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Houdini claimed, and many still believe, that he invented and was the first to do the challenge handcuff act. However as early as 1877 a man named George Everett was advertising this feat as well as an “iron cage escape”. Everett was a medium/ spiritualist performing the “old trick” standards such as a spirit cabinet. However an advertisement for his performance in Charlotte NC on January 11, 1877 also included this:
HANDCUFF TEST!! Five Hundred Dollars Reward for the four pair of Handcuffs to hold him THE IRON CAGE TEST Which confounded all scientific men and a standing challenge of $10,000 that this feat cannot be duplicated by any slight-of-hand performance or any living mortal.
So how does one escape from any pair of handcuffs?Many who study or perform the art use a variety of different ways to accomplish this feat, these will remain a secert much as a magician does not reveal their trick of the trade, the answer you seek is: with the key that belongs to that pair of handcuffs ( this is not a put on, it is the answer!) ;-)
