The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Bean Cobb Cuffs-and their locks

15 visible archived posts · 15 preserved total · topic ID 1977

Kris 12 Apr 2007

Greetings Fellow Collectors;

In looking over my pair of Bean Cobb Handcuffs the other day it occured to me that if I were a captive outlaw in 1899, I could exploit the fact that there's only 2 screws that seperate me from freedom. Does anyone know why the locks are "removeable"? What this just a design-flaw, or did these locks need frequent replacing back in the day? Anyone's knowledge about this would be helpful...

Kris

grenchat 13 Apr 2007

Hello Kris:

The removable locks were a feature of The Improved Bean Handcuff, patented by Lyman Cobb. This allowed the locks to be serviced or replaced without forfeiting the entire set of nickel plated handcuffs. They are designed in such a manner as to only allow removal of the locks when they are in the unlocked position.

This is also one of my favorite handcuff designs.

Regards,
Jason

Kris 13 Apr 2007

Cool, that makes more sense. Now that you've explained this, it's actually a cleaver way of maintainance and repair for cuffs especially for that era...Thanks Jason!

Kris

Andy-58 13 Apr 2007

Hello,
ich have also a pair of Bean Cobb and i have disassembled one lock for repair (adding one missing lever spring). There are photos at
http://www.handschellenforum.de/forum/v ... c&start=30

It is a thread of my "making of" from my self made Abloy Darby, but in the middle of page 3 there are pictures of removed and disaasembled lock of Bean Cobb. Note that in the picture for one lever a spring is missing, it is taken before repair. I have made new spring from an old mechanical alarm clock. Lock can be removed only when cuff is open. My Bean Cobb has no screws but little bolts, but they look like screws with missing heads and worn out threads, so they could have been screws in the past...

Be careful not to break a spring of lever and not to loose tiny spring at the end of release button.

Regards
Andy58

Unknown / guest 13 Apr 2007

Hello,
i have also a Bean Cobb and disassembled a lock for repair. There are photos at http://www.handschellenforum.de/forum/v ... c&start=30

It is the thread of my "making of" of my Abloy Darbys, but in the middle of page 3 are photos of removed and disassembled Bean Cobb locks. Note, that one lever has a missing spring, photo is taken before replacing spring from an old mechanical alarm clock. If you disassemble lock, be careful not to break a lever spring and do not loose the tiny spring at the end of release button.

Locks can be removed only when cuff is open. My locks are held by small bolts, they look like screws with missing heads and worn out threads, maybe that they have been screws in the past...

Regards
Andy58

Unknown / guest 13 Apr 2007

Hello,
sorry for double posting, i got an error message when sending first posting so i thought that it was lost...

grenchat 14 Apr 2007

Excellent work.

I will keep this in mind should my Cobbs ever require a feather or lever spring replacement.
Were all of the original -- excluding H&R 2 link and Tower-Bean variants -- Bean Cobbs manufactured by the H&R Arms Company?

Gordon 15 Apr 2007

Jason
The Bean Cobb handcuffs were originally manufactured by the John Lovell&
Son Co. They were at that time know as Bean's Improved Handcuff. When the
owners died (John Lovell& Son) the company folded and the handcuff machinery
was sold to H&R. How many handcuffs were made by Lovell before they folded
is not known. Probably the only way to know who made what is possibly by
having a box with the manufactures name on it. I have not yet seen a box with the Lovell name on it.
Gordon

grenchat 15 Apr 2007

Thank you, Gordon.

You have essentially confirmed what I had long held to be true of these cuffs.
Rumor had it that H&R Arms didnt mark them as such so that they would be indiscernible from the Lovell Arms made cuffs. I started second guessing when after perusing the handcuffs.org Bean section there was no mention of J.P. Lovell Arms in regards to the Bean-Cobb handcuffs. Awhile back, I did some research on J.P. Lovell Co, and found that, amongst other things, they even manufactured bicycles. Just imagine: you could walk in, buy a sidearm, a pair of cuffs, and ride off on a bicycle! Now thats one stop shopping.

Happy collecting

Jason

Steve Santini 15 Apr 2007

#10

H&R did in fact mark their Cobb style handcuffs and leg irons.

They also did away with the fluted keyway walls and instead made a keyway spindle that had perfectly straight sides (unlike the true Cobb where the key needs a bevel cut down both sides of the bit to enter the keyway).

Steve Santini www.thedarkmaster.com

grenchat 16 Apr 2007

#11

Hi Steve:

My Cobbs are marked only with the patent date and a matching set of serial numbers at the pivot, yet they operate perfectly with a key (not original) that has a bevel cut on one side only.

Is there another way to determine the manufacturer with certainty?

Thanks,
Jason

Steve Santini 16 Apr 2007

#12

Cobbs have the beveled keyway.

H&R Cobbs have a straight both sides keyway.

Steve www.thedarkmaster.com

joe 16 Apr 2007

#13

the keyway: per santini - unless the keyways have been replaced in either case..... then what u got ?

grenchat 16 Apr 2007

#14

Okay, I just checked the Cannons Great Escapes replacement keys page.
The key that I bought there is listed as replacing both the Bean-Cobb 1899 and H&R versions. Perhaps it is a bit thinner than the original Bean-Cobb key thus allowing it to slide through the fluted keyway with only one side beveled.

Jason

Steve Santini 16 Apr 2007

#15

The Bean Cobb key will open the H&R version and the Bean.

The H&R key will not work on the Cobbs.

Likely what the Cannons are selling is just a Bean Cobb replacement key advertised as fitting both cuffs because of course it would.

No big revelation.

Steve Santini www.thedarkmaster.com