The man (second photo) weights over 200 pounds. The fabric will not even fit fully around him.

I'll definitely 2nd Kyle's Chair Suspension e-book for any performer who uses this effect or is thinking of purchasing one. It covers every detail about it and is written by someone who's performed it nearly 1,000 times (or more!).

Robert Haas

I have been doing it for about 18 years. I was not interested in his e-book at first. After I received my new chair suspension, I did ordered Kyle's e-book.

This bend wount happen in bill smith version , also the one you have is not bad at all

Dynamike,

Nice Harbin chair suspension.
Your chair suspension is great! It is probably equal in quality to Bill Smith's. I think yours was made by Gunther Puchinger of the cube zag fame. In any `case yours is hands done in the pro quality league. Great Purchase!! Congrats!!

Two hundred plus pounds is extremely heavy and there really is no downward curve. I feel it is better to keep the person at about 125(a women).It is easier to adjust person so their position is correct.

I have a Bill Sith custom model that has a weight limit of 125lbs but it is heavy twice as heavy as the Mak and Smmers models and it is also in a ATA case which makes it even heavier.

All chair suspensions that carry heavy weight the gimmick is usually steel and the chairs are heavier. Also if you put something up their heaier than load amount it will bend if it is steel or break if something else(MAK,Summers models).

Don

I hear Bill Smiths is really good from speaking to Cruise ship workers Iknow
and having seen a really solid Harbin version built exactly from his plans-
It doesn't move at all with a full weight adult


My Vote-Harbin

Cheers

Brent

I am still byest to bill smith version , I have seen all and yes bill s is the heviest and you need to be fit and strong to work with it it is bilt for an adult and is verry practical and elegant , the chairs look like simple ordenary chairs while they are made from scrtch for the illusion .

Where do you find the Bill Smith version?

http://www.magicventures.com/

Is the Abbott Chair Suspension built the same as a Jack Hughes Chair Suspension ?

Where can one purchase the Sommers version?
Thanks

I had a Harbin made by John Gaughan, but had to sell it to raise money thanks to a divorce. It was fantastic.

I'm interested in the Mickey Hades rising levitation, I don't want to try building it myself from the Osborn plan.

Anyone have any opinions on the Zuban Wladimir version?

The Wladimir chair suspension looks amazing. Performance wise, it is very impressive.

The house of enchantment chair suspension also looks very solid.

I would be interested in opinions on how these rank as well.

Hi TomB -

The Chair Suspension from House of Enchantment is mentioned on many threads, with positive reviews. However, to find those posts, most of the time people say "Jay Leslie" instead of "House of Enchantment". So, try searching with Jay's name as the keyword in areas like "Grand Illusion" or "The Little Darlings".

- Donald

Thank you. I’m still alive and making them by request.

A lot of good suggestions above about the model of chair suspension to purchase, Jay Leslie's or Bill Smith's , both have a solid reputation. But if anyone is researching this illusion I'd suggest going back to the source to study the presentation of Robert Harbin (same with Zig-Zag).

The other one I'd look at is Penn & Teller's presentation.

In both Harbin's and P & T's presentation there is real dramatic tension created around the moment when the board is removed and the person is suspended , the repeated admonitions to the person to "hold it ... hold it..." give it a slight feeling of danger ... and that special "moment" does not linger very long , it is over very quickly, so no one is given a chance to dwell on it. It's a more dynamic and mysterious way of presenting this effect, imo.

Harbin, starting around the 19:44 mark - to - 22:23 in this video:

https://youtu.be/6n862JxiN0k?t=1184



Penn & Teller at the 7:07 mark here:

https://youtu.be/StZYM30QJ88?t=427

What a great find! I didn’t know there was video of Harbin performing the chair suspension. He had a better presentation written for it in his book.. but I’m guessing this was modified a bit for tv.

Penn & Teller are masters with it. I’ve seen it live and it’s just soooo good.

It’s amazing... Penn & Teller are one of the highest paid acts in magic and when you go to their show in Vegas you see...
Chair Suspension, Linking Rings, Chinese Sticks, Egg Bag.... it’s not about the tricks! It’s all about the presentation!

Here is another performance by Robert Harbin, much later in his career :

https://youtu.be/F8Y0wPzh0_8?t=103

Chair suspension starting around 1:45 mark - to - 5:36





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