This montage was first pasted together
for the first black & white catalogue
in 1982
The familiar look was transferred to the
opening pages of this web site
HOUDINI CONNECTIONS
'Fetters' Archive
Index
(under construction - temporary info)
REVISITED JULY 2010
The dust has settled since reducing accumulated correspondence, documentation and photos from four four-drawer filing cabinets to one, a process which re-kindled a lot of memories.The shredder I bought is practically worn out, but thirty years of old correspondence, magazine articles, stories and photographs are now preserved on computer.
HISTORY OF 'FETTERS'
On several occasions I've been asked to write down details of WHEN - WHY - HOW the cottage industry that became an international trading company came into existence. In fact two long Oral History tapes are lodged with the GAY LEATHER ARCHIVE in Chicago, but I think both of them are still waiting to be transcribed (I need to check).Watch this space
London-based photographer known as 'Cain' did this first photo shoot of FETTERS manufactured in-house items plus specially commissioned reproduction manacles from Hiatt.
FETTERS white catalogue (date?)
This discrete publications contained a lot of information previously unavalable
to potential fetishists and game-players.It was rightly called a 'permission to play' document - discretely advertised as
describing Respractive Practices rather than bondage.
Caramel/brown catalogue
(add date?)
ADD TO THIS PAGE
Reason FETTERS came into existence
More on necessity (in 1976) for euphamisms such as 'Houdiniana' ,
a term
first introduced in early FETTERS mailings.
This
word quickly became widely used, even among
Houdini collectors and enthusiasts.
More info. to follow =
Find images of original designs not previously in other supply catalogues.
Describe historic perceptions of fetish in magazines
Maurice North's "The Outer Fringe of Sex"
More about European fetish magazines straight and gay
More about possibility of a library of early magazines available for story,
preferably lodged in a university department of Social History.
Add a copy of recent 'discussion document' circulated with index of
magazines available for study.
List UK suppliers prior to Fetters + samples of their advertising.
ADD texts of articles on various fetishes.
ADD more info on fetish-related stories from other sources ...
or add texts on this site?
DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES WITH SITE VISITORS
ADD
PHOTOS?
DEVELOPING MORE RE THE EVOLUTION OF FETTERS?
Confirm precise dates of:
Trading through ROB in Amsterdam - collaboration with
THE LONDON LEATHERMAN - WILDCATEarly magazine articles in ZIPPER, GAY TIMES, FETISH TIMES REVOLT/TOY/MISTER SM
Confirm and record precise dates for entry into the USA = goods posted direct from London.
When Jim Stewart registered as a 'Sole Trader' trading as FETTERS in the USA.
First supplied retail outlets in USA - trading mainly thru
The Pleasure Chest + direct mail from London to individual customers.
Garry Bratman offered trading via his office (Carol Sound) at 895 Broadway.
Bratman named in ads. and magazines as Fetters USA Representative.
Bratman then moved Carol Sound to Eddison New Jersey
(still handling Fetters USA orders, goods all shipped from London). Richard Hunter (Fetters customer from Florida) became slave to Bratman.
Close association with DRUMMER and later BOUND & GAGGEDShort period with FETTERS trading out of New York PO Box
Retail outlets included Pleasure Chest chain, The Noose and others.
When Richard Hunter invited to take over as Fetters USA Representative having returned to live in Florida. Hunter shipping and handling UK made goods, selling out of Florida with small occasional shop in The Eagle Bar Tampa.
At 'Living in Leather' in Chicago 1990(?)
Richard Hunter invited to take over MISTER S store and workshop in San Francisco (on the strength of the Fetters connection?)1991 Jim Stewart signed agreement for Richard Hunter to have
sole agency in the USA to manufacture FETTERS lines on licence.
Goods began to be produced in the MISTER S workshops =
Jim Stewart handed over patterns and coached workshop staff
at the same time producing the first Fetters catalogue
expressly for the USA.When Jim Stewart left San Francisco finally?
When FETTERS (Europe) handed over to John Bannister, moved to Vauxhall - then to Coventry/Warwick
ADD
PHOTOS?
PHOTO?
ADD
Descriptive introductory texts from various catalogues...
Describe USA public events =
Eulenspeigle - Inferno - Dressing for PleasureActive RUBBER SCENE IN UK & EUROPE - add info/story texts?
(need reubber-retalted index for material already on this site (see CALLUM pages)
WHAT ELSE?
ADD MORE
E-MAIL Jim Stewart
to discuss any aspect of this topic
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