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Have you seen these kind of cuffs before?

12 visible archived posts · 12 preserved total · topic ID 869

Apache 24 Aug 2005

Hi to all. This is my first post here.

I just bought cuffs (without key), that I haven't seen in any books or websites. Anybody know what these are? They aren't swing throughs and pawl is in two pieces.

Link to pictures:
http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/jaritap ... /cuffs.htm

Jari
Finland

Steve Santini 24 Aug 2005

Hi,

I don't know the proper name of these but they are likely Finnish or Russian in origin.

I have seen this type of cuff before and it is quite rare.

An identical pair is on display in the Hills Brothers Lock and Restraint collection at the Hills Bros Locksmithing firm in California.

Steve Santini

Joe Lauher 24 Aug 2005

Jari
Welcome to the Forum.

Your cuff is very interesting. I have never seen one like it.

The internal self closing lever is quite unique.

Joe

larho01 24 Aug 2005

Hello Jari,

Welcome to the Forum, it's very nice to meet another Scandinavian collector.
Very nice and unusual cuffs!

Finland is very close to Sweden but our languages are quite different.
Have you ever heard of the Finnish escape artist (Kahlekuningas) Timo Tuomivaara? According to rumors, he had a great collection of vintage handcuffs and other restraints. Do you know anything about what happend to his collection after his death?

Regards,

Lars

http://www.holstcollection.com/

Steve Santini 26 Aug 2005

To my knowledge, Timo is still alive.

I did much trading with Timo through his friend, who is also a magician, Henry.

Steve Santini

larho01 26 Aug 2005

Hi Steve,

According to this web site he died in August last year.
http://www.jaritapanainen.com/miekannie ... elijat.htm

Cheers,

Lars

Ian Mccoll 26 Aug 2005

Hi Lars, if it's the same Timo, I sold him a pair of my replica French handcuff with letter lock. Maybe it's still in the collection.

Ian

larho01 26 Aug 2005

Hi Ian,

It must be the same man. Timo Tuomivaara was said to be a great escape artist and born in Finland 1938. According to my information he had a great collection of vintage handcuffs and padlocks. The big question is; what happend to his huge collection after his death in August last year?
I have mailed Jari to check out.

Lars

Apache 26 Aug 2005

Thank you for the info Steve and thanks for welcoming to forum Joe. This is great place.

Lars, Timo Tuomivaara was my mentor so I knew him very well. Timo died August 3. 2004 to heart failure. He sold his handcuff and restraint collection to Finnish Spy Museum. Museum are going to make tour around Finland with the collection.

Ian, to my knowledge magician Timo Kulmakko bought the French Letter cuffs from you. They were given as a present from Finnish Magic Circle to Tuomivaara at his 60th birthday.

I'm planning to make section about Tuomivaara to my webpages www.jaritapanainen.com in future.

Thanks for email Lars, I answer soon.

Jari

Ian McColl 26 Aug 2005

#10

Hi Jari, thank you, I remember them being purchase for a special event. Thank you for the details.

Ian

Apache 05 Sep 2005

#11

What could be value of these cuffs (look the first post of this topic)?

Jari
www.jaritapanainen.com

van Axe 29 Nov 2005

#12

Tuomivaaras collection is indeed Spy Museums property these days. Unfortunatelu the exhibition is NOT available to audience anymore.