Houdiniana & Magic Memorabilia

[HOUDINI]. Gimmicked Hiatt Leg Irons. Heavy set of iron fetters used to restrain a prisoner by securing his legs, but this set cleverly modified for quick release without the use of a key. Length 20 ½” when fully extended; shackle diameter approximately 4 ¼”. From Ken Klosterman’s Salon de Magie, retaining the collection’s tags and identification number, and accompanied by several documents including a letter of provenance stating, “These particular handcuffs were among the 1937 restraints from the Heuber IBM collection. The collection was passed on to A.C. Brickell and then to John Morrison … I was told somewhere there is authentication that these leg irons were used by Houdini in his Detroit water jump. They are gaffed for quick release. No bolts or spring. See April 1937 Linking Ring.”