tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post1626828745012418874..comments2024-03-28T08:03:31.442-07:00Comments on WILD ABOUT HARRY: Is this a lost Houdini escape device?John Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-55526084031935208782014-01-03T16:47:02.756-08:002014-01-03T16:47:02.756-08:00Updated with the Cylindrical Cross illustrations.Updated with the Cylindrical Cross illustrations.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-54348501782587952852014-01-03T16:33:13.166-08:002014-01-03T16:33:13.166-08:00You know, the "Cylindrical Cross" came t...You know, the "Cylindrical Cross" came to my mind as well, Steve. (Houdini's Escapes and Magic, page 287.) There are striking similarities. Maybe I should have mentioned this.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-66661446176457551812014-01-03T16:20:46.752-08:002014-01-03T16:20:46.752-08:00Thanks for pointing that out, Steve ("gibbet ...Thanks for pointing that out, Steve ("gibbet irons," rather than "Eiserne Jungfrau"). If you had not, I would have.<br />Interesting gadget, though; a bit similar in concept to Houdini's sketches for a "tubular cross" escape.Steve Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16742799704843228710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-49900546732353829852014-01-02T23:45:15.850-08:002014-01-02T23:45:15.850-08:00He's looking. Hasn't found anything yet.He's looking. Hasn't found anything yet.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-22810208943830779742014-01-02T22:42:59.322-08:002014-01-02T22:42:59.322-08:00I wonder if Michael has located any paper work on ...I wonder if Michael has located any paper work on this escape. Perhaps his father left behind a bill of sale, and instructions for it. A paper trail might be able to provide answers.Leo Hevianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-84792091671915107202014-01-02T13:11:39.106-08:002014-01-02T13:11:39.106-08:00Fantastic. Thank you very much, Vince. This is ver...Fantastic. Thank you very much, Vince. This is very helpful info.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-84388830361826220142014-01-02T13:01:24.842-08:002014-01-02T13:01:24.842-08:00Hi John, Thanks for sharing the link on HC,org, St...Hi John, Thanks for sharing the link on HC,org, Steve's correct about the welds. While electric resistance welding was indeed around in the very early 1900's, it wasn't something widespread in use by the average craftsperson/tradesman/fabricator until sometime after WWII. The chains are certainly of a style that would have been around in his day, in fact they were used on padlocks as Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-19261062489053735612014-01-01T19:55:45.578-08:002014-01-01T19:55:45.578-08:00Ah, thanks for the correction, Steve. I've alw...Ah, thanks for the correction, Steve. I've always called the Scotland device an "Iron Maiden" because that's what people call it today, but I see that gibbet is correct term for both that and what we have here.<br /><br />Good point about the welding.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-18368911323880615272014-01-01T19:50:34.688-08:002014-01-01T19:50:34.688-08:00Modern electric welding was not something very com...Modern electric welding was not something very common in Harry's day. Neither this nor the "Gibbet" Houdini was allegedly challenged to escape from in Scotland are "Iron Maidens." The "Iron Maiden" was a fictional torture/execution instrument dreamt up in the 1800's by a director of a torture exhibition in Nuremburg, Germany. For further info on the hoax thatSteve Santinihttp://www.santinicentral.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-5876840507344956242014-01-01T19:31:37.351-08:002014-01-01T19:31:37.351-08:00I'm now looking at the chains. They appear to ...I'm now looking at the chains. They appear to be linked via twist tie. Were those around before 1926?John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-89824179799218452442014-01-01T16:45:05.919-08:002014-01-01T16:45:05.919-08:00Can you tell how modern the hinges are? Post 1926?...Can you tell how modern the hinges are? Post 1926?John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-64064605711741495602014-01-01T16:08:14.915-08:002014-01-01T16:08:14.915-08:00There are store bought hinges welded on it, it'...There are store bought hinges welded on it, it's modern.Cuffgurunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4732721553418878547.post-40256360171140487652014-01-01T13:18:22.051-08:002014-01-01T13:18:22.051-08:00Here's a question. Do we know if Houdini made ...Here's a question. Do we know if Houdini made the Copperfield Iron Maiden or whether it was a real Iron Maiden that HH was challenged with in 1909 and then kept? It certainly looks to be authentic. This one appears to be an attempt at a "modern" design. I'm also wondering if this one had a lower attachment of some kind that was lost.John Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391313393222271260noreply@blogger.com