Designer: P.T. Selbit

Selbit created “Through the Eye of a Needle” around 1923. Two barrels are inspected by the audience along with a manhole cover weighing about 90 lbs. A length of rope was tied to a ring attached to a leather belt worn by an assistant. This rope was then passed through the center hole of the manhole cover and through a spigot hole in the bottom barrel. The manhole cover was placed on top of the bottom barrel (sealing it) and the girl climbed on top of the cover. The second barrel was placed on top of the girl, shielding her from view. The spectators then pulled on the rope and there was obvious resistance. Suddenly the rope “gave” a few feet giving the impression the girl had been pulled from the top barrel, through the small center hole in the manhole cover, and into the bottom barrel. The top barrel was removed, followed by the manhole cover and the girl emerged from the bottom barrel.

Selbit performed the illusion a few times and then passed it on to other illusionists including E. Clive Maskelyne (who is sometimes mistakenly credited with its invention simply because he used it so often).