Brad Darling
#1I expect this will be the one where someone says, "Darling, quit bringing up all this arcane keyhole drivel."
But, I must.
I received a nice pair of Single Locks this week that upgrade a rather ugly pair I had. It has the "straight" keyhole. A couple other pair in my collection have the "slanted" keyhole.
For those who aren't familiar with the variations, you can look at the two pictures that Joe has posted in "Handcuffs". Or I have sent him pictures to go with this posting to come on later.
Tom Gross also makes note of this variation in "Manacles of the World" (p. 53).
However, unnoted, for those who may not have looked at it, the slanted key model also has a link arrangement which, when layed flat as designed, also make both keyholes face the same direction. See my photos.
So, in all of my Single Lock Models, all of the "Straight Keyholes" are arranged such that when the chain links are at their natural position one keyhole faces the OPERATOR and one faces AWAY. Most inconvenient.
All of the "Slanted Keyhole" models are arranged so that when the chain links are at their natural position the keyholes both face the SAME direction.
Does anyone have any sets where the keyholes slant but the cuffs face opposite directions? Or, the keyholes are straight, but the keyholes face the same direction?
My guess is that all "Straight Keyhole" models will have the keyholes facing opposite directions and all "Slanted Keyhole" Models will have the keyholes facing the same direction.
If my hypothesis is correct, then probably the "Slanted Keyhole" model is the latter and is designed as an improvement over a rather annoying design flaw: the find the keyhole game.
That said, if true, do we actually have two models of Single Locks? The First Model (straight keyhole) and Second Model (slanted keyhole)? If there are no combinations of the two features then I think we have distinct models, if they show up in combinations after everybody runs to check their collection tonight, then it is just transitionary.
Why the change in the keyhole shape? Who knows. I am convinced that the objective was to get the keyholes on the cuffs pointing the same direction. None of the keys from my slanted keyhole models interchange with the straight keyhole models and vice versa.
Whatcha think?
Brad
But, I must.
I received a nice pair of Single Locks this week that upgrade a rather ugly pair I had. It has the "straight" keyhole. A couple other pair in my collection have the "slanted" keyhole.
For those who aren't familiar with the variations, you can look at the two pictures that Joe has posted in "Handcuffs". Or I have sent him pictures to go with this posting to come on later.
Tom Gross also makes note of this variation in "Manacles of the World" (p. 53).
However, unnoted, for those who may not have looked at it, the slanted key model also has a link arrangement which, when layed flat as designed, also make both keyholes face the same direction. See my photos.
So, in all of my Single Lock Models, all of the "Straight Keyholes" are arranged such that when the chain links are at their natural position one keyhole faces the OPERATOR and one faces AWAY. Most inconvenient.
All of the "Slanted Keyhole" models are arranged so that when the chain links are at their natural position the keyholes both face the SAME direction.
Does anyone have any sets where the keyholes slant but the cuffs face opposite directions? Or, the keyholes are straight, but the keyholes face the same direction?
My guess is that all "Straight Keyhole" models will have the keyholes facing opposite directions and all "Slanted Keyhole" Models will have the keyholes facing the same direction.
If my hypothesis is correct, then probably the "Slanted Keyhole" model is the latter and is designed as an improvement over a rather annoying design flaw: the find the keyhole game.
That said, if true, do we actually have two models of Single Locks? The First Model (straight keyhole) and Second Model (slanted keyhole)? If there are no combinations of the two features then I think we have distinct models, if they show up in combinations after everybody runs to check their collection tonight, then it is just transitionary.
Why the change in the keyhole shape? Who knows. I am convinced that the objective was to get the keyholes on the cuffs pointing the same direction. None of the keys from my slanted keyhole models interchange with the straight keyhole models and vice versa.
Whatcha think?
Brad