Last week, I shared all of the known Birmingham “Tatler Cuff” images to date. Today, I thought I would share an article on the Birmingham “Man” who claims to have invented a Handcuff With a Lock Which Cannot Be Picked. The below article appeared in The Daily Illustrated Mirror, March 11th, 1904:
I found it interesting the Birmingham blacksmith’s theory on Houdini’s methods for picking handcuffs and how those methods wouldn’t work on his invention with a lock that cannot be picked.
Black and White Illustrated Budget Magazine April 02, 1904
I recently was the winner of Lot# 177 (Houdini Mirror Cuff Illustrated Budget) at the last Haversat & Ewing auction.
Description:
The Black And White Illustrated Budget Magazine April 2, 1904. Original article on Harry Houdini. The Handcuff King at the Hippodrome and the famous Mirror Cuff challenge from the London Daily Mirror. Depicts a nice image of Houdini with the cuffs on.
The Handcuffs
The “Handcuff King” at the London Hippodrome: Houdini being Handcuffed
A Birmingham blacksmith spent five years in devising a lock on a pair of handcuffs which he alleged “no mortal man could pick.” Mr. Harry Houdini picked the handcuffs in one hour and ten minutes.
Although the lot referred to the cuff as the Houdini Mirror Cuff, it is an image of what has become to be known as the Tatler Cuff with its different hinge than the Houdini Mirror Cuff in David Copperfield’s collection.
Below are the other known Tatler Cuff images on the list:
The Illustrated Mirror March 15, 1904
Possibly the first public image of the Tatler Cuff.
This is a sketch of the special handcuffs from which Mr. Houdini “the Handcuff King,” will try and escape at the matinee performance at the London Hippodrome on Thursday in response to a challenge by the “Daily Illustrated Mirror.”
THE TATLER NO. 143 March 23, 1904
This image caused so much discussion on the Forum at Handcuffs.Org in 2014 and is where it got named the Tatler Cuff. You will notice, it is very similar to the page that appeared in the Black and White Illustrated Budget Magazine April 02, 1904. I am now the proud owner of both pages.
THE SPECIAL PAIR OF HANDCUFFS
From which Houdini liberated himself at the Hippodrome last Thursday after an hour’s work. These handcuffs took five years to make and contained twenty-one separate levers. Below the handcuffs is shown the key with which they were locked.
HOUDINI’S GREAT LOCKPICKING FEAT AT THE LONDON HIPPODROME
This illustration shows the locking of the handcuffs on Houdini’s wrists in the presence of representatives of some London newspapers.
The World’s News, Saturday May 7, 1904
This image (The Special Pair of Handcuffs with Key Underneath) was obviously taken from photo found in the Tatler Magazine. And is from an article on the unbreakable handcuff lock.
Pittsburg Sun Telegraph newspaper May 18, 1933
The last known public image to date. It shows the other side of Tatler cuff not shown in the other photos from 1904 and with a Long Key as opposed to a short key. Note the direction of the middle hinge. At the time of the photo, the cuffs were in Pitsburgh 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. He examined the handcuffs for a moment, and snapped them open.
Addendum:
The Birmingham “Tatler Cuffs” are out there, it is just a waiting game before they become public. While we wait, please enjoy my article,
On Sunday December 6, 1998 at 8pm, TNT aired the World Premiere of HOUDINI, starring Jonathan Schaech.
I am lucky enough to have in my collection, an original press kit and VHS tape for the this TNT original movie premier.
It includes eight color 35mm color slides, two 8×10 photos, production information, cast information, and director and cast Q&As (Part I and Part II).
Today, I share cast Q&A Part II with Jonathon Schaech (Houdini) and Stacy Edwards (Bess Houdini) from the press kit.
On Sunday December 6, 1998 at 8pm, TNT aired the World Premiere of HOUDINI, starring Jonathan Schaech.
I am lucky enough to have in my collection, an original press kit and VHS tape for the this TNT original movie premier.
It includes eight color 35mm color slides, two 8×10 photos, production information, cast information, and director and cast Q&As (Part I and Part II).
Today, I share cast Q&A Part I with Paul Sorvino (Blackburn), Rhea Perlman (Esther) and George Segal (Martin Beck) from the press kit.
On Sunday December 6, 1998 at 8pm, TNT aired the World Premiere of HOUDINI, starring Jonathan Schaech.
I am lucky enough to have in my collection, an original press kit and VHS tape for the this TNT original movie premier.
It includes eight color 35mm color slides, two 8×10 photos, production information, cast information, and director and cast Q&As.
Today, I share Q&A with Pen Densham (director) from the press kit.
