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sauropod New user 10 Posts |
For some time I've been having an occasionally heated online debate concerning a British medium who claims to be able to materialize ectoplasmic phantoms in a dark seance room. Although I'm very open to the paranormal, I don't find this particular case to be convincing. The linchpin of the case is the method by which the medium is secured to his chair before each performance. As I understand it, his wrists are secured to the arms of the chair by two separate flex-cuffs, and his ankles are secured to the chair legs by two more flex-cuffs. (To be clear, his right arm is cuffed to the right armrest, his left arm to the left armrest, similar to a condemned man in an electric chair.) He is gagged. Then the lights go out, and eventually, in pitch darkness, various voices are heard (one at a time), and alleged "spirits" prowl the room (again, one at a time), interacting with the sitters by shaking hands, passing notes, etc. At the end of the seance, the lights come up, and the medium is found in his chair, with the gag and the flex-cuffs in place as they were before.
Now, I am assuming that he escapes from the cuffs, ungags himself, impersonates the spirits, then resecures himself. But those who support this gentleman insist that this kind of escape would be impossible. Since there are people on this forum who are experts in escaping from flex-cuffs, I thought I would ask whether the trick, as I've described it, would be possible or impossible to pull off. I should add that the chair was not provided by the medium; it has been examined, and the arms do not separate from the main body of the chair. The cuffs are supplied by the sitters, though I suppose it would be possible for the medium to substitute gimmicked cuffs via sleight of hand. (He is, however, subjected to a search before each perfomance; how thorough a search, I don't know.) In some performances a possible accomplice (the medium's wife) has been in the room, but in others the wife is absent; in those instances there seems to be no likely candidate for an accomplice. The room is windowless; it is searched before each performance; the door is locked from inside and blocked with an empty chair; the quarters are cramped, and there is little space to maneuver. Sitters often hold hands to form a circle; it would be difficult for anyone to leave the circle undetected, though a substitution of hands is perhaps possible. The medium has also performed in other venues, including private homes, using the available furniture. There is never any light; even infrared is forbidden. So far the organizers of these events have ignored my suggestion that they bring in a trined escape artist to secure the medium. I have not personally witnessed one of these performances, but I believe my description is accurate. I'm not asking you for any trade secrets, just a general sense of whether an escapologist could free himself from these restraints in the dark. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks! |
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Why not have the cuffs supplied by a sitter - who is in fact a plant .........
I find geraniums nice this time of year! But yes you can escape from zip ties ……. And you can get them from Cannons …… not sure how much you know about escapology so wont give you any more than that at the moment. But I believe it answers your question. If you read a bit you will know about cannons (the things that are used to fire big spherical types objects at the enemy) and will be able to find them and will find the cuffs listed…. It won’t take much for you to do. You could pretend to be Houdini and demonstrate the escape for yourself to these people. Who does the searching? How many sitters? How many are known to each other? Oh this is “Mr Smith” he is not really here EVERY night. |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Does the "medium" have his hands held during his performance?
If he does I have no idea how to substitute hands etc... however I'm confident that it would be possible to make the escape. In fact I'm not really doing much tomorrow so I think I'll have a go as you described and will get back to you. I really can't see how it'd be a problem though.... if I don't get back to I seriously messed up and could you send someone round to let me out. Dave has my address Just one other question, is it his wrists or upper part of the lower arm that's restrained? Also, are his legs restrained in any way?
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Mmmmmmmm
I can feel his presents (he is getting a cuddly toy - its all squishy under tge paper adn squeeks!)........ and he says "yes my chuffing legs are tied you muppet!" OK I lied I did not channel the alive medium ... (sounds like a XL to me) I hasd a clue .... it was when sauropod said "and his ankles are secured to the chair legs by two more flex-cuffs". See I can red me! |
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sauropod New user 10 Posts |
>Just one other question, is it his wrists or upper part of the lower arm that's restrained?
Good question. The only photo I have found is here (about one-quarter of the way down the page): http://www.survivalafterdeath.org/articles/keen/thompson.htm Unfortunately, it's not a large pic, and not very clear. The cuffs appear to be about about halfway between wrist and elbow, I would say. >Also, are his legs restrained in any way? Yes, flex-cuffs are tied around his lower legs, securing him to the chair legs. These are clearly visible in the photo. >Does the "medium" have his hands held during his performance? If he does I have no idea how to substitute hands etc... No, his hands are not held. Supposedly physical contact with the medium can harm the "ectoplasm." It's the sitters who hold hands. I only mentioned substitution of hands because an accomplice among the sitters might conceivably use this method to leave the circle. I am doubtful of the accomplice hypothesis, however, since this medium performs before different groups with no overlapping members. Also, the people sit very close to each other, making it unlikely someone could leave the circle without being caught. >But yes you can escape from zip ties ……. And you can get them from Cannons …… not sure how much you know about escapology so wont give you any more than that at the moment. My impression is that the cuffed person's hands have to be close together so that he can use one hand to open the zip tie on the opposite wrist. That would not seem to be possible in this case. Or am I entirely wrong? Anyway, I'll look into Cannon's. Thanks for the tip. |
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Moxahalla Special user Los Angeles 751 Posts |
The Flex-cuffs supplied by the Cannons - have been been expertly gimmicked before being sold...
To guard against this Medium using similar flex-cuffs, I suggest: *Have them first examined and (secretly) MARKED - to avoid them being switched later on. *Be sure to test the flex-cuffs after they are on his wrists (don't rely on the prior examination only) The possibility that the flex-cuffs are being supplied by a confederate-friend of the medium, must be considered. So, why flex-cuffs? Does he INSIST they be used?...if so, that's suspicious. If the Medium wants to prove that he's not assisting the manisfestations...then, why not simply HANDCUFF & LEGIRON him to the arms & legs of the chair? (American S&W #94 or 104s; or Chubb "Escorts", or any other NON-standard handcuff models...should put an end to his "ghosts"). Of course, the Medium could be the misdirection to the whole scenario: he's not doing a thing to make the ghosts appear...but a seen or UNseen confederate IS. This is an interesting topic. Please keep us updated. Has the British Magic Circle investigated this? |
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sauropod New user 10 Posts |
>Has the British Magic Circle investigated this?
No. These seances are taking place mainly in Sydney, Australia, though the medium did tour briefly in the UK. I live in the USA, by the way. I have not participated in these seances (and I doubt I would be allowed to, given the extreme hostility that my online criticisms have evoked). >So, why flex-cuffs? Does he INSIST they be used?...if so, that's suspicious. As far as I know, he has been secured only by flex-cuffs. I assume this is at the medium's insistence. I have suggested using other retraints. A commenter on my blog suggested tying the medium with many short lengths of rope, each of a different color (presumably it would be hard to retie the ropes in the correct pattern in the dark). I have also recommended bringing in an escape artist to secure the medium. My suggestions have been ignored. I note that the gimmicked flex-cuffs sold by Cannon's seem to require the user to cross his wrists before being tied. I assume this is so he can use twist his arms and use one hand to undo the cuffs. But this medium has his wrists (or forearms) secured separately, one to each arm of the chair. This is the part of the trick (if it is a trick) that bothers me, since his access to the cuffs would seem to be limited, at best. It is really the only reason I hesitate to declare it an outright fraud. Am I wrong to consider the positioning of his hands to be a big deal? |
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Kevin Connolly Inner circle New Jersey 1329 Posts |
Shhh. Don't tell anyone. The arms of the chairs may be the key.
Please visit my website.
www.houdinihimself.com Always looking buy or trade for original Houdini, Hardeen and escape artist items. I'm interested in books, pitchbooks and ephemera. Email [email]hhoudini@optonline.net[/email] |
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Moxahalla Special user Los Angeles 751 Posts |
Not wanting a magician or a qualified escape artist to investigate - is VERY suspicious (what is the Medium afraid they'd discover?...Oh I know - the "negative energy" from the skeptical magician would be bad). Always some excuse!
Altho, it may not be the case here - usually, the ARMS of the chair would be the first things that need to be examined: allowing the Medium's arms to remain tied to the chair-arms, yet allowing the chair-arms to unattach from the chair itself. To properly examine the chair, one would have to actually SIT in it and then examine it's arms & legs (guarding against the possibility that the body-WEIGHT of the Medium activates a mechanism inside the chair, which releases the chair-arms). (Don't laugh - that's how one escape prop in the Owens catalog operates). The whole scenario screams of theatrics. My opinion: total fraud. Houdini is rolling in his grave...things have changed very little since his time. People will always want to believe. Oh yeah - Get the WIFE outta the room!!! |
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Moxahalla Special user Los Angeles 751 Posts |
Shhh. Don't tell anyone. The arms of the chairs may be the key.
____________________________________ Kevin: Great minds - think alike |
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sauropod New user 10 Posts |
I'm familiar with the possibility of removing the arms of the chair, but I'm doubtful that it's the explanation here. For one thing, the chair is not supplied by the medium. And he performs in different venues, including private homes, using the available furniture.
Here is a description of the chair used in one seance (at a different location from more recent events): >The chair (owned by DF [the homeowner]) in which the medium sat was an old-fashioned upholstered, heavy, wooden construction which I examined carefully, having regard to a claim by the magician Ian Rowland, when commenting on television on [the medium] Thompson’s reputed feats, that this could be done by illusionists when the ends of the chair arms were not securely connected to the posts, thereby enabling the medium to raise his arms from the post and slip the cable ties off his arms: a suggestion I examine later. I could find no loose connections, and was unable to move the arms or see or feel anything abnormal underneath the chair. Admittedly, the investigator in this case apparently did not sit in the chair, but since it was owned by the homeowner, it would seem unlikely to be gimmicked (unless the homeowner was an accomplice - doubtful, I think). From the same article, here is a description of the medium being tied. The obvious security breach is that his wife did the tying! But in more recent seances, she has not been involved. >The chair was placed inside the open cabinet, and the medium was strapped into it by means of plastic tree ties. This was effected by Bianca [the wife] under my close supervision. I was invited to examine the ties which were already permanently fixed to the legs and arms of the chair, both before and after the fixing. The straps were placed through these permanent fixings, and pulled tight, and then secured with thin plastic ties with the ends trimmed off, so that the only way to release the bond was to cut it. The straps were so tightly pulled that I was unable to intrude even a finger. Indeed, the medium subsequently was heard to complain that his wife had been so enthusiastic as to cause him discomfort. Bianca tied a black gag securely round the medium’s head through his open mouth, thereby preventing recognisable speech. I examined the gag and the knot behind the head. Finally the several buttons on the front of medium’s cardigan were tied into the buttonholes with thin black strips of plastic. These are one-way (self-locking) cable ties, incapable of being untied. They have to be cut before a button can be released. The detail about the cardigan is significant because the cardigan was found to be reversed when the lights came up, but the ties were still in place. Here is the investigator's conclusion: >The nature of the ties would have prevented the medium, no matter how strong or agile, from escaping his bonds without first managing to cut the ties. Even had he been able to do so, he could not have regained his seat and retied the knots unaided, employing a new set of uncut ties, unless he had been helped by someone able to work deftly, accurately and swiftly in pitch dark. No-one in the séance room could have attempted that without ready detection. Moreover my careful examination of the chair showed no sign of any movable join. Finally, the reversal of the medium’s cardigan while he was still bonded to his seat defies normal explanation. All quotes are from this aricle: http://www.survivalafterdeath.org/articles/keen/thompson.htm I am skeptical of this medium for various reasons, but so far I haven't found any knowlegeable person willing to say that he could release himself, alone and unaided, from the ties and then retie himself. With an accomplice? Yes. With a gimmicked chair? Yes. But if we assume, for the sake of argument, that there is no accomplice and no gimmicked chair, it seems much harder to make a case for fraud. Or am I wrong? |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
First of all apologies for the daft question regarding the mediums legs being bound... I actually re-read the post twice and missed it both time (it was a long day).
My only other question is this. I'm a little bothered by the fact that sometimes the medium's wife is there are sometimes she isn't. On the times when she is there she ties him to a borrowed chair. On the times she isn't there, does he still use a borrowed chair? The way I'm thinking at the moment is he either uses his wife to do the tying (in which case she is the gimmick). Or if he doesn't use his wife the chair is the gimmick. Then in publicity he can make a song and dance about either: 1) I used a borrowed chair; or 2) I had someone I don't know bind me. Then when people read the articles they will remember that he used a borrowed chair AND had someone unknown to him bind his arms. My other little niggle is has any of the sitters seen him more than once in different places? If so what was the same / different??? Ros
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
Got it!! This is great. No gimmicks, no worries... just did it at home. The secret is revealed in the photo of the medium sat in the chair. I think its a cool escape... but that's what it is, an escape. I'm gonna work on it and use it myself Add some other bits and it'll be something that could play quite huge. I think I'll even do it full view Ros
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
Ros I am with you on the idea of "chair" or "wife" being the gimmick in different situations. I read the account above VERY carefully and noticed this:-
"Which were already permanently fixed to the legs and arms of the chair" The clue to me is PERMANENTLY fixed tot he chair. How many people with this guy visiting them would be willing to have these ties permanently fixed to the chair? Also spotted this “tended by the medium’s wife.” About the tape recorder in the first picture. Is there any reason why there couldn’t be a pair of night vision goggles in there somewhere? Houdini managed to hide his tools in the cell he was escaping from …. And the cell be searched! This is nothing new. I am 100% sure it is an escape …. (But won’t rule out the accomplice theory either). |
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Apache New user Finland 77 Posts |
Ros is right. No gimmicks. I thought it reading Sauropods first post. Picture makes thing clear. There's even two ways to escape. There would be good chance to Ros make some publicity with this case.
-Jari- |
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dave_matkin Inner circle 4522 Posts |
I was htinking that about publicity for Ros - especially wiht WEAR coming up as well ..... only thing is the guy is in australia? I think that's what they said earlier in the topoic.
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Apache New user Finland 77 Posts |
Sorry, I just read "British" at start post. Sidney, Australia is the place. Ros you have to make trip.
-Jari- |
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Roslyn Inner circle UK 3405 Posts |
Hi guys,
He's only doing a flippin' UK tour!!! AND its gonna be during October! Now, how can I get the most out of this? I've not done any major publicity before, so if anyone has any ideas please help me
The Magic Cafe account of The Conwy Jester, Erwyd le Fol formerly known as Roslyn Walker.
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gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-12 18:04, sauropod wrote: Actually, the flex cuffs from Cannon's require the wrists to be crossed in order to hold the ties on. Unless you hold them correctly, they can be loosened very easily. I've figured out a way that they could be used to tie the wrists to the chair, but it is not the method he is using. Gwyd |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
First, you find his schedule. Then, you contact the newspapers in the towns he's playing. It's reasonably certain that at least one town will have somebody who bites. It'll take some talking, but if you can expose him before he hits a town, you'll be able to sit back and chuckle. It won't stop the shuteyes from believing, but it could raise some fun problems for him.
Be prepared to do a reading or two, at the event. But figure a way to expose that too, without giving it away. It'd be nice if this guy went home with less money than his plane ticket cost.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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