Someone asked me the other day WHO revealed Houdini's signiture trick (metamorphosis) and WHY is was revealed?

Just to clarify, this was a laymen asking the question; and he clearly wasn't looking for 'methods', but was clearly interested in magical history. I had been talking about it and he asked this question, and I promised to find out the answer. Can someone explain please?

The substitution trunk was actually invented by Maskelyne (unless I am mistaken...). Several magicians of that time may therefore have been quite familiar with the secret. Are you refering to a recent exposure, or an older one? As for motivations... Money and / or jealousy are usually prefered culprits...

I believe he was asking who FIRST exposed the secret. If it was indeed Maskelyne's, then doesn't that make Houdini one of the people who 'stole' the trick?

It depends if Houdini had the right to use it from Maskelyne, which I believe he had... As for the first to expose it... I am still looking it up! I know the masked Mor*n exposed a version of it, but that comparatively recent!