Hiatt leg irons

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

Ron

Nice collection. Ages are hard to determine. What are the markings?
The top one looks the newest. The middle one is a classic Hiatt leg iron, It could be older. The bottom one is a leg to handcuff and I would say it is the most valuable. It is the one I would like to have.

cheers
Joe

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

Joe, (or anyone else), do you have any info on the "leg to hand" Darby? This is the first of it's kind that I have seen. Very unique indeed and a very nice find!

Cheers, Mike

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

I have see these before. They could be used leg to hand, but also from leg to an iron ring or other anchor point on the floor or wall.

Joe

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

Hi Joe, thanks for all the information so far.

The top one is marked "Hiatt", "Warranted Wrought", "British Made" and the number "3".
The key is marked with "Hiatt" and "3" as well.
The middle one is marked "Hiatt" and "Hard". The key is also marked "Hiatt".
The bottom one is marked "Hiatt" and "Hard". There is no key with this set.

Regards, Ron

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

Ron

The "British Made" means they are 1920s or later. This is consistent with shape of the lock cylinder as well. The thicker bit at the bottom is like the last steel leg irons they made.

The other two have the look of the 19th century. The other indicator is the nature of the "Hiatt" trade mark. If the trademark is parallel to the hinge pin it is newer. If it is perpendicular to the hinge pin it is older.

Joe

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

Joe, the leg to hand model has left me pondering. I think that this type of unique restraint may have been very practical. You mentioned the use of anchoring....this is a real good idea with this type of cuff. It wouldn't matter a whole lot how big or small the cuff is, if it were the one being locked to a gang chain, a bar, wrapped around something bigger and then locked to it's own chain, etc. Therefor, there would be a choice as to the size of the cuff that would be used on the person. These cuffs are non-adjustable, so someone with a tiny foot could be cuffed with the handcuff instead of the leg iron and vica-versa. This senario would open up a whole world of options for the the person doing the restraining. I would bet that this type of cuff was used in prisions where there was a lot of out door labor and a need for creative cuffing. What are your thoughts?

Cheers, Mike

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

When I was a kid, my family owned the "Time Life" Science Series. One of the books, "The Brain" talked about and showed various images of how MEN (specifically) were restrained in Bedlam (a Victorian era (in)famous insane asylum). They were restrained by a single manacle and a single leg iron each connected by a length of chain to a ring in the floor. I have since seen these images in other places, on occasion. Here are two such pictures:




That aside, it would seem that the cuff+iron combo might have been used for this sort of restraint.

Oddly, Women were restrained (according to the article, and I haven't seen other pictures of this) far more severely, with a waist belt connected to a staple in the wall and both hands in irons connected to the belt. I believe their legs were shackled as well, but am not entirely sure of this.

The article in question talked about a certain Dr. (whos name escapes me) who was a great reformer who released the patients from their shackles and found that many of them were "cured" and/or "showed massive signs of improvement" once he did this.

Today I bought these three different pairs of leg irons all marked "Hiatt". Does anyone have more information about them: age, value (no, I'm not going to sell, I have just bought them and want to know if I had a good deal) and if they are rare. Any info would be appreciated! Regards, Ron

@Joe: the "Hiatt" trademark is parallel to the hinge pin.