Harry Houdini Handcuff Secrets

Digital Version

The entire world was captivated by one man who could do the impossible and escape from anything. Houdini was the first, greatest, and only true jail-breaker, handcuff king, and escape artist in history.

For years, Houdini toured the world escaping from anything the public and police would restrain him in, becoming America’s first superhero and the most famous magician in the world. Earning a special place in the public’s heart, thousands of people would flock to wherever Houdini was performing even if the theaters were too packed and they couldn’t see him. When he succeeded in an especially challenging escape Houdini would be paraded through the streets on the shoulders of the public as a hero.

Houdini aging and wanting to hold his real reputation of always being able to escape began to back off from performing his escapes and challenges.

To scorch the earth for all his imitators he wrote Handcuff Secrets which revealed many secrets on escaping handcuffs and restraints.

Read how Houdini formulated some of his amazing escapes in his own words!

1909, George Routledge & Sons, London; later reprinted by Magico Magazine, New York; 110 pages.

Preface

I. Introductory

II. Opening Sealed Handcuffs

III. Blunders of some Handcuff Exposers

IV. Fake or Spoof Manacle

V. American Manacles

VI. French Letter Cuff

VII. Lock Pickers

VIII. Safe-Opening Micrometer

IX. Skeleton Keys

X. Cologne Police Sued for Libel

XI. More Lock-Picking Implements

XII. Strait-Jacket Release

XIII. Method of Escape

XIV. Historical Lock-Picking Contests, with James Sargent as the Centre Figure

XV. Handcuffs and their Keys

Steven Warburton

Previously practicing magician and escape artist, transitioned to Magic Collector for the last 40+ years. In applying an extended hobby of web design and online marketing, Steven Warburton has developed many business related sites and eCommerce sites. Core profession for the last 40 years has been in the Telecommunications / Broadband arena actively working as an executive for a well known Internet/Broadband provider for the United States.