portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Monday, September 27, 2021

John - with Magic Alex's 'Nothing Box'






 

John Lennon posing with Alexis Mardas’ ‘Nothing Box’, 

by Brian Duffy, 1965. 

A series of images of the Beatle smiling, having just had his teeth done in the United States. While in the U.S (presumably) John purchased several “Nothing Boxes” from inventor and associate Magic Alex, one of which is featured here. These boxes did just as they promised, nothing. Other than blink, of course, until their battery runs out.

Alexis Mardas, also known as Magic Alex, was a Greek electronics engineer who is best known for his close association with the Beatles. His nickname was given to him by John Lennon when he was involved with the group between 1965 and 1969, during which time he became head of Apple Electronics*


As is explored in the article linked below this may not be an invention of Magic Alex at all and there is much discussion online about The Nothing Box with some folks trying to make their own etc. But the extraordinary company  Hammacher Schlemmer and their 'unusual range sold these in the early sixties and it was either something John bought from there or Magic Alex may have bought them as gifts for the Beatles as we believe eight were around John's apartment at one time or another. Either way . . . . . I want one! ha  ha ha ha ha ha . . . . . . ..  .




*more on the Nothing Box here . . . .

Hammacher Schlemmer - still weird!

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