Open Cuffs in display box.






Open Cuffs in display box.
















Closed cuffs in display box.






Closed cuffs in display box.










Display box open, looking straight down.

"COME-ALONG" HANDCUFFs

From the HOUDINI-HARDEEN Collection



In 1995, I purchased a wonderful Houdini Collection from a gentleman in Florida. In addition to all the items in this Collection, there were several sets of Handcuffs which belonged to Houdini.



What’s offered here is the Come-Along Handcuffs.



In the middle of the nineteenth century a 'scissor' style of cuffs was produced. Also known as 'snips' or 'snaps'.



The cuffs, in this offering, were made by Hiatt and are stamped with the Hiatt name.



Below, are assorted photos of the Handcuffs, their display box, a close up of the name plate and the assorted provenance letters.



The Handcuffs are in working order.



The photos, below, show the cuffs in the closed and open position. Some of the chrome has worn off.



The handcuffs come with three letters, showing you how they are traced back to HOUDINI.



One letter is a xerox, from the gentleman in Florida, telling about the handcuffs, the whole collection and how all came to be in his collection.



The second letter is another xerox (dated 1979) from William Mahan (to the gentleman in Florida), stating that the handcuffs, etc. were obtained from Hardeen, who had told Mr. Mahan, the material came from Houdini’s collection.



Mr. Mahan was a CLOSE Personal Friend of the Hardeen family and obtained a lot of Houdini’s material during Hardeen’s later life.



A portion of the letter from Mr. Mahan (dated October 10, 1979) states:



I am sorry that you missed out on the collection of magic I sold to Goulet. But, I am happy that you got the things Ray didn't. The red drape I gave you belonged to Adelaide Hermann; it was given to Lady Ruth, my wife. Also, the (yellow) tipped wand you received was Theo Hardeen's. We were close to Hardeen you know. I'm giving you this wand with with a set of lock picks. I got the picks, and the handcuffs I sold, from Hardeen who told me they came from Houdini's collection. Theo's gifts were the heart of my collection. Pete, if I can be of any assistance regarding any of the posters, magic apparatus, memorabilia, etc., please don't hesitate to ask.



The last letter is from me, stating how the collection came to be in my possession.



The handcuffs have been placed in a Walnut Box, which has a glass lid, so the handcuffs may be viewed. The box measures 12"x18"x3" Deep. The box has a nice varnish and is a bit darker than the photos, above, show.



The handcuffs are resting on a pillow of Red Satin (which is actually a little darker than the photo's above) -and- there is a name plate, on top of the glass lid, describing the cuffs.



The box has two latches which can either be opened or locked (keys included).



As a little Bonus, I will include a Xerox copy of a Lengthy Newspaper article (Sunday, July 3, 1988, with photo’s) written about the gentleman in Florida by Times Staff Writer Laura Griffin.