The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

First Model Bottom Key Tower's

23 visible archived posts · 23 preserved total · topic ID 1386

BradD1 15 Jun 2006

I finally got a nice pair of these. Close as you can get to a Phelps without actually having a pair.

They do not have a key and I've never seen one that I recall. Does anyone have a picture of an original key to fit that "No. 9" keyhole that they could post?

Ian, do you have a repro for that?

Thanks,
Brad

holstcollection 15 Jun 2006

Hi Brad,

This is how the original key looks like. It should be very easy to make a working reproduction. I watched the BK Tower's you won on eBay. According to the pictures the key holes looked bigger than normal. Are they?

Lars

Brad 17 Jun 2006

Hi Lars,

Thanks for the great pic - outstanding pair of Bottom Keys.

Yes, the keyhole is bigger than the "second" issue Bottom Keys. It is the "No. 9" key hole which is why I needed a picture of the key. The bit goes down off of the side of the shaft instead of straight down off of the bottom, if that makes any sense. I guess a shot from the front end of the key would clarify that.

Gordon sent a pic to Joe to post showing one from the side. Will probably show up here shortly.

The first model Bottom Key cuffs are almost like a Phelps in some ways. They dwarf the second issue BKs.

I owe the Forum a couple of pics, so I'll get the Mrs to shoot a side-by-side of the First and Second isses showing the keyhole differences and size differences, while I get the others done.

Brad

BradD1 17 Jun 2006

PS: Joe has a great article in the "Handcuffs and Their Makers" section in the table of contents about Tower's. It has a good comparison photo showing the size difference and is a real good read especially if you haven't read it recently.

B.

lauher 18 Jun 2006

First Model Tower Bottom Key Handcuffs

An example of the first model Tower bottom key handcuff is shown above. It is marked on the side of each bow near the hinge with the Adams, June 17, 1862 and Phelps, July 17, 1866 patent dates. The patent date are hard to read because only a small region of the bow is flat. As the end of patent dates extend into the curved region of the cuff they can no longer be read. The key hole on the bottom of the lock case is small and a bit hard to reach.

Second Model Tower Bottom Key Handcuff

The second model Tower bottom key introduced several changes. The most notable was the substitution of three round rings for the conventional chain lengths found in the first model. The design of these three rings were taken directly from the Adams handcuff. The outer two rings were perfectly round, the middle ring bent, just like the rings on the Adams cuff. The second major difference between the first and second Tower models is the size of the lock case as shown in the figure below. The second model had a lock case significantly smaller and established the basic size and profile that was to be used for Tower handcuffs for the next seventy years. Overall the second model was built to a finer standard. The key hole was slightly smaller, the notches on the bows were not cut so deep. The Adams and Phelps patent dates were written straight across each hinge, much easier to read than those of the first model.

Comparison of Model 1 and 2 Bottom Key Handcuffs

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The rest of this article can be found at:
http://www.handcuffs.org/tower/index.html

cheers
Joe

Stan Willis 18 Jun 2006

There is also a first model with 3 round connecting links, but the links are larger than on the 2nd model. I suppose it is a transition model. There is also a first model leg iron, with the same chain and same markings as the cuff, and a second model Leg iron with the standard connecting links.
Stan

Brad 18 Jun 2006

Stan, I would have to say that I blieve you are aboslutely right about the round link BKs being transitional. They were probably either huriedly searching for chain until they had a provider, or perhaps making it themselves and trying to decide what they liked (my guess the former). Are the round links bent like the Single Lock and DL's? or just flat?

Have you seen a 1st Model leg iron with the "No. 9" keyhole?

1200cuffs 18 Jun 2006

My first model cuff has the twisted center link like the standard Tower links. It also has the "9" keyhole on one cuff and a standard keyhole on the other. I wonder if it was just a manufacturing problem that created the "9" keyhole. The first model leg iron also has one "9" keyhole and one normal.
Stan

Brad 18 Jun 2006

Those thrifty New England manufacturers never threw away anything they might be able to sell. You should see some of the goofy transitional stuff that shows up on Smith & Wessons of that era.

I don't know though, one standard and one No.9 keyhole. That's getting out there. They used different keys, no?

Gordon 19 Jun 2006

#10

My first model has the 3 twisted link and the 2 different
key holes. ( which I never noticed before )and original key.
The key holes are relatively large to the key so a fit is
no problem.

1200cuffs 19 Jun 2006

#11

Same key also fits both keyholes on mine. Key is not original.
Stan

Unknown / guest 19 Jun 2006

#12

Gordon asked me to post this pic of his key. My Tower bottom key cuffs and leg irons work with a single bitted key, not a double bit like the picture.The key style is definitely original.

Unresolved image reference ↗

Brad 19 Jun 2006

#13

Joe T sent me a pic as did Gordon. Both keys were absolutely identical except the slot cut in Gordon's. Lars' post here is also same except slotless and is with a second issue BK.

Gordon, any chance that slot was filed in later? I was wondering if it might not be a two bit key, but rather a single with a slot filed in for some unknown reason.

I have a few things around here that open my 1st issues, but thought that maybe they took a 9 type key like many of the old jail door keys of that era.

We need to find somebody really old who remembers these when they were on duty. Frank, are you reading this?

cuffcol 19 Jun 2006

#14

Brad
I am sure that the slot has not been filed in. I have an original
key for another bottom key model without the slot. I tried it in
the first model and it works fine.

holstcollection 19 Jun 2006

#15

Hi all!

Im curious about the "9" keyhole shape since I have neither seen nor heard of it before. Does this shape only appear on the very first model? When I saw the pictures of Brads cuffs I thought the key hole was kind of drilled but I understand its not. Can anyone post a close-up of a "9" key hole?

Thanks,

Lars

Brad 20 Jun 2006

#16

Lars, I promise I'll try to get those photos up tonight along with the others I've been yammering about for a month.

Brad

holstcollection 20 Jun 2006

#17

Hi Brad,

Thanks, I'm looking forward to see the pictures.
Lars

lauher 05 Jul 2006

#18

Brad has sent us a series of pictures.
Thanks Brad
Joe

Side view

Edge view

Key holes

Brad 09 Jul 2006

#19

Just got back from the California Law Enforcement Historical Society annual show. I had a pair of "downgrade" BK's in my sale stuff. Never thought much about them once I found something better. While whiling away the hours, rather than carving ducks, or something, I started looking at the BK's.

Well.... they are one 1st model cuff (standard hole) and one second model cuff held together by TWO twisted links, not three.

Stan has round links, No.9 and std keyholes???? 1st and 2nd mixed!!!

JJ was getting rid of everything, anyway he could!

I'll bring this stuff to Ontario.

Brad

Frank Panasuk 09 Jul 2006

#20

Hi Brad---Catching up on my reading and just caught your reference to a quest for first hand, contemporary experience with these cuffs. Confirming your suspicions, we old timers did not have anything this advanced. In my day, we walked the prisoner over to the blacksmith shop and had red hot rivets pounded into the shackles and just left them on until their clothing rotted off. From what I am hearing about Kali-fworn-ya's (read: Arnold) budgetary problems these days, the State may return to that procedure.

Wishing everyone a great summer and good hunting! Frank

Stan Willis 10 Jul 2006

#21

Who is JJ ?
Stan

Brad 10 Jul 2006

#22

Gulp,I meant to write to you last week and let you know I was badmouthing you behind your back before you found it first.

Sorry, Frank. I thought the first model Bottom Keys were out before you retired

Might as well fess up, the old retired cop who used the H&R's on the problem inmate and problem intake officer in my H&R article in the Annual was Frank.

Stan, JJ: John J Tower. Pardon my laziness.

Brad the humbled

Brad 10 Jul 2006

#23

PS: Frank, I still have the picture of you and Hillary.