I'm looking into the guillotine illusion where the "victim's" head actually falls into the basket (and leaves them unharmed, of course!) I was thinking of using it for an "escape gone wrong" style illusion. I've seen it before in a sideshow or two (most notably Harry Anderson's.) Unfortunately, most of the ones I'm seeing have the blade pass through the neck and leave the head in place, which isn't quite the shock effect I'm looking for.

Is there a specific name or manufacturer for this model of guillotine? And, if anyone's used it before, could they tell me how likely I am to sprain my neck during the act?

I was just at Wellingtons the other day and he has a great one that does exactly what you are looking for. He built the one for Alice Cooper that was used in the touring show.
http://www.wellingtonent.com/

You can see Alice's latest model in action on "Brutally Live" DVD, the companion tour to "Bruatl Planet" and "Drangontown" cd projects.
Very cool.

I mean "Dragontown". Spell check strikes again.

The guillotine is a "Will Rock" guillotine. It is known in some of the old building plans as the Monster guillotine.

Thanks everyone. I found the plans on the Osbourne site. This should be helpful.

There is one for sale on Magic Auction built from Willi

http://magicauction.com/Mag_auc/illusion_pg2.htm

Michael

Years ago I performed a guillotine escape which "failed." Used it as a rather dark finale to a show.

Here are my cavaets... Know thy audience. It is a scary illusion.

Be careful, it is STILL eash to get hurt with this equipment.

There are several different mechanisms for this type of illusion that allow the head to fall... Some are more fool proof than others. Research the mechanism and built in safety mechanisms befoer you build or buy.

It is also "eash" to mistype when you just wake up!

Although this was created back in 2006, I just picked up a set of original Will Rock Drawings for his Guillotine. It is quite remarkable.