Joe Lauher
#1The Forum at Handcuffs.Org
Want to see something very cool?
7 visible archived posts · 7 preserved total · topic ID 962
The Amazing Michael
#2Beautiful piece of work! Thanks for posting this Joe! I never realized that the lock in the original Mirror cuffs was a set of "nested" Brahmn cylinders acting as one lock. The describtions of the locking mechinism, in print, are a bit misleading. Anyway, beautiful piece of work.
Cheers, Mike
Cheers, Mike
Ian McColl
#3Thanks for the photo Joe, Mick Hanzlik has done a fine job on his key, good to see craftsmanship like that still around.
Amazing Michael, the inner working of the Mirror handcuff appears to be nothing more that a cylinder controled darby mechanism. The complexity of the cuff is derived from the "nested" cylinder. A term coined by Mr Bill Liles who wrote an excellent article on the Mirror handcuff challenge for the Houdini Historical Centre (1993?)
The key is turned approx 9 times to unlock and the handcuff snap closes just like a darby.
Ian
The Amazing Michael
#4Ian, thanks for the info! Have you ever thought about making a pair of Mirror cuffs with this exact type of cylinder in them?
Cheers, Mike
Ian McColl
#5Hi Michael, I make a Mirror reproduction handcuff with a regular Bramah (7 slider), I also make one with a subsitute cam mechanism as the Bramah cylinder is very expensive. I have made one only model that is as close as one can get to the original handcuff and both key and cylinder, it was a special ordered piece. I made mine from photographs and the description in Patrick Cullitons book on Houdini, I showed it to both Patrick and Bill (as above) and both agreed it was very close.
Ian
PS both model reproductions can be order thru Cannon's Great Escapes.
The Amazing Michael
#6Ian, I know that both versions of your Mirror Cuff are available through Cannon, the Brahmn 7-slider version has been on my Christmas wish list for several years now. But, come to think of it....so has the Hamburg 8, the Palmers, and the Russian Manacle too. Maybe you can help me talk Kellie into putting one of these under the Christmas tree this year!!! Let's help each other!!! LOL!
P.S. How much did you charge to make the pair that was closest to the original? If I ever become independently wealthy, I will have you make me one!
Cheers, Mike
Ian Mccoll
#7Hi Mike, when you become wealthy, talk to me then. (LOL)
The work involved nevers gets the return it needs, so I couldn't see myself making one in the short term.
Ian