Jim Stewart

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

All I can tell you is that I met him in NYC in the mid-1970s...he was there to negotiate opening up a New York City "Fetters" store.

I'm sure that other people here can provide you with much more updated information about him.

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Joshua---Quite a while ago I had a thread trying to identify an escape artist. There were a lot of comments and the search led me to Jim Stewart. You can go through the complete thread but here is the input by Jim.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/m ... 60/Lurking

The thread starts at the beginning here

http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/m ... ape+Artist

Hope this gives you the information you are looking for.

Ron

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Last I heard he is alive and well but he is somewhat retired from my last email exchange with him, who knows, he might even be reading this thread. A nickname for him is Mr. Fetters, and he is many things as the company "Fetters" is still in business. He is also an author as he has written and published several books of which I have a copy of one that he gave me. He is certainly a gentleman and a scholar! I would consider him one of the pioneers over in the UK.

http://www.fetters.co.uk/store/fetters/about-us-eu
http://www.fetters.co.uk/store/fetters/publications

Fetters products are also sold here in the USA.

http://sj.blacksteel.com/jim/jim-stewart.html

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Jim made your irons.

They seem too heavy and hand forged to be a "Fetters" made restraint.

I have had many early Fetters restraints over the years including his early "Kidd" iron models and they have all been of a lighter weight.

S.S.

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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MR STEWART is a very nice fellow & has worked very hard over the years..... to some of you, your reference to MR. STEWART being called MR. F is may be correct, but for most of us OLDER collectors he is known as MR. -- S -- ....

i hope that it is ok if i post a couple of photos below.... i have several old catalogs etc of the FETTERS & MR. S products that i will be selling on EBAY down the road...... joe

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Hi Joshua, I don't belive Jim made your kidd irons, Jim's irons were better finished and the angle of the wrist cuff bend at the straight is much sharper with Jim's products.

Chris Gower used to work for Jim Stewart and should be able to give you more info.

Ian

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Jim Stewart is retired, but still active on the web. His website is listed below.
I have many Jim Stewart items in my "software" collection and at least one in my "hardware" collection.
Joe

http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Okay then Mr. Tanner, who is Jim Hunter? And what is or was his relationship with Mr. Stewart?

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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okay anon456 what relationship are you to 455 and 457??

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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ANON - just stay anon... i know, but guess you don't as you did not get the hint above in my photos....

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Maybe we should just let Mr. Jim Stewart settle it for us... Afterall, he's the one that has or had a business relationship with Jim Hunter...

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Thanks all for the responses. I tried to avoid the Kidd Iron subject as it was just the individual that I was interested in knowing about. However, I got alot more than I would have hoped. Thanks Joe for the contact as it will appear easy enough to just ask the man himself if he did indeed make my rigid cuffs.
I have in fact seen photos of one very very similiar to mine thanks to Mr. Tanner and Santini. There are slight differences as Ian pointed out as well the markings are quite different. It has been stated that Jim made several fantastic reproductions of cuffs and locks (Ive seen them and they are quite remarkable). If the rigid cuff is a "reproduction" then it must be based off an original. At best, my cuff is just that...at worst I have well made rigid cuff from a good craftsman. It's kind of a win win I reckon.

Thanks again guys,
Joshua

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Jim Stewart is an old buddy of mine and our association goes back to the early days of his "Fetters" business. I spoke to him earlier this year and he's on good form. I think he's enjoying a slightly quieter life in his so-called retirement but he's still very active with his website - Joe has already provided the link. BTW it's a great site, but a word of warning - allow yourself plenty of time, there's a heck of a lot of material there!

And a small point for Ian - I think it's probably more correct to say that Chris Gower worked WITH Jim rather than for him in those early days.

So enjoy Jim's site but remember to allow yourself plenty of time in order to do it justice. And I'm sure that Jim would be pleased to hear from friends - old and new - through his site.

Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Centre of England

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Okay, I had email Mr. Stewart and he email me back and asked me to post here for him.

Dorson,
I'd appreciate it if you'd copy any of the above to the forum or discussion group at Handcuffs.org or wherever you found it.

My net skills are not really very good. I now discovered that there is more than one e-address on Houdini-connections. I need to comb through every page looking for links.

What I really need is somebody who knows the Dreamweaver software. Since I got a new computer I have not been able to update web pages.

Cheers for now - Jim.


Here's what he asked me to post here.

It looks like many of the people who knew where Jim Stewart figures in the history of both handcuff collectors and the general availability of restraints in the fetish market, are now dead.
It is time somebody wrote an historical time-line, because before 1975 it was virtually impossible to find such items for sale. In Britain, for a time handcuffs were available in ex-government surplus stores. Sale of handcuffs was then made technically illegal for a while.

In Britain even in the fetish market, seriously efficient restraints were not available in the early Seventies. When the original MISTER S (Alan Selby) was unable to fill my order when I went to him for an efficient strait-jacket, (as distinct from a stage magicians version designed for easy escape) this was outside his understanding. Somebody should investigate the major Fetish/bondage catalogues before the advent of FETTERS.
Because Alan S declined to make a jacket to my design - I made it myself. At the same time, I personally persuaded British handcuff manufacturers HIATTS to not only sell me current models, but also recreate discontinued lines from an early time. That's how FETTERS was born.

The original FETTERS catalogue (1978) opened the doors and minds to the pleasures of 'Restrictive Practices', and key articles from that early publication are still on line at
http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/4- ... etters.htm
This page of the Houdini-connections web site remains 'under construction' because I feel that somebody else should write it.
There is another page titled "Where Jim Stewart is 'at'" =
http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/4- ... %20jim.htm

I opted out of serious handcuff collecting around the time Prince Wheeler (Joe Tanner's father-in-law) died, and I sold off Hiatt's own collection before that Company was forced to re-invent itself in the late Seventies (for that story Chris Gower is your man).
When the emphasis shifted to mainstream fetish and bondage with the joining of FETTERS USA with MISTER S.INC., it was the beginning of my withdrawal from the Scene.
Since the genuine FETTERS.INC ceased to exist in the USA in 1990, and I handed on FETTERS INTERNATIONAL to the current owners (see
http://www.fetters.co.uk/ ) I have enjoyed building a massive archive of related material on my web sitehttp://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/

This is half a million words and hundreds of photos which explore many different aspects of a complicated network of separate but related ideas. It is an archive, but also still a very active forum for discussion. This I personally act as Moderator for, frequently up-dating the Houdini-connections site with feedback from recent correspondents.
More people should know about the site (which is a nightmare to find your way around), but a rich mine of information.
Direct contact with me via e-mail = houdini-connections@live.co.uk

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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The originator of FETTERS is alive and well and living in Brighton (England)
His web site (over 300 pages relating to many different aspects of 'Restrictive Practices') is at
http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/
He is always happy to hear from old friends and make new connections with people enthusiastic about any aspect of wrapping, strapping, chaining and tying.
E-me at houdini-connections@live.co.uk
Jim Stewart.

In particular there is a web page headed 'Who the hell is Jim Stewart' at
http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/7-jim_stewart.htm

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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Jim
Welcome to the forum. Your years of expertise and boundless enthusiasm have inspired many of us over the years.

Back in the early 80s I remember spending many hours looking at the various Hiatt cuffs in one of first catalogs. I could not afford some of them, but I bought them anyway. I have bought a few (hundred) more since then.

Joe

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

Click to expand...

The originator of FETTERS is alive and well and living in Brighton (England)
His web site of over 300 pages relating to many different aspects of 'Restrictive Practices' is athttp://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/
He is always happy to hear from old friends and make new connections with people enthusiastic about any aspect of wrapping, strapping, chaining and tying.
E-me at houdini-connections@live.co.uk
Jim Stewart.

In particular there is a web page headed 'Who the hell is Jim Stewart' at
http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/7-jim_stewart.htm

The other day I placed a post in regards to the Kidd Irons. Amongst the few responses someone mentioned that they looked like fetters made by Jim Stewart. I had never heard of Mr. Stewart so I began asking around with no luck. As I'm not confident that he has nothing to do with the restraint in question...I still remain wondering who is Jim Stewart?

I have seen former posts with brief mentionings and admiration for him and his work but that's all the info I have. So, could someone educate me on who he was, is he still around, what area of collecting did he focus on, and what contributions he made to the collection world (i.e. apparently he made fetters and straight jackets)?

Thanks

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A worthy "Houdini" website. I will add it to my links. Thanks.