Houdini - Hardeen - A. Nugent - Richard Wresch - Radner

I recently wrote about 3 or more of the cuffs that I bought years ago that have direct provenance going back to Houdini.
Some were from the Houdini Museum in Niagara Fall, Canada, others were from Radner's Auction in Las Vegas, and some came through the Nugent/Wresch chain.

I have been doing as much research on A. Nugent and while I have not given up yet, I can only find his initial "A".  Learning his full name is escaping me for now, but this quest had me look through many newspapers and so far, I only found 3 issues where they talk about him and his " Greatest Handcuff Collection in the World".  There is not anything noteworthy that I have found yet, but his father was a cartoonist and he helped out with that.
I will include more about that later.

I will copy these news articles here, but it has been a massive amount of time and trouble to do this because the newspaper archives that I was able to find, do not allow one to save to pictures, in my computer at least.  I had to take small pieces or sections of each article and post them together to form a new modified version.
The content is all there, but I had to rearrange the sections to make one complete post.  The way they have it, one can't cut and paste the entire article since the pics are so large and the text is not squared on the page.  The text came out microscopic, otherwise.
Anyway, for future reference, here are the articles I was able to get in a format that all of you can read and enjoy!
I also included letters from Hardeen to Nugent and a letter from Nugent to Wresch.  This one is interesting.  He is giving up Houdini cuffs so he can spend more time collecting postcards and records.
To each, their own!

More on the way!


The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia) · Mon, Jun 4, 1951 · Page 21 


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The 3rd article about Nugent and his Houdini Collection.
Richmond Times Dispatch Wed   Aug 5. 1953

Great work, thank you!

Nicely done, Mark! Thanks for sharing!
-Richard Knip-

1950 Census and other sources.
Alexander Nugent, b Norfolk, Virginia (27 Aug 1891. d. 29 Dec 1976)
Locksmith (Capital Lock Shop)  31B Charles City Road, Fairfield, Henrico Co, Virginia.
2nd Wife - Jewell H. Nugent, b 1910 W Va.

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

Feb 20, 2024

1950 Census and other sources.
Alexander Nugent, b Norfolk, Virginia (27 Aug 1891. d. 29 Dec 1976)
Locksmith (Capital Lock Shop)  31B Charles City Road, Fairfield, Henrico Co, Virginia.
2nd Wife - Jewell H. Nugent, b 1910 W Va.

Thank you, Paul,
GREAT detective work, as usual!

There is an A. Nugent Senior (and Junior) who knew Houdini and authored some comic books. I found out that their names were Arthur.
This adds to the confusion.  All 3 A. Nugents were from Norfolk, Va.
The Nugent you found is definitely the one I have a connection to.
Many thanks for finding out his name and vitals!

I just found this article about Wresh showing off some goodies that he got from Nugent, in Poplar, Montana -December 16, 1960,

Mark, Thanks for sharing some of this great stuff! Nugent was sorta the enigma himself it seems. Have you seen any of these clippings? 

Shop for sale ad - local newspaper May 31st, 1954

Popular Mechanics January 1931

Ad from Hobbies Magazine ~1942


It could be possible to track his shop/home addresses up and down 3rd st. based upon stated dates thru time.


  --Vince

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Vince wrote: ↑

Feb 26, 2024

Mark, Thanks for sharing some of this great stuff! Nugent was sorta the enigma himself it seems. Have you seen any of these clippings? 
Shop for sale ad - local newspaper May 31st, 1954
Popular Mechanics January 1931
Ad from Hobbies Magazine ~1942
It could be possible to track his shop/home addresses up and down 3rd st. based upon stated dates thru time.
--Vince

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Click to expand...

Vince, VERY cool find!

I am surprised that I did not find this because I thought I was pretty extensive in my search. Then again, Paul found some census info that I have not seen.
I am trying to remember why I have a copy of a Hobbies Magazine edition that took me years to find.  I think it was regarding one of my Houdini cuffs, but I will have to figure that one out.  THX for reminding me about that and for this Nugent info!  Nugent moved from 12 North 3rd Street to 30 North 3rd Street and then to 101 North 3rd Street. (maybe in a different order), but he sure did like being on 3rd Street!  I had 3 addresses, but I had 3 different stores.
My guess was that Richmond only had one street running through it, but I have been there and know that they've had lots more.

PS, where did you search this from?  

Not sure where you got the name Arthur from unless he used it instead of his fathers name which was also Alexander.
Below are his first and second marriages. Divorced in 1941 and remarried in 1942. He has draft registration cards for WW1 and WW2. Name Alexander Nugent Jr Spouse Mary Elizabeth Sadler Birth abt 1892 Marriage 1 Jun. 1910 Pasquotank, North Carolina, USA Name
Alexander Nugent
Birth
abt 1891
Marriage
18 Apr. 1942 Richmond, Virginia, USA

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

Feb 27, 2024

Not sure where you got the name Arthur from unless he used it instead of his fathers name which was also Alexander.
Below are his first and second marriages. Divorced in 1941 and remarried in 1942. He has draft registration cards for WW1 and WW2.

Paul and all, 

I am still working on this.  The more info I find, the more confusing it gets.
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/27/arch ... -dead.html   
It seems that Houdini knew at least 4 A. Nugents,:  2 A. Nugent's from Richmont, Va. and 2 other A. Nugent Jr.'s. from Newark, N.J.

I have to work on the timelines of when each set were associated with Houdini.


From  NY Times March 27, 1975     https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/27/arch ... -dead.html

Arthur W. Nugent, who wrote and drew the syndicated “Funland” puzzle page that appeared in newspaper comic supplements for more than 45 years, died Tuesday at St. Mary's Hospital, Orange, N.J. He was 84 years old and lived in Newark.
In recent years, Mr. Nugent's son, Arthur W. Nugent Jr., had been doing the page with contributions from his father.
The feature began in 1931 in The New York World, when Mr. Nugent joined Harry Houdini; the magician, in working on the Red Magic puzzle. “Funland” is now distributed to more than 100 newspapers by the United Features Syndicate and includes puzzles, riddles, anagrams, crosswords and dot games, all presided over by “Uncle Nugent.”

Sent some info in 2 emails to both of your email addresses. At least one bounced!
Paul