2535-6534) 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.

The TOWER DOUBLE LOCK cuffs were the standard of the industry for decades.

Below, 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, below, 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 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, below, show. The handcuffs are resting on a pillow of Red Satin (also, a bit darker than the photos show below).

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. - $7,500.00

Leg Irons in display box, closed and open.

Display box open

Close up of Leg Irons  in open position, showing both sides.

Leg Irons stamped as being "Tower Double Lock".

Close up of Leg Irons in open position.

2536-5323) HANDCUFF SECRETS by Harry Houdini.

This hardbound book was published by George Routledge and Sons, Ltd. in London and by E.P. Dutton & Co. in New York in 1910. 110 pages.

Pictorial board covers.

Chapters include:

Introductory
Opening Sealed Handcuffs
Blunders of Some Handcuff Exposures
Fake or Spoof Manacle
American Manacles
Lock Pickers
Safe-opening Micrometer
Skeleton Keys
Cologne Police Sued For Libel
More Lock-picking Implements
Strait-Jacket Release
Method of Escape
Historical Lock-picking Contests, with James Sargent as the Centre Figure
Handcuffs and Their Keys

In additional to all this Priceless information, there are 49 photo illustrations to go along with all this informative text.

The covers are still on the book, attached with a red cloth tape..

The outer edges, of the front cover, are lined in ink, as if there might have been tape in this area, as well, but now gone.

The pages inside are just fine.

2537-6155) THE UNMASKING OF ROBERT-HOUDIN by Harry Houdini. Hardbound.

Published by The Publishers Printing Company. New York. 319pages.

Chapters include:

Significant Events in the Life of Robert-Houdin - The Orange-Tree Trick - The Writing and Drawing Figure - The Pastry Cook of the Palais Royal - The Obedient Cards, The Cabalistic Clock, The Trapeze Automaton - The Inexhaustible Bottle - Second Sight - The Suspension Trick - The Disappearing Handkerchief - Robert-Houdin's Ignorance of Magic as Betrayed by His Own Pen - The Narrowness of Robert-Houdin's "Memoirs"

A BookPlate, or something, has been removed from the inside of the front cover. A little paper loss, but not as much as could have been, if done improperly. Corner dings in the inside top corner of both the front and back cover. Not so visible from the outside.

2503-3268) THEATRE MAGAZINE for March 1923. Volume 37, #264.

This is a Large Format magazine (measuring 9 3/4"x12 3/4").

Under the heading of "Special Articles" is one about Houdini: "The Mystery Man of the Stage" by Burr C. Cook.

Article touches on: (a) 1920 Webster’s Dictionary addition with exact listing described. (b) Riveted into a large, hot water boiler in 1907 by the Marine Boiler Works of Toledo, Ohio. (c) The rest of page on Houdini, the book collector. citing examples of: (1) David Garrick’s Original Diary. (2) 1584 edition of Scott’s "The Discouverie of Witchcraft". (3) "Annus Mirabilis" (1666) by Dryden. (4) "Life of Edmund Kean" by Hawkins. (4) "The Memories of the Life of Theophilus Keene" by Richard Savage.

This magazine looks as though it were published yesterday. Outside of a small tear, on the front covers bottom edge, it has good tight covers, clean pages, etc. etc. On a scale of 1-10, it would have to be a 9!! - $75.00

2454-5314) HOW I GET OUT OF A STRAIT-JACKET by Harry Houdini.

This great full page article comes inside the Ladies Home Journal for May 1918.

This was Houdini’s first article for the LHJ.

As the article states, Houdini would (for the most part) always perform escapes from behind a curtain. For the sake of this article, Houdini performed this escape before the cameras and editors of Ladies Home Journal. As can be seen from the photos below - there are some Great Pictures of Houdini.

It shows a fine batch of pictures showing his escape.

The article measures approx. 11”x16”.

Would look Wonderful if matted and framed!!

Magazine has a total of 134pages, but for some reason pp25-26 are missing. Front cover is torn, but repaired with scotch tape. This must have been a while back, as the tape is now starting to turn yellow.  - $75.00

The New York Hippodrome program for the 1918-19 season.

Best wishes

Houdini

The covers are missing a piece here and there, plus detached from rest of program.

The vaudeville show was called "Charles Dillingham presents EVERYTHING".

The Master Mystifier appears as "Houdini", under "3rd Thing".

Houdini would perform his elephant vanish for the first time.

Houdini would appear in this show from January 7th thru May 18th, 1918.

Houdini would return for one week: August 19-24, 1918.

Houdini breaks his wrist but still performs strait-jacket escape. - $1,500.00

LayAway is available, should you wish this service.
I ask for a 10% deposit (and this can be more if you wish), then you set up your own payments.
I'm a firm believer, only the buyer knows their finances best - so it's only right they set up their payment plan.

2337-6326) "HOUDINI FOR PRESIDENT" PostCard

None other than the Wonderful photo used as the image for the 37cent Houdini stamp, issued in July 2002.

When held at an angle, shows sepia. But, as you can see from the photo's below, it shows just fine in proper light.

There's some rubbing and the writing side has remnants from being removed from a scrapbook or something. I've tried to show this in the photo's below.

All this has been taken into consideration in the pricing.

No matter how you look at it - This Is A RARE PostCard - in any condition. - $1,000.00

2302-4538) HOUDINI Advertising Flyer From 1913 Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg (#1)

Houdini's mother passed away on July 17th, 1913.

For the whole month of August, Houdini visited his Mother's grave, till he sailed on August 30th from New York City on the Hamburg-American line "Imperator".

On September 16th, Houdini opened at the Apollo Theatre, in Nuremberg, Germany, opening the act with his needle swallowing act - and closing with his famous Water Torture Cell illusion, which he had just debuted a year earlier, during his performances at the Circus Busch theatre in Berlin.

As a publicity stunt on Thursday, September 18th, Houdini would have himself placed in shackles, handcuffs and chains, then jump into the Dutzendteich river.

What's offered here are two different advertising flyers for Houdini appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg.

The first measures 6 5/8x9 and is shown below.

Portions of the right edge are missing and is a little hard to see in the photo below, since I scanned the image with a black background. Look closely and you'll be able to see.

And, of course, GranHoudini.net doesn't appear on the actual item.

Both are in German, below is the translation.

The flyer states:

Harry Houdini offers a 5000 Mark reward to anyone who proves that he receives air in the Underwater Escape cabinet.

The trick that Houdini performs every evening in the Apollo Theater is awesome. In order to prove this, Harry Houdini will try to escape openly under water.

On Thursday, the 18th of September, in the afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock, the American Houdini will jump off a boat (into the water), after he has been locked into heavy shackles, handcuffs and chains, by the public and representatives of the local press -- Not into the Pegnitz, which is not deep enough, but into the Dutzendteich, at the deepest point.

The chains alone are so heavy that Harry Houdini must sink to the bottom because of the weight.

A great early piece of advertising for Houdini and his "Underwater Escape Cabinet". - $2,500.00

2303-2366) HOUDINI Advertising Flyer From 1913 Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg (#2)

Houdini's mother passed away on July 17th, 1913.

For the whole month of August, Houdini visited his Mother's grave, till he sailed on August 30th from New York City on the Hamburg-American line "Imperator".

On September 16th, Houdini opened at the Apollo Theatre, in Nuremberg, Germany, opening the act with his needle swallowing act - and closing with his famous Water Torture Cell illusion, which he had just debuted a year earlier, during his performances at the Circus Busch theatre in Berlin.

As a publicity stunt on Thursday, September 18th, Houdini would have himself placed in shackles, handcuffs and chains, then jump into the Dutzendteich river.

What's offered here are two different advertising flyers for Houdini appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg.

The second measures 6 5/8x9 1/2 and is shown below.

A piece or two is missing from the right edge.

And, of course, GranHoudini.net doesn't appear on the actual item.

Both are in German, below is the translation.

The flyer states:

Apollo --

A. 8 1/4 (possibly 8.15 in the evening) Telephone 1743 16th - 30th of September.

Completely
new Variety Programm
and Guest Performance
For the first time
In Nuremberg!

Harry
Houdini

During his local guest performance, Houdini brings for the first time the Underwater Escape
(one mistake means death)

Houdini offers a 5000 Mark reward to anyone who can prove that
Houdini receives air while in the cabinet.

Tickets 10:45 - 1 then from 5:00. Telephone 1743. Doors open at 7:30,
show starts at 8:15 ends shortly before 11:00. All seats are numbered.
Ticket prices without taxes or program -- Gallery seat 0.70, II Level
seats 1.00 II level front seats 1.30 -- Reserved seats salon 1:30,
Reserved seats salon front 1.50. I Level seats 2.10. I level front 3.40,
Orchestra-armchair seats 3.10 Standing room 0.50, 0.70 and 1.20

Every Wednesday afternoon 3:30, Ladies performance
Every Sunday afternoon 3:30, Public Performance (literally, people's
performance) reduced prices.

A great early piece of advertising for Houdini and his "Underwater Escape". - $2,500.00

My Dears

I have not heard from you in ages - are you well? I have been very ill - am still - was unable to take out my show - but have great hopes for the fall. Mother and the Julian are fine - the rest of the family also. I had such great hopes of the show - but my health broke down - It is too horrible for me to be inactive but am forced to sit idly by and brood. Have had many experiences with the spirit mediums - but until now they have only given me the same bunk ---last night I was invited to hear Malcomb Bird talk - did not go however - I am too weak to fight and that is what I must do, when they try to insult my intelligence. All here send love to you both - with my most sincere good wishes - Beatrice Houdini June 9 - 28

Interesting all the dashes "-", like someone who's use to sending telegrams.

Obviously, a letter to someone in the family and GREAT content concerning Malcomb Bird. - $750.00

Taken on the porch, in front of the house they may have lived in (California) 1939. Saint holding a camera. Bess hands together about waist high. Both their names type written beneath each.

The photo is signed:

To
Willard S. Smith
"Magigaly"
Mrs. Harry Houdini

(ME TOO!
Edward Saint)
1939

Signed by both. - $500.00

To Harry Mendoza with my very best wishes - Mrs. Harry Houdini

Great photo of Bess!! - $750.00

Kind Regards
from
Theo Hardeen
Feb 9th 1906

Not dated. - $750.00

2178-5987) HARRY HOUDINI ORIGINAL POSTCARD

Great profile image of Houdini, looking off to his right. Houdini in full suit, with bow tie, from the chest up.

There's some staining over the card and an ink smudge at the bottom. I don't know if this could be repaired, since I don't know of these things - only a paper restorer could tell you.

While the card looks to have creases in the corners, it actually appears the card may have been in an album, at some point in time. The corners are brighter/cleaner, than the rest of the card. There are no creases.

This has all been taken into account, in the pricing. If in near mint condition, I would have asked $800.00 (or more) for this PostCard. Given the problems (which may be fixable), I will price the PC at half the amount and let the new owner see about having it restored. Or just keep it as is and frame it, etc. 

2180-6519) THE SPHINX MAGAZINE. Volume 5, #6 - August 1906.

Cover: Woodcut drawing of Robert Nickel. - ½page adv. for Houdini’s magazine "Conjurers’ Monthly Magazine". With oval insert photo of Houdini. - Small tear along bottom of magazine, going through all pages, but thanks to large margins, no text, photo’s, etc. affected. 

Extremely Scarce EARLY advertisement for Houdini. - $50.00

2146-9832) SPHINX Magazine. October 1948. Volume 47,#8

Photo of Houdini about to be lowered into the Chinese Water Cell on the cover. Inside a 1/3 page article about this.

This magazine has no other Houdiniana, but some of the articles inside include:

The "All Thru" Cane by Karrell Fox - Crime Does Not Pay by P.C. Sorcar - Congres Magique International by Victor Peacock - Abbott's Get-Together - London Notes by Wilfrid Jonson - Murdock's Magic Act by George DeMott - South American Notes by E. Leslie Briant - T.A.O.M. Second Annual Conclave - M.A.E.S. Convention.

2142-4678) HOUDINI, THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF A VERSATILE ARTIST

1924 edition of the pitch book which sold at the theatre’s Houdini was appearing. 64pp. Paperbound. Orange covers with smiling photo of Houdini on cover. Measures 5 1/2"x8".

This is a souvenir pitch book sold in the theatres of which Houdini was appearing.

Covers are still attached. Some soiling on the covers, but the pages inside are just fine. There are a few small pieces missing from the covers edges, as can be seen from the photos below..

O'Donnell Shoe Company

Makers of High Grade Shoes for Men

                                                 St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 21, 1915

MR. HARRY HOUDINI, Orpheum Theatre, City

    Dear Sir:

    We, the undersigned, expert packers and employees of the O'Donnell Shoe Co., hereby challenge you to escape from a packing case that we have especially constructed of heavy timber.

    If you accept the same, we defy you to make your escape without demolishing the box. We shall send the box along for your examination but demand the right to renail each and every board before you enter to prevent any previous preparation upon your part.

    Awaiting your reply, we beg to remain,

                Respectfully your;

                        O'DONNELL SHOE COMPANY

                            Per John B. Milligan, Supt.

                                Signed for Committee of Packers

                                    ----------------------------------

Houdini Accepts the Above Challenge

Test to take place on the stage of the

Orpheum Theatre, Friday Night, Sept. 24

under the conditions that the box when finished must not be airtight

All this has been Professionally Matted and placed in a Cherry Wood Frame. I’ve also added a striking copy of a Photograph of Houdini being placed into a Strait-Jacket.

The Challenge measures: 7"x10 1/2". The over all measurements are: 20 1/2”x16 1/2”. - $1,500.00

LayAway is available - if this is for you, just email for details.

1899-8498) HOUDINIs 1919 PressBook for his movie: "THE GRIM GAME".

The ReproCopy, offered here, was made from the ONLY KNOWN ORIGINAL COPY of this PressBook - now residing at the Robert Somerdin Collection, in Florida.

The PressBook measures 11"x17" and contains 24 PACKED pages (12 sheets printed on both sides) of information.

The PressBook is on Premium #4 grade, 20lb. copy bond paper. I used an Ivory colored paper, so the appearance would appear more Authentic, than just having a copy on boring White Paper. - And, since the Original has Color on the Cover, I have reproduced the Cover IN COLOR, to try and make this as Authentic looking as possible.

Please click the link below for a detailed description of the PressBook:

www.GranHoudini.net.PressBook.htm

The PressBook as been bound together by staples (10 in all) along the left edge - making it easy to read this, in a BookLike manner, instead of just having assorted loose pages. - $50.00

2120-1360) FULL-PAGE HOUDINI ADVERTISEMENT -and- THEATRE PROGRAM for the 1917-1918 New York Hippodrome Theatre.

The adv. shows a packing case, roped and being lowered over the side of a ship, with an oval insert photo of Houdini. The adv. reads:

"The World’s Most Famous Dare-Devil HOUDINI In The Submersible Iron-Bound Box Mystery. Note - it is generally conceded that it is a physical impossibility for any Human being to escape from a submerged submarine. Houdini submits this marvelous experiment as suggesting a possible solution." At the lower left corner of this adv. is: "© HOUDINI 1917."

The program shows all the acts performing in "Charles Dillingham presents "CHEER UP" A Musical Revue in 3 Cheers". Houdini appears twice on the bill. Houdini's two appearances in the programs read:

(First appearance) EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS HOUDINI. Who Offers His Latest Creation, "The Vanishing Elephant". The Most Colossal Disappearing Mystery that History Records. Dissolving into thin air, on the largest stage in the world, an elephant weighing 10,000 pounds. Before one’s very eyes, in a full blaze of light, with bewildering rapidity, this pachyderm monster suddenly eludes the vision.

(Second appearance) EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS HOUDINI. Introducing at every performance his original, uncanny and perilous feat of extrication. The Submersible Iron-Bound Box Mystery. Manacled and roped, Houdini will be nailed into an iron-bound box burdened with 300 pounds of weights, and the box lowered into a tank containing 500,000 gallons of water. The box, being perforated, will fill with water within twenty seconds. To escape drowning, Houdini must therefore release himself while submerged. A committee of investigation is invited on stage at every performance.

This was Houdini's Longest Run at any one theatre. 19 weeks, from Jan. 7th to May 18th, 1918.

These two items have been professionally Matted and Framed. The frame being of Cherry Wood with a gold inner trim next to the glass. The Houdini advertisement measures 8"x10½" and the program/bill 17"x10 1/4". The overall measurement is 34 1/2"x16 1/2". - $750.00

2121-7566) Great Bess Houdini package. All three of these pieces came from Jay Abbott’s scrapbook.

The First item is a Handwritten Signed Letter (approx. 5”x7”) to Jay. It reads: "67 Payson Ave City - Dear Jay - Thanks dear for your card, I’m surprised however - I did write you and asked you to come to me at my T shop - Glen comes often - I’m sorry but fear I cannot make your party - you know I’m a very busy and tired business lady. Gave your phone number to a French actress who needed a juvenile - but she could not reach you - do try to run over a moment to see me - there is much I would like to ask you - Lots of Love - Bess - 64 West 49th St."

The letter has been laminated, which was an acceptable practice for preserving material many years ago.

The Second item is a Newspaper Clipping having to do with the Bess’ T Room. Caption reads: "dini’sWidow Opens An Eerie Tea Room". As can be seen from the photo below, The first three letters “Hou” of Houdini’s name are missing. The clipping measures 4 1/4”x5 3/4” and is glued onto what may have been a scrapbook page. Which is good, now it’s firmer and not crumbling.

The Third, and last item, is a One-Of-Kind Photo of Bess with Jay and Anne. It measures 3 1/2”x5 3/4”. Photo shows the three standing in front of a Wonderful Car. The line in the photo (going across Jay) must be a scratch, since the photo isn’t cracked or cut.

These 3-items have all been Professionally double matted and framed together. Great content and theme. If this were a Houdini Photo, Handwritten Signed Letter and Newspaper Clipping, it would be worth many THOUSANDS of Dollars. Don’t under estimate the value of Bess’ material. - $1,000.00

2017-2299) TYPED/SIGNED LETTER BY HARDEEN

This letter is on Hardeen's personal stationery and addressed to Louis Levassor. 

Dated October 14, 1927. - $500.00

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We, at SASC, are pleased to offer a LayAway plan for those of you who would like this service. Just email for more information.

All photo's are the Copyright of Stephen A. Sparks Collectibles and may not be reproduced in any form or manner without permission of Stephen A. Sparks.