Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-14
An Electric Faro Box.

One of the most ingenious inventions
of the age, for gamblers, has recently
been constructed. A New York paper
thus describes it,
The electric faro box is very similar in
construction to the box now in ordinary
use among gamblers, except that it is in
variably made of iron or steel, ard the
springs for pressing the cards up are
spiral instead of elliptic. Through one
of these springs runs wire which con-
trolls the magnet in the box The table
upon which the box rests is fitted in the
usual plain way with the layout, the
check-rack, and cases. Upon the lay
out, however, depends very much the
success of the fraud. This unpretending
article is usually only board covered
with cloth, upon which is fastened one
of each of the several denominations of
cards in full pack These cards, when
used in connection with the electric faro
box, are oxidized and placed upon the
cloth in such way as to completely
dispel all suspicion of their character.
This is part of the secret Of the inven-
ton, and is claimed to be an entirely
new thing in the science of electricity.
Attached to these cards, and running
from each separately, are fine copper
wires, which are placed under the lay
out board and run down through one of
the table legs, where they connect with
battery under the floor
The cards used may be of the common
kind, but before being placed in the box
they are immersed in a powerful mag
netic solution, which is also held as a
secret When the game is about to open,
and the dealer takes his seat, the table
has the appearance of a very ordinary
piece of gambling furniture. The box is
produced and placed 1pon the table, i'm
mediately over a strip of oXidized cloth,
highly charged with electricity, and the
game begins. All the cards being mag
netized, both in and ont of the box, the
current of electricity is made complete
by magnet skilfully adjusted in the
box, which is always under the control
of the dealer. As all money at faro
bank is usually represented by chips,
some weight is placed upon a card when
a bet of any importance is made-for ten
or a dozen chips will weigh several
ounces. So sensitive are the cards on
the layout that the slightest pressure is
at once telegraphed TO the representa-
tive cards in the box, and in consequence
of their becoming magnetized they can
not be made to win unless the dealer
breaks the current of electricity
This is done by an ingenious contri-
vance which detaches the magnet
in the box, when the current is of.
QtherRise the cards, having been pre-
pared for the purpose, would come out
in pairs or dohble, veg mnch afer the
fashion Of braces used in all skin Raaes.
This is not easy Of explanation, except
that every card on the layout cores
ponds with four similar cards in the
pack, and that they are severally mag
heiized SO that any card upon which
bet is made must lose if permitted TO
come ont double with another card
This is done through the slat which is So
arranged that q slight piece Of steel can
be moved as 10 increase OF diminish the
aperture. In this maRaeF the deal can
be changed proceeding that all san.-
blers viii readily understand.