Mark Lyons Pictures from the Radner Auction

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Joe and Mark,
Thanks for putting the photos up for those of us who couldn't attend. Do any frequent forum visitors know much about "The Famous Guiteau Handcuffs", aside from the key-within-a-key lock and their overall similarity to the Rankin?

By the way, years ago, when the Appleton exhibit first came about, the cuffs were on the diplay board, and I got a chance to see them many times through the glass. For the past couple of years, though, they were gone, only their outline remained on the red cloth. I often wondered if they had been sold earlier.

Best, Paul

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

First, my thanks to the generosity of Mark & Shiela Cannon.
They picked me up at the airport, drove me to and from the auction, and basically made the trip possible for me.
Thanks to Cannonsgreatescapes!!
The auction was indeed wonderful. I am both a Houdini collector and handcuff collector. I was shocked that the rarer handcuffs went for cheaper prices than the common handcuffs. Overall the handcuffs went low compared to the estimates. The paper, on the other hand, went higher. Much higher. Some was borderline insane. Lots of excitement, fun, and also a certain degree of sadness in seeing such a fine collection go to the four winds. Good for all of us, but I also hope that Sid has weathered what must be a stressful time. It's hard to say goodbye to a lifetime of such historical and significant memories and pieces. For me It was GREAT spending time with Joe Fox, Mark Lyons, Fred Pitella, and Larry Weeks.
It was also fun to see many old friends in the Houdini arena again. I only wish it lasted longer. I was fortunate enough to buy a lilly iron that had been altered by Houdini to stump other escape artists. I will treasure it, but not as much as the memories of just being there.

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Mark Lyons has now submitted a very nice first hand account of the auction.
It should be of interest to all.

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Thanks very much Mark!

Joe

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Hi Mark and Joe,

thank you very much for the great report and pictures and for putting them on the site! It really must have been a great event and I am happy to get some impressions from it that way.

Best wishes,

Michael

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Like Paul, I am also curious about the Guiteau cuff. Were these part of the auction or just a display item? Now those would be an item to have, if the claim that they were indeed the cuffs worn by Garfield's assassin is true. I am surprised these are not on display at the Smithsonian or other presidential display. Quite an auction , it appears. Some people sure have more money than sense (cents)?
Tim M

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Hi. The Guiteau Cuff was for sale and it was sold. It was one of many cuffs that were mounted on a portable theatre display board. It was item # 376 and there were several other cuffs and leg irons that came along with it. The display sold for $35,000 and for the money, the winner also got a pair of Palmers, Maltby, Puzzle Lock leg iron, a pair of nippers, Brass Letter Lock, Darby cuff, an interesting handmade scissor cuff, and the Utrecht Prison cuff. John Bushey, located an old photo that showed the original theatre board that Houdini would put in front of the lobby doors to generate some interest to his show. The board looked old enough to be from the turn of the century, especially the backside. Joe Fox remembers this to be constructed and used for the Tony Curtis movie. It is hard to say if this was the actual Guiteau cuff but my best guess is that it probably was. Anyone have any other info? m

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Hi Mark and all. I found the pictures of that board in a 1939 hardeen issue of sphinx it is the same board. I have not seen that same board in houdinis pics.
also one of the pieces that is no longer on the board is a hoyt weisner.

I bought one of the romer legirons
best to all
PS Ian, I too would like one of the #61 handcuffs too that you made and sold to radner (kidding)

Mark took some nice pictures of the auction.
I put them on a new web page for you all to see.

Joe

http://www.handcuffs.org/radner/

Hi. It seems as though there were at least 2 Guiteau cuffs in the Houdini collection. Gordon Gluff corrected me by pointing out that in Houdini's book Handcuff Secrets, the real Guiteau cuff is pictured. The cuff finally ended up in Dr. Wresh's collection and was pictured in that book as well. There are some differences between the Wresh cuff and the one that sold with the display. I have not looked at the pictures yet to find out exactly what the differences are, but Gordon said that they are distinguishable . Now that I think about it, it would make perfect sense to put the lesser handcuff on a display board that would be put outside or in a theatre lobby and keep the historic one in a safe place.