney (the most renown authority on Charles Carter and almost anything having to do with the history of magic). There was a group of us there for the weekend and I was about the spend one of the most memorable weekends of my life. There was a few of us staying with Mike (Bill Smith and George Dailly come to mind). I was the first to arrive and spent a night visiting with Mike before the others arrived. We were in the basement looking at some amazing things when i spotted in the corner a ornate center table right next to Charles Carters Spirit Cabinet. “What is that?” I found myself saying while trying to control my heavy breathing. “That is Carters Center table” Mike casually responded. What I had thought it might be proved to be true! I stored that information away trying to not act excited. “Ever thought about selling it?” i asked . Ok before we go any further, I am not one of those greedy guys. This was the only thing that I ever asked Mike if he would sell me. I don’t know why I did as that is not typically my style but it just came out. “Let me think about it” Mike replied. Well it was not an outright “no” so we moved on with the weekend with that “maybe” stuck in my mind where it would stay for about the next three months.
Fast forward to Magic Live of 2016. I am there having the usual good time when i see Mike. We exchange typical greetings when something comes out of Mike’s mouth that i was not expecting. “You know Carters center table you asked about”. Indeed i did. “What would you pay for it?” I had thought about it many times before so i fortunately was prepared for the answer and gave Mike a price that i thought was fair. “Let me think about it’ Mike replied. On with the convention we both went.
It’s the last day of the convention and Mike had pretty much ruined my convention as I could not think about much but Carter’s Gilded Center table. I ran down Mike and took my last shot. I offered another $500 for the table. “Let me think about it” he replied. It was “deja vu” all over again.
The night of the closing party I hear someone calling my name. Turned around and it was Mike. “Hey Jim. I have been thinking and I have decided to sell you the table”. I darn near passed out. “Hey that is great!” I replied almost not believing what i had just heard.
Now the astute reader will realize that up to this point in my recount of this tale, there has been no mention of the mimeograph machine but it is about to come: “And I am going to throw in Carter’s mimeograph machine as well”. Now I remembered sitting under Carter’s table in Mike’s Basement was an old piece of machinery. “Mike i don’t think I want the mimeograph machine, it would cost a bit to ship from LA to Ohio” i said. “Then no deal!” . Those of you that know Mike no doubt actually heard him saying this in your head as you read those words.
Now you know how i came to own the subject of this writing and what you are about to bid on: hopefully.
