In October, I did a post, Update on Search for Tatler Handcuff, where we looked at a couple possibilities for what may have happened to the Tatler Handcuffs after they were given to W.W. Durbin by Bess Houdini.

• So were the Tatler handcuffs sold to Abbott’s? Or is it possible the Dowd’s with IBM ties acquired them?

Well since that post, I came across the more likely possibility and the missing IBM Museum is the key. Let’s look at the evidence in chronological order:

:

May 17, 1933:

• Thanks to photo above and corresponding article, we know that the cuffs were in Pittsburgh at the home of Theodore H. Heuber, 241 Atwood Street.
• McCaffrey (national vice president of the Society of American Magicians) was helping with arrangements for the national convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians to be held at Beaver Falls in June.

June 1933:

• Theodore H Heuber (1894-1976; IBM Secretary 1933-1939) displays cuffs at convention in Beaver Falls.

March 1934 Linking Ring:

The I.B.M. Museum I [Ted Heuber] started is developing into a big thing, and plenty interesting, as all the officials are enthusiastic about it. There will be a booth at the convention for the Museum, and all the articles of the old masters and the greats will be on display. I am asking every member to try and contribute to it in the way of old apparatus of the old masters that you might have. You may loan it me or donate it to the museum giving a story of each article and it will be displayed with a card carrying the name of the donor, Wands, Lithos, or apparatus is what we want, just send to me at my above address, get busy at once, and let’s make this a real feature of the Convention. At Beaver Falls last year [June 1933] we had just a few things [Tatler Cuffs] displayed and it caused so much interest that I started the idea of a permanent museum, which will be taken to all Convention cities for publicity purposes from now on. Please get your articles in to me at once.

1934-1937:

• The first Convention city was Batavia NY (1934), followed by Lima OH (1935), Batavia NY (1936) and High Point NC (1937).
• During this time, Ted would continue to acquire additional items for the museum, thru 1939.
• 1937 appears to be last mention of the museum appearing at a convention.

Apr 1937 Linking Ring:

THE I.B.M. MUSEUM

It is with pleassure that we inform the Brotherhood that the I.B.M Museum in charge of Sec. Heuber will positively be on display at High Point.

We are constantly adding to the most wonderful array of magical relics, the costume wore by Herrmann the Great has been graciously donated to the collection by Mrs. Durbin. The Houdini Handcuffs will be on exhibition, as well as will the Kellar rope. There are hundreds of magical objects and pieces of apparatus of great interest to all magicians.

July 1937 Linking Ring:

The I.B.M. Museum under the care of Secretary Ted Heuber was housed in the store with the dealers, this display was of great interest and Ted in his spare time could be found explaining just what this or that was all about. Here was to be viewed Herman Trunk, his costume, and picture, many exhibits were loaned by Mrs. Durbin for the occasion, these were carried to and from High Point by Vice President Cecil. Houdini cuffs, Kellar rope, old apparatus, some of which Ted himself has been unable to coordinate. The string of wands are an interesting exhibit in themselves. Much interest was displayed in the posters of Kellar, altogether a most educational and entertaining feature of the convention.

May 1955, Linking Ring:

In a letter Billy Russell of Batavia, N.Y. writes: “In the early days of the IBM, we who are old-timers now, worked very hard to build up an International Museum of Magic. We secured many fine pieces used by the Old Masters, including the Escape Trunk used by Hermann the Great, tables used by Harry Kellar, the famous handcuffs that were made in England to hold Houdini, etc. (And from what I have been told that “etc” includes a lot more valuable pieces, A.L.B.) We collected many fine and valuable pieces.

“The museum was last shown at the Batavia, N.Y. IBM Convention in 1934[?], and was under the care of Ted Heuber of Pittsburgh. I understand all these things are in storage some place in Pittsburgh and I suggest that your IBM Convention Committee get busy and find them and display them at the coming convention. It would be a big drawing card and create a lot of interest.

“It is a shame to have all this old apparatus lost as it is about all that is left to show the rising generation what old-timers used. Please bring this matter to the attention of your committee and let us see a good old Museum at the coming convention.”

The above is Billy Russell’s letter which I am sure echos the thoughts of many oldtimers in the IBM. Unfortunately, it is apparent that the IBM did not keep a record of the apparatus donated and no one seems to know what became of it. The Board of Trustees investigated this superficially a few years ago and former International Secretary Ted Heuber stated at that time that he only had a few pieces that were given to him for his personal use. How many old-timers recall, as Billy has, just what pieces were donated and by whom? Let me know. Maybe we can post a list of what was in the Museum, even if we can’t exhibit it.

Billy continues: “I suggest that a truck—or a good rebuilt Greyhound bus would do it—build it into a museum to take around the country to schools and conventions and charge to see the museum. It would soon pay for itself and would do a lot for magic.

“Please see that something is done to find this collection and restore it to the IBM, who own it all. Hope to attend the Pittsburgh Convention—now 76 years old and can’t go as fast as I once could. Billy Russell IBM No. 301.”

Genii Jun 1955:

Bob Nelson is fostering a plan to build a permanent Shrine to the Goddess of Magic in Kenton, Ohio, to house relics, memorabilia, etc., of our art. Seems a little late when we had a chance to buy Durbin’s old Egyptian Hall once and passed it up . . . and a lot of people who donated items to the I.B.M., Museum, with Ted Heuber as Curator, are asking what happened to them and why Ted doesn’t produce them at the Conventions. Pittsburg would be an ideal spot to see them show up again. I know Billy Russell is plenty burned up since he gave some of his choice items (Kellar’s wand, etc.), to the collection in good faith, and he want them back if they are just gathering dust in somebody’s attic. See what you can do, Pittsburgh.

Linking Ring May 1958:

IBM MUSEUM MISSING

In the March 1936 issue of The Linking Ring, page 10, under Convention Notes about the IBM gathering in Batavia, N.Y., is this paragraph:

“Theo H. Heuber, originator, collector and keeper of the IBM museum, has done wonderful work in collecting and preserving many choice relics of old time magic. A large room has been set aside for the Musuem display at Batavia. Magicians having rare magical curiosities will do well to donate them to the Musuem having rare magical curiosities will do well to donate them to the Museum where they will be cared for and preserved for future generations. If you have relics that you do not care to part with please bring them to the Convention for the three day display.”

Here’s an opportunity for the folks who want to go museum hunting to form a posse and maybe they could unearth the treasures? After they are discovered? Then they can figure out what to do with them.

So the last known whereabouts of the Tatler Cuffs was in Pittsburgh. It’s time to form a posse and unearth them.

Related:

• Is Houdini being locked into the Tatler Cuff or the David Copperfield Mirror Cuff?
• Mirror Cuff “exposed Jan 1920” and “locked in safe until mid 1930s”
• William McCaffrey and Famed Birmingham “Tatler” Handcuffs
• Search for Tatler Handcuff given to W.W. Durbin leads to Abbotts?
• Update on Search for Tatler Handcuff