Mick--what do you think of this?

Daily Mirror
Carmelite Street, E. C.

Dated: March 21, 1904

Houdini Hurt
By Malicious Remarks About His Latest Feat.

Yesterday Mr. Houdini came to this office in a state of some indignation.
I want to make a challenge, he said. You challenged me. Now I challenge the world. And he handed in the following document, to which we gladly give prominence:

A Challenge To The World
London Hippodrome, March 20, 1904

To Whom It May Concern!

Since my success in mastering the celebrated Daily Mirror Handcuff it has come to my knowledge that certain disappointed, skeptical persons have made use of most unjust remarks against the result of last Thursday's contest.

In particular, one person has had the brazen audacity to proclaim himself able to open the Mirror Handcuff in two minutes.

Such being the case, I hereby challenge any mortal being to open the Mirror Handcuff in the same space of time that I did. I will allow him the full use of both hands; also any instrument or instruments, barring the actual key. The cuff must not be broken or spoilt. Should he succeed, I will forfeit 100 guineas.

Furthermore, it has reached my ears that people are saying that at the contest I slipped one hand before undoing the Mirror Handcuff. I now agree to forfeit a further sum of 25 guineas to anyone who can pick the handcuff within twenty-four consecutive hours with one hand locked in the manacle.

Should anyone accept these challenges, with above simple conditions, they must agree to make the test in my presence.

Harry Houdini

Mr. Houdini, who brought with him the famous wrestler Georges Hackenschmidtto protect me, he explained, with a twinkle in his eyecomplainant bitterly of the false and spiteful things that are always said about any successful man.
You treated me fair, he said; I wish everyone would. But I think that'll lock up their jaws. It's clear and straight enough, isn't it?
He was assured that daylight could not be clearer, and took his leave with a more cheerful countenance. Now for the people who have been opening that handcuff with their mouths. Let them come forward and do it with their fingers.

Thanks for posting that Pat. This episode does ring a distant bell in my mind, but I can't recall where or when I heard it. I don't think there was ever any record of anyone taking up Houdini's challenge, but knowing what we know about the locking mechanism in the Mirrior Cuffs, I am sure he was on a safe bet!

I once worked it out that if the cuffs had just one Bramah style lock (they had 2) you would need to pick it 36 times just to get the lock to turn one revolution. It is well known that the key needed to be turned at least 6 times before the cuff unlocked, so 36 x 6 = 216 picking operations.

As the Mirror Cuff has 2 Bramah style locks, and the second lock had 8 sliding tumblers, this required more work. 64 operations for one revolution, so 84 x 6 = 504.

So if the lock was to be picked, it would need 720 picking operations. I may have my math a little wrong here, but you get the idea.

I am always amazed at where you dig up these nuggets of information Pat! Thanks

Daily Mirror
Carmelite Street, E. C.

Dated: March 21, 1904

Houdini Hurt
By Malicious Remarks About His Latest Feat.

Yesterday Mr. Houdini came to this office in a state of some indignation.
I want to make a challenge, he said. You challenged me. Now I challenge the world. And he handed in the following document, to which we gladly give prominence:

A Challenge To The World
London Hippodrome, March 20, 1904

To Whom It May Concern!

Since my success in mastering the celebrated Daily Mirror Handcuff it has come to my knowledge that certain disappointed, skeptical persons have made use of most unjust remarks against the result of last Thursday's contest.

In particular, one person has had the brazen audacity to proclaim himself able to open the Mirror Handcuff in two minutes.

Such being the case, I hereby challenge any mortal being to open the Mirror Handcuff in the same space of time that I did. I will allow him the full use of both hands; also any instrument or instruments, barring the actual key. The cuff must not be broken or spoilt. Should he succeed, I will forfeit 100 guineas.

Furthermore, it has reached my ears that people are saying that at the contest I slipped one hand before undoing the Mirror Handcuff. I now agree to forfeit a further sum of 25 guineas to anyone who can pick the handcuff within twenty-four consecutive hours with one hand locked in the manacle.

Should anyone accept these challenges, with above simple conditions, they must agree to make the test in my presence.

Harry Houdini

Mr. Houdini, who brought with him the famous wrestler Georges Hackenschmidtto protect me, he explained, with a twinkle in his eyecomplainant bitterly of the false and spiteful things that are always said about any successful man.
You treated me fair, he said; I wish everyone would. But I think that'll lock up their jaws. It's clear and straight enough, isn't it?
He was assured that daylight could not be clearer, and took his leave with a more cheerful countenance. Now for the people who have been opening that handcuff with their mouths. Let them come forward and do it with their fingers.

Click to expand...

Hi, Mick,
I stumbled on the clipping on AskAlexander while I was looking for something else.
I thought this would interest you. This handcuff was Houdini's baby. I don't know for sure who made it for him. Froggatt is the the best bet and, of course, finding that connection was your doing.
But aside from his absolute confidence in the mechanism, the suggestion that he had slipped one hand--that's a red herring to divert attention from the real secret--whatever that was--but, I still think he could slip that cuff.
The "Mirror Representative" looks like Harry Day to me. He's wearing a hairpiece.
Photos of Harry Day show he was quite bald.
And I think I know who "Jacques Boudini" was.
http://www.houdinisghost.com/boudinihicks.html

Daily Mirror
Carmelite Street, E. C.

Dated: March 21, 1904

Houdini Hurt
By Malicious Remarks About His Latest Feat.

Yesterday Mr. Houdini came to this office in a state of some indignation.
I want to make a challenge, he said. You challenged me. Now I challenge the world. And he handed in the following document, to which we gladly give prominence:

A Challenge To The World
London Hippodrome, March 20, 1904

To Whom It May Concern!

Since my success in mastering the celebrated Daily Mirror Handcuff it has come to my knowledge that certain disappointed, skeptical persons have made use of most unjust remarks against the result of last Thursday's contest.

In particular, one person has had the brazen audacity to proclaim himself able to open the Mirror Handcuff in two minutes.

Such being the case, I hereby challenge any mortal being to open the Mirror Handcuff in the same space of time that I did. I will allow him the full use of both hands; also any instrument or instruments, barring the actual key. The cuff must not be broken or spoilt. Should he succeed, I will forfeit 100 guineas.

Furthermore, it has reached my ears that people are saying that at the contest I slipped one hand before undoing the Mirror Handcuff. I now agree to forfeit a further sum of 25 guineas to anyone who can pick the handcuff within twenty-four consecutive hours with one hand locked in the manacle.

Should anyone accept these challenges, with above simple conditions, they must agree to make the test in my presence.

Harry Houdini

Mr. Houdini, who brought with him the famous wrestler Georges Hackenschmidtto protect me, he explained, with a twinkle in his eyecomplainant bitterly of the false and spiteful things that are always said about any successful man.
You treated me fair, he said; I wish everyone would. But I think that'll lock up their jaws. It's clear and straight enough, isn't it?
He was assured that daylight could not be clearer, and took his leave with a more cheerful countenance. Now for the people who have been opening that handcuff with their mouths. Let them come forward and do it with their fingers.

Click to expand...

Most informative , Thanks for posting guys

MICHAEL LEE