Unusual Towers

Hi,
Has anyone seen these?

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a" target="_new">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a>

This looks like a nice set of bottom key Towers, but a length of chain with swivel seems to be installed in the middle. The ends of the chair are the typical round links, but there are some sections of thick oval links and some thinner twisted links as well.
The links do not seem to be added recently. Perhaps they were added on at a prison somewhere.
Very interesting item.

mark
O--O

Mark
It is strange. A normal Tower leg iron has 12 round links. This one has 6 on a side so it looks like someone just cut a regualar set into two and then added another chain to the middle.
Joe

Hi,
Has anyone seen these?

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a" target="_new">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a>

This looks like a nice set of bottom key Towers, but a length of chain with swivel seems to be installed in the middle. The ends of the chair are the typical round links, but there are some sections of thick oval links and some thinner twisted links as well.
The links do not seem to be added recently. Perhaps they were added on at a prison somewhere.
Very interesting item.

mark
O--O

Click to expand...

It loos like someone extended the chain with whatever he had on hand. That's a relatively low grade chain, but adequate for the task. Judging from the patina, the work is not new.

It could be an amateur job, or something for a chain gang, perhaps?

Hi,
Has anyone seen these?

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a" target="_new">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a>

This looks like a nice set of bottom key Towers, but a length of chain with swivel seems to be installed in the middle. The ends of the chair are the typical round links, but there are some sections of thick oval links and some thinner twisted links as well.
The links do not seem to be added recently. Perhaps they were added on at a prison somewhere.
Very interesting item.

mark
O--O

Click to expand...

I just bought a set of Tower/Tower style leg irons from this seller.....they too have an unusual chain. Here is a photo of them:



I will comment on them after I have them in hand.

Cheers, Mike

Hi,
Has anyone seen these?

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a" target="_new">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a>

This looks like a nice set of bottom key Towers, but a length of chain with swivel seems to be installed in the middle. The ends of the chair are the typical round links, but there are some sections of thick oval links and some thinner twisted links as well.
The links do not seem to be added recently. Perhaps they were added on at a prison somewhere.
Very interesting item.

mark
O--O

Click to expand...

Well, the cuffs are in hand, so here is what I have concluded:

They are Tower DL with these pat. dates on them: July 16 "66", May 26 "74", Mar. 6 "78", and one that I can not make out, but it looks like mayby Nov. "79".

Both cuffs were double locked and upon unlocking them, I discovered that they both worked fine (single and double lock). They have a perfect brown patina finish and a forged-welded non-typical chain (a little shorter than a normal chain). I believe this chain to be a replacement, but I do not believe that the clevis pins were punched to replace it. Also, the eBay pic made it look like one of the locks had been drilled and taken out.....however, I do not believe this is the case. There is some evidence that someone has tampered with the pin/s, but the lock does not appear to have ever been removed. These irons look like they have been stored in a dry place for a while, and ultimatly have been taken care of. Also, there was an extra chain link that looked as if it had been a connector link for another chain that would have lead up to a pair of handcuffs. The link appeared to be newer than the chain and was not welded (it was open about 1/8", and is no longer on the chain).

Verdict: I like them and I think I will keep them! =)

Cheers, Mike

Hi,
Has anyone seen these?

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a" target="_new">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... hosting</a>

This looks like a nice set of bottom key Towers, but a length of chain with swivel seems to be installed in the middle. The ends of the chair are the typical round links, but there are some sections of thick oval links and some thinner twisted links as well.
The links do not seem to be added recently. Perhaps they were added on at a prison somewhere.
Very interesting item.

mark
O--O

Click to expand...

Here is a photo of the Towers that I took tonight.



Cheers, Mike