Farini ended his acrobatic career in 1869, fearing that if he continued he would eventually be seriously injured. However, he remained in show business, becoming a trainer and manager of acrobats, as well as an inventor. Circus historians credit him with the invention of the first apparatus in 1876 for what became known as the now famous "human cannonball" act. Although Hunt's son "Lulu" first used it for an act called "Lulu's Leap" since 1873, the performance in London in 1877 by 14-year-old "Zazel" (Rossa Matilda Richter) credited her as being the first "human cannonball".