Carving Cutter. Ardmore, Ed Massey, ca. 1957. A volunteer’s arm is clamped into a wooden stock and cut through with a wicked-looking knife. The volunteer is unharmed, even though she can genuinely feel the knife press on her arm. Exceedingly clever method and construction. 14 x 7 ½”. Decorated with brass trim. Very good condition. Scarce. The sheer ingenuity of Massey’s device – in good working condition – is both deceptive in design and delightful in execution. In addition to inventing clever parlor tricks and apparatus, Massey designed one of Howard Thurston’s final illusions (Vivisection), and wrote several books for the mass market featuring magicians as main characters.