About Abra-Cadaver

Where Precision Meets Illusion

My name is Bill Elwell, and I am the designer and maker of the props you see on this site. I live in Pennsylvania and retired from the corporate world several years ago.

I spent several decades as a Professional Electronic Engineer, designing systems where failure wasn't an option. Today, I've traded the corporate lab for my own high-tech workshop, applying those same rigorous engineering standards to the world of illusion. For me, the challenge of hiding complex technology inside a simple wooden box or a "haunted" skull isn't just work—it's how I relax.

The Modern Workshop

My process bridges the gap between old-world craftsmanship and 21st-century technology. Props I offer are born in a digital 3D environment before it ever touches my workbench.

3D Design & Prototyping

Using advanced CAD software, I ensure the precision is the best that I can offer; which translates to near 100% up-time; important for a magician.

Laser & 3D Printing

I utilize industrial-grade lasers and high-resolution 3D printing to create components that are lightweight, durable, and perfectly balanced.

The Human Touch

While the internals are high-tech, the "soul" of the prop is finished by hand. Whether it's the aged patina of a Talking Skull or the precision of an Animated Card Box which looks exactly like a real box of cards, the final result is a piece of performance art.

My Philosophy

When you buy a prop from me, you aren't just buying a trick; you're buying decades of engineering experience. I believe a magic prop should be three things:

Silent: Remote transmitters should never "click", giving away their existence.

Reliable: It should work every single time the remote is pressed.

Beautiful: If appropriate, it should look like an heirloom, not a gadget.

I don't mass-produce these items. I build them one at a time, for the performer who demands the very best. Many of the props are built with Pennsylvania hardwoods and precise joinery.

Lastly, since I design and build these props myself, any one can be sent back here for repair for a very reasonable fee; a service not offered in our throw-away world.