Our Story

Dave Chandler and Howard Blackwell, the owners of TruSleight, are long-time friends who actually met while competing against each other at an international magic competition.

Dave is a graduate of the Chavez Studio of Magic, formerly the Chavez College of Manual Dexterity and Prestidigitation, and is based in New Hampshire.  He is an accomplished stage magician and is known for his classic manipulation act. Howard is a corporate and theater magician based in Charleston, SC and was the owner of Holy City Magic Theater.  Together, Dave and Howard have performed engagements ranging from their Armed Forces Entertainment World Tour, the Magic Castle, major corporate events, and their most recent magic comedy extravaganza, “Classy and Classless.” 

When Frank Radtke of Fakini developed the first silicone billiard/manipulation ball in the 1970's, the Fakini brand became the industry standard for silicone manipulation tools.  Sadly, when Radtke passed away in 2009, his company struggled to meet demand and thus slowly dissolved.  To fill this void, a few foreign companies surfaced, making similar products available.  Most of these products are mass produced using cheaper, inferior and outdated materials. 

Like many magicians, Dave and Howard were disappointed that high-quality silicone balls and other manipulation tools were no longer available.  To boot, most manipulation balls available today have a somewhat oily or slick surface, and holders, with very few exceptions, are antiquated and lack many of the features sought by experienced manipulators.  It was this void that drove the two friends to form TruSleight. 

Dave and Howard worked closely with a leading polymer expert and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop the perfect material for their products.  In addition, they explored several ideas for tools and effects currently not available to professionals.  After months of sourcing materials and fashioning new products, Dave and Howard created the perfect manipulation ball and shell, their exclusive adaptive holder system and unique manipulation thimbles—the first of several handcrafted amazements in the pipeline. 

Welcome to Trusleight!