Houdini shines in this book. Handcuffs are his passion. He knows every little detail about them and every nuance in their mechanism. Houdini was not a particular good magician, but as an escape artist he is still unsurpassed. Thus, if you would like to know more about handcuffs and their inner workings, this book is for you.

1st edition, 1909, George Routledge & Sons, London; later reprinted by Magico Magazine, New York; 110 pages.

Table of Contents

page
Preface
I.Introductory
II.Opening Sealed Handcuffs
III.Blunders of some Handcuff Exposers
IV.Fake or Spoof Manacle
V.American Manacles
VI.French Letter Cuff
VII.Lock Pickers
VIII.Safe-Opening Micrometer
IX.Skeleton Keys
X.Cologne Polic Sued for Libel
XI.More Lock-Picking Implements
XII.Strait-Jacket Release
XIII.Method of Escape
XIV.Historical Lock-Picking Contests, with James Sargent as the Centre Figure
XV.Handcuffs and their Keys