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Years of production for two American Munitions handcuff designs.

3 visible archived posts · 3 preserved total · topic ID 1119
Original topic ↗Recovered images
MCFLOWERS 09 Feb 2006
#1
I have two designs of handcuffs manufactured by AMERICAN
MUNITIONS. Both are chain-link, nickel-finished, and
stamped AMERICAN MUNITIONS CO.
FOND DU LAC, WIS. (All upper case.)

This label is on the single strand of both sets of cuffs.

The difference is that one set has flush rivets covered by
the plating, and the other has exposed, raised rivet heads.
What were the years of production for both designs?
Joseph Fox 24 Feb 2006
#2
I am certainly not an expert on this company, but I do have both pairs of handcuffs that you speak of, and I can tell you this:

1962: Chicago's "American Munitions Co." was purchased by Tobin Tool & Die Co., in Fond du Lac, Wis. ....Their first models would have been the "smooth" (no rivets exposed) models.

Later, sometime between this time and 1970 - the "raised rivets" models were introduced.

1970: Name changed to "American Handcuff Co." (due to fear of anti-war activists!) Their handcuffs were now printed with their new company name.

Sorry I can't be more specific, but safe to say:

Smooth Finish...1962 -- mid-1960s("American Munitions Co./Fond Du Lac, Wis.")

Raised Rivets...mid-1960s -- 1970("American Munitions Co./Fond Du Lac, Wis")
M. C. Flowers 24 Feb 2006
#3
I have two designs of handcuffs manufactured by AMERICAN
MUNITIONS. Both are chain-link, nickel-finished, and
stamped AMERICAN MUNITIONS CO.
FOND DU LAC, WIS. (All upper case.)

This label is on the single strand of both sets of cuffs.

The difference is that one set has flush rivets covered by
the plating, and the other has exposed, raised rivet heads.
What were the years of production for both designs?
Thanks a lot for the information, Joseph!