Sam H. Sharpe was in England in 1902 and became interested in magic at 8 years old after seeing Bersoni at a children's party.  He later became a semi-professional magician but is best know for his many magical writing including the Conjurers' series of books which examines various principles of magic on an in-depth basis. These 4 books are all published by Hades although Mechanical Secrets was initially published by Tannen's until the rights were transferred over to Hades who published subsequent editions.

Conjurors' Mechanical Secrets - 137 pages

Sharpe attempts to classify many mechanically oriented magical effects which depend on specific working on the apparatus rather than sleight of hand or manipulation. Sharpe examines the fake, or secret property of the prop used, which accomplishes the deception.  He points to 11 basic ways that a fake can be accomplished.  He also examines what he calls the auxiliary aid which is not part of the actual prop but is hidden and makes the magic happen.In discussing these principles he covers the working of tricks and illusions such as: 

• Indian Basket Trick
• Lota Bowl
• Inexhaustible Barrel
• Billiard Ball Stand
• Handkerchief Production casket
• Doll House Illusion
• Histed's Easel Illusion
• Buzz Saw Illusion
• Sword through Body
• Jarrett's Girl from Picture Illusion
• Vanishing & Appearing Canes and Candles
• De Kolta's Expanding Die
• Mechanical Bird Cages
• Reticule Fold - For Appearing Boxes
• Card Boxes
• Penetrating Die
• Asrah Illusion
• Carl Hertz's Indian Rope Trick
• Rainbow Illusion
• Fall-Apart Dove Vanish
• Drawer Box
• Multum in Parvo Production Boxes
• Chest of Drawer Boxes
• Shuttle Caddy
• Sliding Die Box
• Okito's Checker Cabinet
• Holdouts
• Devant's Indian Rope Trick
• Magic Well

Conjurers' Optical Secrets - 188 Pages

This book examines the optical aspects of magic illusions and apparatus. Some of the concepts create the magic illusion in itself, while others merely contribute to its deceptiveness. For instance, a mirror reflection may be the optical secret behind a particular effect while a "Streamlining" concept may contribute to the illusion by making something appear too small to contain a particular object. This book is particular value to the illusion builder since Sharpe puts a scientific approach to many of the opticla deceptions present in modern day illusions.  Some of the concepts discussed include:

• Psychological Visual Illusions
  
  • Invisibility Through Velocity
  • Relative Movement or Sliding Illusions
  • Relative Size Illusions
  • Dismembering
  • Camouflage
  • Blackout
  • Bevelling
  • Streamlined Cavity

• Physical Screen or Masking
  
  •  Angles of Vision
  • Opague Masks. Black Art
  • Double Transparencies
  • Spring and Sectional Blinds
  • Sand Masks

• Reflected Images
  • Plane Mirror Reflections
  • Transparent Reflectors
  • Peek Mirrors

• Lens Transmission or Projection
  • Back Projection
  • Reduced or Magnified Images
  • Trick Photography

Conjurers' Hydraulic and Pneumatic Secrets - 159 Pages

Due to the similarity between many of the hydraulic and pnematic principles in magic, Sharpe included these  together in this book.  The basic principles discussed are:

• Secret hydraulic or Pneumatic Pressure
• Secret Conduits
• Displacement

Sharpe includes a discussion on:

• Secret Closures or Retainers
  
  • Indian Hubble Bubble Jar
  • Original Chinese Rise Bowls
  • Brahmin Rice Bowls
  • Hindu Lota
  • Bottle Lota
  • Foo Can
  • New Full or Empty Jug
  • Producing a Tray of Full Glasses
  • Germain's Water Jugs
• Liquid Substitutes
  • New Vanishing Ink on Hand
  • The Wine Proof
  • Wandering Stout
• Secret Reservoirs
  • Double Funnel
  • Tray Reservoirs
  • Mermaid Illusion
  • Inexhaustible Lustral Bowl
  • Hartz's Inexhaustible Punch Bowl
  • Vanishing Divers
• Displacement
  • Milk Jug or Pitcher
  • Multum in Parvo
  • Filtering Ink Experiment 
  • De Muth Milk Bottle
• Secret Conduits
  • Undrinkable Cup of Tantalus
  • Overflowing Vases and Coconut
  • Mysterious Water Faucet
• Secret Siphons
  • Simple Siphons
  • Vanishing Liquid from a Goblet
  • Witch's Cauldron
  • Glass Tomb of Belus
  • Changing Liquids - Water to Wine
• Hydraulic and Pneumatic Control
  • Conradi's Glass through Hat
  • Magic Fruit Tree
  • Producing Balloons
  • Bunder Boat
  • Greek Wine Dispenser
  • Thirsty Man's Bowls
  • Come or Go Wine
  • Hofzinser's Squeeze Ball Glass
  • Anverdi's Squeeze Ball Tray
  • Japanese Water Fountains
  • Water Fountains
  • Maskelyne's Psycho
  • Plate-lifter Control
  • Air Jet Levitation
  • Pneumatic Rapping Hand
  • Ordeal of Boiling Water

Conjurors' Psychological Secrets - 178 Pages

This book examines the mind's contribution to illusion and perception.  One example that Sharpe points out in the book is the Disarming Time Lapse, where he explains that when a card is returned to the deck there is period time that the spectator is expecting some trickery, and the magician is wise to let this time pass prior to attempting any moves.  As magician's we are quick to buy the latest trick or DVD, but the student of magic is wise to study the psychological aspects of magic to make illusions that much more convincing or deceptive. 

Sharpe says in his introduction:

We are inherently incapable of accurately describing what we see, and must always fill in such details as will accord with the particular explanation which appeals to us most. In fact we see with our mind as much as with our eyes, since experience, memory, and belief add expectation to the picture presented to our physical vision.  In consequence, it would sometimes be true to say that"believing is seeing," especially at spirit seances.

Sharpe covers the following subjects:

• Objective Illusions
  • Visual Illusions
  • Auditory Illusions
  • Illusion of Touch, Taste, and Smell
• Subjective Illusions
  • Illusions of Mental Time
  • Illusions of State
• Influence by Suggestion
  • Creating Atmosphere
  • Influencing Choice - Forcing
  • Misdirection
• Intellectual
  • Character Assessing
  • Artificial Memory
  • Verbal Substitution
  • Codes, Cues, and Sensory Clues

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