TOWER "DOUBLE LOCK" LEG-IRONs

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 Tower "Double Lock" Leg-Irons.



The TOWER company came into being some time around 1874, the date of the first Tower patent. Its restraints remained in production, in one form or another, until the 1940s. Some collector's believe that its products were made by the Union Hardware Company, right from the start, but others think that this firm only became involved when it took over the TOWER business at an unknown, but rather later date.



The TOWER cuffs have a lock case, on the inside of the bow, and is distinguished by the position of the keyhole at the bottom of the lock case. This keyhole proved to be awkward, making it difficult to unlock the leg-iron cuffs. These leg-iron cuffs came with an improved Double Locking feature.



TheTOWER DOUBLE LOCK cuffs were the standard of the industry for decades.



Above, are assorted photos of the Leg Irons, their display box, a close up of the name plate and the assorted provenance letters.



The Leg Irons are in working order. The photos, above, show the cuffs in the closed and open position.



The key is the Original Key, which came with the Leg Irons.



The Leg Irons 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 collection and how it came to be in his possession.



The second letter is another xerox (dated 1979) from William Mahan (to the gentleman in Florida), stating 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 ivory (yellow) tipped wand you received was Theo Hardeen's. We were close to Hardeen you know. I'm giving you this wand 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 (also, a bit darker than the photos show above).



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 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.