Ian McColl's #61 Handcuff

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Well i am glad you dident take the advice of others and use the axe to open the box...this is a beautiful reproduction of this cuff..Hats off to Ian for the hard work that went into this beautiful piece.I want one of these now!!Thanks joe for sharing this with us...

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hi Ian...

My compliments on an excellent job, my friend. Again, you out shine the rest !

~Rick~

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Dear Joe, thanks for getting the box the box open (at last)
Even I was getting excited about the reveal.

I started making reproduction and replica handcuffs many years ago because I couldn't afford some of the rare authentic ones. I certainly didn't have the money for this one.

Thanks to the assistance of others who were at the auction and were able to supply photos for me to work off. It was certainly a labour of love and I felt like the original maker for a while. I think I had to go through all the same problems and concerns he did while making the it. It took me three attempted to duplicate the lock on top.

At this stage, cuffs serial numbered 8 and 9 are ready for sale.

If you are interested in this rare piece of houdini history please contact me at
imccoll@sympac.com.au

Thanks for the other comments above as well.

Regards

Ian

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Ian, you are the man! Wow! What a beautiful set of cuffs! Did I mention that you are the man? How much are these little beauties going to set us back? I would sure love to see those hanging on my wall! Mike

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

I was very excited to see Joe finally opened his box. I got mine open about a week ago. Ian, WORK-of-ART is the only thing that comes to mind. It is beautiful. Works great.
VERY VERY close to the original in every respect. How you do it is the best mystery!

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Now that you have all seen pictures of the original and the McColl version of this fascinating handcuff, I would like to ask for your theories about who made the original.

In particular, have you European collectors ever seen a cuff like this?

thanks
Joe

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hi Joe, my theory is that the cuff was certainly a prototype. The lock could have been designed better in the original idea to allow for the cuff to hinge open or closed without the need for the stop pin. The groove in the lock case seems to be an after thought, to allow one of the bows to pass the lock , so they could be folded and closed in a compact position.

This is a great question and I also would like to hear the theories of others.

regards

Ian

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Wow, glad that the question of what was in the box has been solved.

The next question I have is how was the box constructed?

Howy

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Could it be a prototype for the Hamburg 8?
Stan
PS: I love my #61 also.

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Has anyone ever seen the inside workings of the original? Could it possibly have markings on one or more of the pieces inside that could help identify it?

Just a thought...

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

As Stan mentioned could it be an H8? They may have realized it was to expensive to make, hence the production model.

A high security H8 prototype?

OR

Could it fall along the lines of the "Seance," "Russian," Mirror," "Bell" cuffs but was never used by Houdini in a "Challenge?"

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

I agree with the Hamburg 8 theroy. This might have been a prototype of the next generation of Hamburg 8 cuffs. The adjustable bows might have been a way to improve the Hamburg's one shortcoming...(non-adjustability). Every thing about this cuff seems to point to German craftsmanship, but the things that Ian mentioned about the afterthought features would point to this cuff being in the early stages of the enginering process. Did I mention before that this is a beautiful set of cuffs and that Ian is the man? Mike

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hi Joe,

no, I have never seen another cuff like this. So if it is really from Germany, it may be everything but common! In case that I should ever manage to buy an original of this model here at home, I will post a message!

Regards from blue-white Bavaria,
Guenter aka Atame
www.atame.info

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hello everybody,

today, after five months of waiting (thank you very much to the postal service!) I finally received my #61 handcuff from Iam McColl. I am happy to say that I already have several items from Ian in my collection and all of them are extremely well made, but the #61 from my point of view is his absolute master piece!

Thank you very much Ian, and best wishes to all of you!



Michael

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hi Michael, I am glad they got to you far quicker than your order and other stuff that came to me.

Do you have any theories on what the age, country and design of the original #61 handcuff based on what the replica looks like? Some are suggesting German and the fore runner to the Hamburg eight.

all the best

Ian

It was a lot of work to get the box open, but it was worth the trouble. I now have a beautiful #61 Handcuff from Ian McColl.

In October 2004 the Sidney Radner Great Houdini Auction was held in Las Vegas. A report of the auction was contributed to this web site by Mark Lyons. ( http://handcuffs.org/radner/ ) One of the highlights of the auction (lot #61) was a very unusual folding handcuff, said to be from Germany.



(Photograph of the original #61 cuff by John Bushey)

This handcuff remains a mystery. No one seems to know where it came from or who made it. It is the only example known and may be a prototype of a cuff never put into production. The auction sale price was $18,250 including the commission. So the original cuff is likely to remain out of the reach of almost all of us.

So where do we turn when we can't have an orginal? We turn to Australia's master craftsman, Ian McColl. Ian has recreated the #61 handcuff and it is a work of art that rivals the original.



(The Ian McColl version).

Congratulations to Ian for a job well done.

Joe

More pictures can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/mccoll/

Click to expand...

Hello again,

in fact I have never come across a cuff like this before I saw the #61 in the Radner-Houdini auction. The configuration of the cuff (can be opened without the key when folded and locks when stretched) resembles the Hamburg 8, but handling the lock somehow also Berliner cuffs come to my mind, as these also have a singular lock case with two pawls that release by using a double bitted key. I really hope that sooner or later another example of this handcuff (hopefully with some stampings) or some old catalogue will turn up to solve this mistery.


Best wishes,


Michael