The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-30
THROWING OFF FET7ERS;
some TRICKS USED

lish regulation cuffs can be opened.
Ihls fake" is nothing more than tiny
steel tube, tapered, with a wire fitted
through the center. To open the irons
the end is thrust into the lock, and the
spiral lock spring caught with the
longest end of the tube and then
pulled outward. 1t is quite an easy
matter to open cuffs and irons by this
device. OF late new regulation key
has been adopted in England, having
the thread on the outside instead of
the inside. The fake" will be found
TO open almost any cuff having even
this new Improvement they key being
simply pushed home until it accommo
date the thread of the particular cuff
used.
1t must be borne in mind that hand
cuffs are of various makes, but that
every cuff of certain make is the
same, so that the same regulation key
will open all of them. Consequently
the same means may be relied upon to
open all of them. A new and ingenious
fake has recently been devised, by
means of which the majority of regula-
tion handouts and legirons, fitted
with powerful springs, can be opened.
A key is known as "master-key"
when it will unlock two or more hand.
cuffs, padlocks or any other form of
lock. Houdin, the noted magician, de-
vised an ingenious master-key, with
which he was enabled to open almost
any regulation handcuff of the English
make. 1t is composed of a regular key
forced open more or less to accommo-
date the size OF the thread in the lock
| presented. Three or four split keys of
this variety, of different sizes, fastened
| together upon a common framework
would enable the performer to escape
from almost any English regulation
cuff presented to him. A specially long
| key, and key having a left-handed
thread, may also be included in the
performers outfit.
Considering the various makes of
handouts and release therefrom, it
may be we'll to describe first of all
one known as the bean handcuff."
This is cuff of American make, which
when first patented was considered
exceptionally safe. 1t is exceedingly
difficult for the performer to reach the
keyhole of these cuffs with the key
when once they have been fastened up
on him. Yet in presenting this trick
the performer not only has no duplf
cate key, but even allows the keyholes
to be seaed, thereby showing that no
release in this case is effected by
means of novel device. This is in
serted into the lock, and being pressed
home, forces back the sprngcatch.
The catch being forced back, it can
be slipped open amost instantaneously
and the release is effected. This is a
trick that usually interests the audi
ence, and one frequently done because
of the effect presented in allowing the
keyholes to be sealed.
The bean cuff must not be con.
founded with the bean giant which
in many respects is the safest and
most perfect handcuff ever devised II
this cuff he locked upon the wrists
with the keyhoe away from the fin
gers it is impossible to open it, even
with the aid of the key The performer
generally produces decided impress
sion by locking the cuffs upon some
member of the committee, giving him
the key and asking him to unlock him
self. 1t will be found impossible to dc
so. In order to open the cuffs curl
ous instrument must be employed II
consists of long strip of metal, to the
end of which a key similar to the orig
inal is fastened, though of finer make
When the performer enters his cabi
net he gets possession of this meta
strip, and holding the broad end of II
beneath his teeth, he inserts the key
into the lock, and by this means opens
the keyhole away from the body they
may be forced on to a key fastened IN
the woodwork of the stage, in the cabi
net, or held in some secure position
and opened by being turned upon the
key. Another important point is thai
these cuffs will not be properly locked
until the two small knobs above ant
below the keyhole are pressed home
A very ingenious and complicated
cuff, known as the figure s" or plus
s" handcuff, has also been invented
The cuffs having been closed upon the
wrists, they are fastened by means oi
a small screw or plug which is firmly
screwed into the lock. In order to op
en- these cuffs it is necessary to un
| h., nj, tA In q la