Im very interested in See-Thru Guillotine, how good is it? I haven't seen it live but the ad sounds great.
Any comment on this Illusion?

http://www.wellingtonent.com/document/seeguill.html

I have seen it performed. It is very nice, but I feel it's one of those items made to fool magicians. The effect is no different than any other chopper.

The workmanship is excellent on this chopper ... but the price is 3-6 times what you can get them for new! And second hand they're even cheaper.

Try this site ...

http://www.tilfordillusions.com/headChopperAd2z.html

James.

Give Bill a call at Wellington and he will send you a video of the chopper. It's probably the best chopper illusion on the market.

Sure, you can buy cheaper but not better. I have had mine for quite a while (#25 Mr. Kotkin, I believe has #26) I have tried Head Zappers, Lester Lake lite weights, hand choppers, and have only found two pieces equal to the see through if used properly.

1. Owen's heavyweight Lester Lake with Scimitar
   
   
2. Wellington's Scimitar in classic style WITHOUT the red/black paint job

I might be convinced to sell mine or trade for one of the above as a see-thru is NOT appropriate for Renaissance Faires.

But, for the humor of a TV ad a la Ronco, WOW!!!

GC

I saw Bill selling (and performing) this several years ago at an SAM convention. The workmanship is incredible, and the clear part takes away almost every possibility of how it is done.

I love to build things, and I have always wanted to build a Lester Lake-style chopper, a la Owen. I even bought the plans from Owen, but I haven't gotten the nerve up yet to start work. Alan Zagorsky at Owen admires my desire, but I think he questions my sanity.

Maybe someday.

Amos McCormick

Billy's See Thru Guillotine is a great illusion. A lot of thought went into it. It's a real fooler. The workings alone are worth the price.

This prop is awesome. I've had mine on and off in the show for years with no problems at all. The blade comes smashing down, kids freak...it's great. The workmanship is amazing and we've had it on the road so it really works, trust me. Bill's stuff is the best!!!

Steve

It is a wonderful illusion and very effective. While I don't have a See Thru I've seen it performed and it is well made. The only competitor is the Owen Classic Lester Lake Chopper with the extended blade or scimitar.

I own this prop, which, contrary to some of the posts above, is truly one of a kind. It is the only one with a virtually completely transparent stock, far more so than the Tilford model viewable above (I believe that Doug does not make this chopper any longer.). You could use this prop successfully without fully knowing how it works. And I've handled a lot of illusions, but I don't think that I've seen one with as precise and ingenious a mechanism as Bill's. Owen couldn't match the workmanship, and would charge at least twice the price. Or so I think.

Alan

I too saw Bill demonstrating this at a convention. I took a very close look. I didn't have the budget at them time, but would have snatched it up had I had the money.
The only draw back I noted was you can not let the spectator examine the bottom edge of the blade or it will give them a good clue to the working. From a short distance this is not a problem.
The construction is top grade as expected, and the effect is truely worth the price of the illusion.
Not to many guillotine effects play as well as this one.
As for the Tilford model listed above, this is a totally different method and the cost is much less.
This is what Osborne lists in his plans as the "Easy Build Guillotine".
Also Abbotts offered the "Chinese Chopper" some time back that is just about the same. Neither is in the same class.

I am trying to contact Wellington now for 3 weeks. The contacts via his page didn´t get an answer and my e-mail didn´t either. Do somebody know why? Don´t he want to sell his illusions?

Sounds like a really good effect .. Does anyone have a link were I can see a picture or maybe a video of this illusion?


Thanks
David

@David Boyd: How about really reading this thread?

http://www.wellingtonent.com/document/seeguill.html

Far more so than the Tilford model viewable above (I believe that Doug does not make this chopper any longer.).

As the manufacturer of the ultimate chopper, I can say that they are still being made. You can't compare the two as they are different styles. This chopper is based on the Osborne plans but is modified.
Ray

If you are still having trouble getting in touch with Wellington give Bill a call at (845)429-3377. I know that Bill and I were both pretty busy finishing up props for a big New Year's Eve show.

The see through guillotine is unlike any other made.

Richard

Is there somewhere a performance video of the See-Thru Guillotine by Wellington?

Call and ask Bill.
Richard

Hmmm yes - according to his page for 25$ =(
It would be easier to see one online.