The person spinning the plates in R.W. Paul's 1896 film 'Mr. Maskeleyne Spinning Plates and Basins' is the British illusionist John Nevil Maskelyne, NOT Nevil Maskelyne his son. I have been researching the life and work of three generations of the Maskelyne family, who were all illusionists, for the past 12 years, and have collected every reference and illustration that I can find during that time. Stills of Paul's film,published in an early 20th century British magazine, clearly show it to be John Nevil 'J.N.' rather than Nevil in Paul's film. The remaining details about this film are correct as far as I am aware.