Pawn Stars (2009–…): Season 3, Episode 18 - Houdini's Handcuffs - full transcript

Male announcer: ON THIS
EPISODE OF PAWN STARS...

- SO WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE?

- THESE ARE HANDCUFFS
AND LEG SHACKLES.

SUPPOSED TO BE FROM HOUDINI.

- THEY WOULD ACTUALLY
LOCK HIM UP NAKED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

- IT'S AN OLD DRINK MIXER.

- IT'S FROM THE '20s.

THIS IS REALLY COOL. SO
HOW MUCH YOU WANT FOR IT?

- CHECK, PLEASE.

- GOT SOME BUTTONS HERE FOR YOU.



THEY'RE CARTOON CHARACTERS
FROM CEREAL BOXES

50, 60 YEARS AGO.

- LOOK, THIS ONE'S
FOR YOU, WIMPY.

- CHUM, DON'T MAKE
ME KICK YOUR ASS.

- I'M RICK HARRISON, AND
THIS IS MY PAWN SHOP.

I WORK HERE WITH MY OLD
MAN AND MY SON, BIG HOSS.

EVERYTHING IN HERE
HAS A STORY AND A PRICE.

ONE THING I'VE
LEARNED AFTER 21 YEARS,

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS
GONNA COME THROUGH THAT DOOR.

WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH?

- MY BROTHER PASSED
AWAY A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THIS WAS IN A BOX IN HIS CELLAR.

THESE ARE HANDCUFFS
AND LEG SHACKLES.

SUPPOSED TO BE FROM HOUDINI.



- SWEET.

- THIS IS AMAZING.

I HAVE HAD NOTHING FROM HOUDINI.

THE GUY WAS A LEGEND.

- HE MUST HAVE BEEN
AN AMAZING MAGICIAN

TO BREAK OUT OF THESE.

- YEAH, THEY WOULD
ACTUALLY LOCK HIM UP NAKED

IN THE HANDCUFFS,

AND HE WOULD GET OUT OF THEM.

- NO PLACE TO HIDE THE KEY.

- OH, THERE'S PLACES.

- I'M COMING DOWN TO
THE PAWN SHOP TODAY

TO SEE IF I CAN SELL MY
HANDCUFFS AND SHACKLES

THAT I BELIEVE TO BE HOUDINI'S.

I WANT TO TRY TO SELL
THEM JUST FOR THE MONEY.

I THINK THEY'RE
WORTH AT LEAST $1,000,

AND I'D PROBABLY
TAKE $500 FOR THEM.

- DO YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT THEM?

- THIS PAPERWORK WAS IN THERE.

- PURCHASED AT
AUCTION OF SID RADNER.

HOUDINI COLLECTION.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS ONE OF
THE GREATEST MAGICIANS EVER,

AND HE WAS PROBABLY THE
GREATEST SHOWMAN EVER.

WHEN YOU'RE A MAGICIAN,
IT'S JUST NOT THE MAGIC TRICKS

AND THE ESCAPING
AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S THE THEATRICS
YOU PUT ALONG WITH IT.

HE WAS A MASTER
OF SELF-PROMOTION.

ESCAPING FROM SHACKLES LIKE THIS

IS WHAT MADE HOUDINI FAMOUS.

HIS FAME REALLY SKYROCKETED
WHEN THEY SUBMERGED HIM

UPSIDE DOWN IN A GLASS
CASE FILLED WITH WATER.

THAT'S WHEN HE BECAME AN
INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY
1800s HANDCUFFS.

NOT REAL FANCY. THEY
MADE THEM OUT OF IRON.

AND THE WAY THESE KEYS WORK IS,

THEY WOULD TURN
THEM IN LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE THREADED ON THE INSIDE,

AND THEY WOULD
BASICALLY DO THAT.

WHAT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND

IS HOW HOUDINI GOT
OUT OF THESE THINGS.

EVEN IF HE HAD A KEY HIDDEN,
THIS DOESN'T LOOK EASY.

I COULDN'T GET OUT OF THEM.

THESE WOULD BE
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

IF THEY'RE HOUDINI'S HANDCUFFS.

NO ONE HAS EVER COME CLOSE

TO BEING THAT FAMOUS
OF A MAGICIAN, PERIOD.

THESE CUFFS ARE AWESOME.

ANYTHING RELATED TO HOUDINI
COULD BE WORTH BIG MONEY,

AND HE'S STILL CONSIDERED

ONE OF THE GREATEST
MAGICIANS OF ALL TIME.

BUT HOUDINI ITEMS
ARE FAKED ALL THE TIME,

SO I HAVE TO GET
THEM CHECKED OUT.

THE THING IS, IS DETERMINING
WHETHER THESE HANDCUFFS

ARE THE SAME ONES THAT
WERE IN THE AUCTION HERE.

LET ME GET A BUDDY
OF MINE DOWN HERE.

HE'S A MAGICIAN, AND HE
COLLECTS HOUDINI STUFF,

SO HE CAN TELL US
ALL ABOUT THIS 100%.

LET ME GET HIM DOWN HERE.

WE'LL GET THIS
THING FIGURED OUT.

- OKAY.
- THANKS.

- THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE,

AND IF THEY'RE REALLY HOUDINI'S,

THEY OUGHT TO BE
WORTH A TON OF MONEY,

SO HERE I AM, SEE
WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.

- HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?

- HEY, HI, HOW ARE YOU?

- WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

- GOT SOME BUTTONS HERE FOR
YOU TO LOOK AT FROM 1945, '46.

- LOOK THIS ONE'S
FOR YOU, WIMPY.

- CHUM, DON'T MAKE
ME KICK YOUR ASS, DUDE.

- I CAME TO THE PAWN SHOP TODAY
TO TRY TO SELL MY PEP BUTTONS.

THEY'RE CARTOON CHARACTERS

FROM CEREAL BOXES
50, 60 YEARS AGO.

I REALLY DON'T HAVE
ANY IDEA OF THE VALUE,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT
I CAN GET FOR THEM.

WE'RE DOWNSIZING.

I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF THEM.

- SO HOW OLD DO
YOU THINK THESE ARE?

- THEY SAY 1945, '46 ON THEM.

- I'M NOT THAT
FAMILIAR WITH THESE.

I DO KNOW THAT PEP BUTTONS
CAME FROM PEP CEREAL,

WHICH IS, LIKE, KELLOGG'S TRYING
TO COMPETE WITH WHEATIES.

- MM-HMM.

- PEP CEREAL CAME
OUT IN THE 1920s.

THIS IS BEFORE COMPANIES HAD
CHARACTERS LIKE TONY THE TIGER.

SO THEY MARKETED IT TO KIDS

WITH, LIKE, IN-BOX TOYS
AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE
PART OF SOME TYPE OF SERIES.

SOME KID WAS PROBABLY
TRYING TO COLLECT ALL OF THEM.

- IT'S POPEYE.

- THERE'S POPEYE, SUPERMAN,

BUNCH OF REAL OLD CHARACTERS.

- I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY
RELEASED THEM IN THE SERIES.

SUPERMAN REALLY DIDN'T
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WIMPY,

AND FELIX THE
CAT, I DON'T THINK,

HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE OTHERS EITHER.

MAN, THIS KID MUST HAVE
ATE A LOT OF PEP CEREAL

TO GET ALL THESE.

THESE PINS ARE IN
GREAT CONDITION,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW COMPLETE
THIS COLLECTION REALLY IS,

AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHERE TO START ON PRICE.

I KNOW OLD CARTOON
CHARACTERS CAN BE COLLECTIBLE.

LET ME CALL MY BUDDY JOHNNY,
WHO KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS STUFF,

HAVE HIM COME DOWN
AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

- OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.

- ALL RIGHT, THANKS
A LOT, BUDDY.

- THANK YOU.

- HEY, WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH?

- I'VE GOT A 1999 ST. LOUIS
RAMS LOMBARDI TROPHY.

- SWEET.

- ORIGINAL BOX AND
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

- I KNOW I'VE SEEN
YOU A FEW TIMES, MAN.

HOW DO YOU GET
ALL THIS COOL STUFF?

- YOU KNOW WHAT?

I JUST GET LUCKY

AND FIND SOME COOL
STUFF EVERY NOW AND THEN.

- I'M NOT SURE LUCK HAS
ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

- I CAME TO THE PAWN SHOP TODAY

TO SELL AN ACTUAL
LOMBARDI TROPHY

FROM THE ST. LOUIS RAMS, 1999.

I WANT TO SELL THE TROPHY

BECAUSE I WANT
SOMEONE ELSE TO ENJOY IT.

I'M LOOKING TO GET ABOUT
$7,500 FOR THE TROPHY.

I'D PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT
$4,500, BUT DON'T TELL 'EM.

- SO HOW DID YOU GET THIS THING?

- I BOUGHT IT FROM MY BUDDY.
- OKAY.

I KNOW ALL THE TEAMS
DON'T GIVE THESE OUT.

I MEAN, USUALLY
IT'S JUST THE RING.

THIS, I THINK, WAS, LIKE, A
LITTLE ADDED BONUS PERK

THEY GAVE OUT.

IT'S NOT THE ACTUALLY
TROPHY THE TEAM WON.

- IT'S NOT THE ONE
THAT THEY'RE DISPLAYING

AT THE RAMS HEADQUARTERS.

IT'S NOT A REPLICA,

BECAUSE THESE WERE
GIVEN TO THE ACTUAL PLAYERS.

- WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY A REPLICA,

'CAUSE THE REAL VINCE
LOMBARDI TROPHY IS BIGGER

AND THEY MAKE ONE OF THOSE.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT THESE BEFORE.

I'VE NEVER HAD ONE IN MY SHOP.

- SO YOU'VE NEVER SEEN
ONE OF THESE BEFORE?

- NOT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, NO.

- HE'S A CHARGERS FAN.

I DON'T THINK
HE'LL EVER SEE ONE.

THEY HAVE THE WORLD'S
SMALLEST TROPHY CASE.

- THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY
HAS BEEN AWARDED TO EVERY TEAM

THAT'S WON THE
SUPER BOWL SINCE 1970.

IT'S MADE BY TIFFANY, AND,
UNLIKE THE STANLEY CUP,

THEY MAKE A NEW ONE EVERY YEAR.

THEY MADE 400 OF THESE, HUH?
- YES.

- AND I CAN JUST TELL BY THE
WEIGHT AND LOOKING AT IT,

IT'S NOT STERLING SILVER LIKE
THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY.

- NO, IT'S NOT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S MADE
OUT OF, BUT IT'S VERY RARE.

- WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY
RARE. THERE ARE 400 OF THEM.

WHILE THIS ISN'T
THE ACTUAL TROPHY,

IT'S STILL A LIMITED EDITION
OF FOOTBALL'S HIGHEST PRIZE,

AND IT WAS ONLY GIVEN TO
MEMBERS OF THE RAMS ORGANIZATION

WHO WON THE SUPER BOWL.

IT'S PRETTY DAMN COOL.

SO WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO DO WITH THIS?

- I'D LIKE TO SELL IT.
- HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FOR IT?

- I'D LIKE TO GET
ABOUT $7,500 FOR IT.

AND I COULD PROVE
THE VALUE RIGHT HERE.

- $12,500?

- DID THIS BELONG TO
ANY PARTICULAR PLAYER?

- NO, THAT WAS A
FRONT OFFICE PERSON'S.

- OKAY, IF IT WAS KURT
WARNER'S, NO PROBLEM.

BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT.

WE'RE PRETTY FAR
APART ON THE PRICE.

- OKAY, WELL, WHAT'S YOUR PRICE?

- 2,500 BUCKS.
- OOF, REALLY?

- I CAN BUY ONE CHEAPER
SOMEWHERE ELSE.

- A LOT OF PLAYERS RISKED
THEIR BODIES, THEIR LIMBS

TO HOIST THIS TROPHY,

AND YOU COULD BE
IN THAT SMALL GROUP

AND HOIST THIS.

- I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT.

IT'S A REALLY COOL PIECE,

BUT I WOULD PAY
2,500 BUCKS FOR IT.

- WE'RE TOO FAR APART.
- OKAY.

- BUT I'LL LET YOU
HOIST IT, THOUGH,

EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE
NOT GONNA BUY IT.

- CAN I TOUCH IT ONCE?

IT'S AMAZING.

- THE OFFER OF $2,500
IS JUST TOO LOW.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK,

BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA
MAKE THEIR BUCK OFF ME TODAY.

HE'S GONNA BE REALLY SAD WHEN
HE WAKES UP TOMORROW MORNING

KNOWING THAT HE
DOESN'T HAVE THAT TROPHY.

- EARLIER TODAY, A GUY CAME IN
WITH PINS FROM PEP CEREAL BOXES,

SO I CALLED MY BUDDY JOHNNY

TO COME DOWN AND
TAKE A LOOK AT THEM

TO KIND OF GIVE ME AN IDEA
OF WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.

- WHAT DO WE GOT HERE?

- I KNOW THEY'RE PEP BUTTONS,

BUT I DON'T KNOW
THAT MUCH ABOUT THEM.

- I'M JOHNNY JIMENEZ, OWNER
OF TOY SHACK LAS VEGAS.

WE SPECIALIZE IN HOT WHEELS
AND VINTAGE ACTION FIGURES.

BACK IN THE MID-'40s,

I MEAN, THERE WASN'T
A WHOLE LOT OF TOYS.

THERE WASN'T, LIKE, A HUGE AISLE

LIKE YOU SEE TODAY
AT THE STORES.

FOR KIDS OPENING UP A CEREAL,

TO HAVE A LITTLE
TOY TO PLAY WITH

WAS PRETTY NEAT BACK THEN.

- SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL
ME ABOUT THEM, MAN?

- WELL, THESE COME
FROM KELLOGG'S.

KELLOGG'S HAS BEEN
AROUND FOR OVER 100 YEARS,

AND THEY WERE THE
FIRST CEREAL COMPANY

TO START GIVING AWAY GIFTS
WITH PURCHASE OF CEREAL.

IT WAS A BIG PART
OF THEIR SUCCESS.

THESE CAME OUT
FROM 1945 TO 1947.

THERE WAS ABOUT FIVE SETS OF 16.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE
MOST OF THEM HERE.

THE MORE POPULAR PINS
ARE GONNA BE, OF COURSE,

LIKE, SOME OF THE SUPERHEROES.

THERE YOU GOT SUPERMAN.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
COLLECT SPECIFIC THINGS,

LIKE FELIX THE CAT,
POPEYE, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

PEP BUTTONS ARE
HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE.

PEOPLE DIDN'T HANG
ON TO THEM TOO MUCH.

PLUS, THEY'RE SMALL.

THEY PROBABLY EASILY GOT LOST.

- SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
THEY'RE WORTH, MAN?

- WELL, I MEAN, THESE ARE
STILL HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE.

THERE'S STILL A BIG
MARKET FOR PEP PINS.

ESPECIALLY, THEY'RE IN
PRETTY GOOD CONDITION,

HAVE NO RUST.

MOST OF THE COLORS
ARE PRETTY CLEAN.

IF I WERE TO PUT A PRICE ON THIS
RIGHT HERE IN A RETAIL SETTING,

YOU'RE LOOKING AT
ANYWHERE FROM...

$650 TO $800.

- REALLY?
- OKAY.

- OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.
MORE THAN I THOUGHT.

- WELL, THANKS
FOR COMING IN, MAN.

- THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK IT IS A COOL COLLECTION.

HE HAD A LITTLE
BIT OF EVERYTHING,

A LOT OF THE MAIN
CHARACTERS THERE,

AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT BUTTONS.

- SO WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING TO GET FOR THEM?

- WELL, HE SAID
AROUND $600 TO $800.

HOW ABOUT WE START AT $600?

- THE PROBLEM WITH $600 IS,

I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT
I'M GONNA GET FOR THEM.

HE SAID $600 TO $800.

I'D LIKE TO OFFER
YOU AROUND $300.

- BUT HE SAID WE'VE GOT PRETTY
MUCH A COMPLETE SET HERE.

- I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IF
I BROKE THEM UP INDIVIDUALLY,

I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY
COMPLETING OTHER PEOPLE'S SETS,

WHICH IS A LOT OF
PICTURE-TAKING,

A LOT OF WORK JUST TO DO.

- HOW ABOUT $500? CAN
YOU DO $500 FOR ME?

- I'LL MEET YOU IN THE
MIDDLE, AND I'LL DO $400.

- OKAY, LET'S DO
$400. SOUNDS GOOD.

- CHUM, YOU WANT
TO GO WRITE HIM UP?

- YUP. I'LL MEET YOU OVER HERE.

- OKAY, GOOD.

- I THOUGHT I'D GET
MAYBE $50, $100,

AND I CAME OUT WITH $400.

I THINK I'M A WINNER.

- EARLIER, I GOT A
CALL FROM A GUY

LOOKING TO SELL A DRUM KIT,

SO CHUM AND I ARE ON OUR
WAY TO GO CHECK IT OUT.

HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
- GOOD.

- SO THIS IS IT, HUH?

- YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW LONG I'VE WANTED

TO PLAY THE DRUMS FOR, MAN,

EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.

- YOU WERE NEVER
LITTLE, THOUGH, WERE YOU?

- EVER SINCE I WAS
A BIG LITTLE GUY.

- I DECIDED TO CALL THE
GUYS AT THE PAWN SHOP

TO SEE IF THEY'D BUY MY
SLINGERLAND DRUM SET.

I REALLY LIKE IT, BUT
I'M MOVING TO NEW YORK,

SO I KIND OF NEED
TO GET RID OF IT.

I THINK IT'S WORTH
ABOUT $800, $900.

- SO WHAT CAN YOU
TELL ME ABOUT IT?

- WELL, IT'S FROM THE '70s.

IT'S A SLINGERLAND DRUM SET.

IT'S A JAZZ KIT.

- WHAT'S THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN
A JAZZ SET AND A ROCK SET?

- WELL, THIS IS A TOM,
AND THIS IS A BASS.

ON A ROCK SET,
YOU HAVE TWO TOMS,

AND THE BASS WOULD BE BIGGER.

SLINGERLAND WAS A GUY
WHO OPENED A MUSIC SCHOOL

IN CHICAGO RIGHT AROUND
THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

HE STARTED MAKING
DRUMS IN THE 1920s,

AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN
POPULAR WITH JAZZ DRUMMERS.

- GIVE IT A TRY?

- GO FOR IT, MAN.

- ALL RIGHT.

BE PREPARED.

- PLAY SWEET MUSIC, CHUM.

♪♪

GET UP, CHUM.

- HOLD YOUR APPLAUSES.

HOLD YOUR APPLAUSES.

- THESE DRUMS PROBABLY
SOUND GREAT IN THE RIGHT HANDS

OR PRETTY MUCH ANY
HANDS BESIDES CHUMLEE'S.

SO THERE'S NO CRACKS,
LAMINATION PROBLEMS,

BESIDES THIS RIGHT HERE?

- NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, NO.

- THAT'S NOT BAD, THOUGH.

IT CAN BE FIXED.

THE PROBLEM IS,
IT'S A JAZZ SETUP.

IT'S HARDER TO SELL.

EVERY KID WANTS
TO BE A ROCK STAR.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THESE DRUMS ARE IN GREAT SHAPE,

BUT SINCE THEY'RE
FOR JAZZ AND NOT ROCK,

THEY CAN BE PRETTY
TOUGH TO SELL.

THE ONLY WAY I'M GONNA BUY
THEM IS IF THE PRICE IS LOW.

SO DID YOU WANT TO SELL THIS?

- YEAH.
- HOW MUCH DID YOU WANT FOR IT?

- LIKE, $750.

- I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

I'LL GIVE YOU 500 BUCKS.

- DO YOU THINK
YOU COULD DO $700?

- THE PROBLEM IS, YOU
ONLY GOT THE ONE TOM.

IT'S A JAZZ SET, HARD TO SELL.

- HMM. HMM, HMM, HMM.

I'M PROBABLY GONNA JUST
HANG ON TO IT, YEAH, I THINK.

WELL, IT'S TOO BAD I
COULDN'T MAKE A SALE,

BUT I COULD NOT TAKE $500,

'CAUSE THAT JAZZ SET
MEANS A LOT TO ME.

- I'M SORRY WE
COULDN'T MAKE A DEAL.

- AH, NO PROBLEM, MAN.
GOOD TO MEET YOU GUYS.

I THINK I'M JUST GONNA KEEP
IT IN MY PARENTS' CLOSET

AND JUST HANG ON TO IT
AND PLAY IT EVERY TEN YEARS,

WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT I DO NOW.

- EARLIER, A GUY BROUGHT IN
SOME LEG SHACKLES AND HANDCUFFS

THAT MAY HAVE
BELONGED TO HOUDINI,

AND IF THEY'RE REAL, THEY
COULD BE WORTH A FORTUNE,

SO I INVITED MY
BUDDY MURRAY DOWN

TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

- HOW YOU DOING, RICK?
- I'M DOING GREAT.

- GOOD TO SEE YOU. CHUM.

I'M MURRAY. I'M A
PROFESSIONAL MAGICIAN.

I'VE BEEN DOING
MAGIC FOR 25 YEARS.

- WE GOT PAPERWORK
FROM A HOUDINI AUCTION,

AND WE HAVE HANDCUFFS
AND A KEY HERE.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF
YOU COULD MATCH THEM UP.

- ALL RIGHT, WHERE DID
YOU GET THESE FROM, SIR?

- MY BROTHER PASSED AWAY
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,

AND I HAD TO CLEAN
HIS HOUSE OUT,

AND THESE WERE IN A
BOX IN THE BASEMENT.

- ALL RIGHT, A
BIT OF HISTORY IS,

AT THAT TIME IN THE EARLY 1900s,

THERE WAS ONLY, REALLY,
ABOUT 102 TO 105 KEYS MADE

FOR EVERY LOCK IN THE WORLD.

WELL, HOUDINI WAS A LOCKSMITH,

AND HE HAD EVERY SINGLE KEY
TO EVERY LOCK IN THE WORLD.

AND HE TRAVELED WITH THESE
KEYS EVERYWHERE HE WENT.

ON MANY POSTERS, YOU SEE
HIM WITH SEVEN, TEN HANDCUFFS.

HE HAD KEYS FOR THE
CUFFS SOMEWHERE.

THAT'S THE SECRET.

EVEN TODAY, THERE'S SO MANY
OTHER NEWER MAGICIANS OUT THERE,

BUT EVERYONE STILL
REFERS BACK TO HOUDINI.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED
BY THE WAY HE PROMOTED HIMSELF.

HE WAS A GREAT SELF-PROMOTER.

WHAT HE'D DO IS, HE'D GO TO
A HARDWARE STORE IN TOWN,

AND HE WOULD SAY, "BUILD
A BOX. I'LL ESCAPE FROM IT."

SO THEY'D BUILD THIS
BOX OUT OF BIG LONG NAILS,

AND IT'D BE ON DISPLAY.

ABOUT TWO DAYS
BEFORE THE ACTUAL TRICK,

HE WOULD GET HIS TEAM
OF A COUPLE OF GUYS

TO BREAK INTO THE
HARDWARE STORE.

THEY'D KNOCK A PANEL OUT,

PUT REALLY SHORT
NAILS IN THE BACK PANEL,

RE-HAMMER THE PANEL BACK ON,

AND THEN HE'D LEAVE
THE STORE LOCKED UP.

SO WHEN HE GETS IN
THE BOX, THAT ONE PANEL,

HE HAD ALREADY SWITCHED
OUT WITH SHORT NAILS,

SO HE JUST HAS TO HIT IT
WITH HIS ELBOW:, IT POPS OFF.

AND THAT'S HOW THE
MYSTERY KIND OF WORKED.

SO HE WAS A VERY,
VERY, SMART MAN, SO...

WELL, YOU KNOW, THESE
ARE THE DARCY STYLE,

BRITISH BARREL HANDCUFFS.

THEY WERE VERY POPULAR
LATE 1800s, EARLY 1900s.

SO THESE STYLE OF HANDCUFFS
WOULD BE USED BY HOUDINI.

THESE, THEY'RE LEG SHACKLES.

THESE ARE THE RIGHT
STYLE FROM THAT ERA.

NOW, THE PAPERWORK THAT
WE HAVE, THIS WILL TELL A LOT,

BECAUSE IT'LL TELL US
WHERE IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM.

THAT'S PRETTY NEW PAPERWORK.

- I COULD PRINT OUT PAPERWORK

AND HAVE A BUNCH
OF OLD HANDCUFFS.

- I KNOW YOU CAN PHOTOCOPY THIS.

YOU CAN PRINT UP ANY
PAPERWORK TO SAY THIS.

YOU REALLY NEED TO
KNOW CERTAIN THINGS

TO SEE IF THEY'RE REAL OR NOT.

AND I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW,

THIS PAPERWORK IS THE
KEY FOR THESE HANDCUFFS.

THIS IS AS BIG AS IT
GETS FOR A MAGICIAN.

IF THESE HAPPEN TO BE
HOUDINI'S REAL HANDCUFFS,

THESE ARE WORTH A FORTUNE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

HERE'S THE BIGGEST
CLUE OF IT ALL.

- IF THESE HAPPEN TO BE
HOUDINI'S REAL HANDCUFFS,

THESE ARE WORTH A FORTUNE.

THIS PAPERWORK IS THE
KEY FOR THESE HANDCUFFS.

ONE THING THAT IS A GIVEAWAY IS,

USUALLY, THERE'S A STAMP OR A
MARKING ON THESE SOMEWHERE.

SEE, IT ACTUALLY SAYS
PROVIDENCE TOOL COMPANY.

HE ALWAYS USED THESE
KIND OF HANDCUFFS.

SO THAT'S A START.

NOW, THE PAPERWORK THAT WE HAVE

SAYS, "PURCHASED AT
AUCTION OF SID RADNER,"

ONE OF THE HIGHEST-PROFILE
AUCTIONS EVER.

HE HAD THE WORLD'S
LARGEST HOUDINI COLLECTION,

AND HE GOT IT FROM HARDEEN.

THAT'S HOUDINI'S BROTHER.

THIS IS HOUDINI'S
PERSONAL COLLECTION.

THESE ARE ACTUAL
ONES HE TRAVELED WITH

AND THAT HE'D USE.

I KNOW EXACTLY WHEN
THIS AUCTION HAPPENED.

IT HAPPENED IN LAS VEGAS.

IT WAS AT THE LIBERACE MUSEUM.

IT WAS IN 2004.

AND IT WAS THE SID
RADNER COLLECTION.

WITH THIS PAPERWORK,

WITH THE MARKINGS ON
THESE ACTUAL HANDCUFFS...

THESE ARE HOUDINI'S.

- YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

- YOU ARE A VERY LUCKY MAN.

GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE.
IT'S A NATIONAL TREASURE.

HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST
MAGICIANS IN THE WORLD.

- SO WHAT ARE THEY
WORTH NOWADAYS?

- THESE RIGHT HERE ARE WORTH
BETWEEN $5,800 AND $6,500.

- ALL RIGHT.

- AND THESE LEG SHACKLES,

THESE ARE WORTH ANYWHERE
BETWEEN $3,800 AND $4,500.

SO YOU HAVE OVER
$10,000 WORTH RIGHT HERE.

- YES!
- OKAY.

- I WAS REALLY PLEASED THAT
THEY HAD AN EXPERT COME IN

AND EVALUATE THEM,

AND THEY'RE WORTH TEN TIMES MORE

THAN I WAS EVEN THINKING ABOUT.

- THANKS FOR COMING DOWN, MAN.

- GREAT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FOR MYSELF, IT WAS REALLY NEAT

TO ACTUALLY HANDLE
THESE, LOOK AT THEM,

AND REALLY BELIEVE
THAT THESE WERE USED

IN SOME OF THE
BIGGEST STAGE SHOWS,

EVEN POSSIBLY
SOME OF THE POSTERS

THAT ARE NOW FAMOUS OF HOUDINI.

- ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THEM?

REMEMBER, I JUST
DID THE MASSIVE FAVOR

OF TELLING YOU WHAT
THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORTH.

- I APPRECIATE THAT.

THEY'RE WORTH $8,000?

- UH, NO.

- WHY NOT?

HE SAID YOU COULD
SELL THEM FOR $10,000.

- NO, NO, I CAN PROBABLY
SELL THEM IN AN AUCTION

A FEW YEARS FROM
NOW FOR $10,000.

- WHAT'S YOUR BEST OFFER?
- FIVE GRAND.

- I DON'T THINK I
COULD GO THAT LOW.

- UM...

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

- $7,000.

- I'LL GO $6,000.

- ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.

- OKAY, ALL RIGHT, DEAL.

- THANK YOU.

- OKAY, WRITE HIM UP, CHUM.

- AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

WE TURNED MY HANDCUFFS
AND SHACKLES INTO $6,000,

AND I GOT LOTS OF
PLANS FOR THAT MONEY.

- WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

- WELL... IT'S AN OLD MIXER.

LIKE, A DRINK MIXER.

- OKAY.

- IT LOOKS LIKE
OVERKILL TO MIX A DRINK.

- WELL, YOU KNOW,
IT JUST DEPENDS

ON HOW MUCH
YOU'RE INTO DRINKING.

- I'M COMING DOWN TO
THE PAWN SHOP TODAY

TO SELL MY ANTIQUE DRINK MIXER.

THE REASON I WANT
TO SELL IT TODAY IS,

I REALLY DON'T
HAVE ANY USE FOR IT.

I'VE NEVER TRIED TO USE IT,

BUT I'M HOPING MAYBE WE CAN
MIX A DRINK IN THE BACK TODAY,

WHEN THE DEAL'S DONE.

- WHERE DID YOU GET IT?

- AT A GARAGE SALE.

- OKAY.

IT'S PROBABLY FROM THE '20s.

- OKAY.

- UH...

I DON'T SEE A PATENT ON
IT OR A MANUFACTURER.

DO YOU KNOW HOW THE
MIXED DRINK CAME ABOUT?

- NO, NOT REALLY.

- OKAY, IT WAS BECAUSE
OF PROHIBITION,

BECAUSE THE ALCOHOL WAS
SO NASTY AND DISGUSTING

THAT YOU BASICALLY HAD TO MIX
IT WITH SOMETHING TO GET IT DOWN.

BATHTUB GIN DOESN'T TASTE GREAT.

ON JANUARY 1, 1920,
IT BECAME ILLEGAL

TO SELL OR MANUFACTURE
ALCOHOL IN THE UNITED STATES,

SO PEOPLE STARTED DRINKING
CHEAP HOMEMADE BOOZE

KNOWN AS BATHTUB GIN.

THE ALCOHOL TASTED SO NASTY,

THEY HAD TO MIX IT WITH ANYTHING

SO THEY COULD GET
IT DOWN THEIR THROAT.

I IMAGINE THIS PROBABLY WAS
PUT IN A BAR TO LIVEN THINGS UP

AND MAKE EVERYTHING
A LITTLE BIT COOLER.

YOU ALWAYS NEED
A GIMMICK IN A BAR.

YOU ALWAYS NEED
TO KEEP IT FRESH.

OTHERWISE, IT JUST
TURNS INTO A DIVE.

- CHECK, PLEASE.

THIS IS REALLY SUPER POWER.

I MEAN, YOU CAN MIX
A LOT OF THINGS IN IT.

I MEAN, PUT CONCRETE IN
IT, YOU CAN MAKE CEMENT.

- SO DO YOU GOT THE OTHER GLASS?

- NO, AND I DON'T THINK
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL GLASS.

I THINK IT BROKE SOMEWHERE.
- YEAH.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A MARKET

FOR PROHIBITION-ERA
COCKTAIL STUFF,

BUT THIS THING IS
MORE OF A CURIOSITY

THAN A VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE,

AND IT'S A WAYS FROM
BEING IN MINT CONDITION.

I LIKE IT, BUT I CAN'T
PAY A LOT FOR IT.

ALL RIGHT, WHAT DO
YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT?

- WELL, I WANT TO SELL IT.

- OKAY, HOW MUCH
YOU WANT FOR IT?

- $350?
- HELL, NO.

- YEAH, THERE'S NO WAY
YOU'RE GONNA GET $350 OUT OF IT.

I MEAN, I MIGHT CONSIDER IT IF
THE THING LOOKED SEMI-NEW,

BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE.

- YOU KNOW, IT'S 90 YEARS OLD.

IT REALLY WORKS WELL.

- YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE
THIS HAVE A TENDENCY TO SIT.

IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH SELL.

I MEAN, WHO EXACTLY
BUYS ONE OF THESE THINGS?

YOU KNOW, I'LL GIVE YOU
100 BUCKS FOR THE THING.

- $125?

- $75.

- HE'S JUST MEAN AND GRUMPY.

YEAH, I'LL DO $125.

- OKAY, I'LL TAKE IT.

- ALL RIGHT.
- THANK YOU.

- LET'S GO WRITE IT UP.

- SPENDING MY MONEY AGAIN.

- I SETTLED ON $125,

AND I THINK IT'S
A LITTLE BIT MORE

THAN I WAS EXPECTING TO GET,

SO I'M REAL HAPPY.

I THINK I'M GONNA GO
OUT AND HAVE A NICE MEAL.

- AS SOON AS I SAW
THE HANDCUFFS,

I KNEW IT WAS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY

TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH CHUM,

SO I HAD MURRAY COME
BACK DOWN TO THE SHOP.

- HEY, GUYS, WHAT'S
UP? HOW YOU DOING?

- HEY, WHAT'S UP, MURRAY?

- HEY, RICK, CAN I
SEE THOSE CUFFS?

I WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT AGAIN.

- YEAH, THEY'RE RIGHT HERE.

- WOW, WHAT'D YOU GET 'EM FOR?

- TOO MUCH.
- TOO MUCH, NICE.

- DID HOUDINI REALLY
GET OUT OF THESE THINGS?

- YEAH, MAN, I MEAN,
IF I PUT THEM ON YOU,

YOU PROBABLY CAN
GET OUT OF THEM.

- IF HOUDINI DID IT, I
CAN DEFINITELY DO IT.

- LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT, MAN.

HERE, LET ME SEE YOUR WRIST.

NICE. NOW, YOU HEAR THE SNAP?

YOU'RE GOOD.

LET'S DO THIS.

PERFECT. YOU'RE IN.
I'M GONNA KEEP THE KEY.

- I GOT SOME STUFF IN THE BACK
I WANT TO SHOW YOU ANYWAY.

- REALLY?
- COME ON.

- GOOD LUCK, MAN.
- I'LL BE OUT IN NO TIME.

RICK!

HEY, GUYS.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

RICK!

I GOT A CUSTOMER UP HERE.