Ruben Craddock & Sons

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Mark

Here are your pictures. The marking is certainly a surprise to me. The earliest RCS marking I have in my collection is 1941, but I think I have seen one from 1939 as well. Your cuff looks very much like the ones put out in the 40s and 50s. Who knows?

Joe

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Click to expand...

The date on this piece is an obvious forgery. Compare the "1" numberals. They aren't even the same font. And the second "1" shows traces of new rust. Look closely at the "5". It is a smaller font than the "9" and is even off center with regard to the "9". Many of the dates on RCS darbies are dim, so it was probably easy to obliterate the original numerals. Somebody just decided to make this piece older than it actually is.

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Click to expand...

noticed the same as anon above, i wonder if the 3 mean's the third month (MARCH) of that year 19?? and what about the 2029 is that the seriel # ?

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Click to expand...

RCS made their Darby-style cuffs in 3 different sizes - 1,2 and 3. 1 was the smallest size and 3's were at the other end of the size range.

Mike
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Click to expand...

LK as Mikeintightpants points out the 3 refers to the size of cuff. I have examples of 1, 2 and 3 but nothing above 3. It may be interesting to point out that the dimple markings on the bows of RCS cuffs just where they enter the barrel of the lock also indicated size or at least on my examples they do. All of my number 1's have only one dimple while the 2's and 3's have two and three dimples respectfully. This is the case for the regular darby style as well as the false backstrap design.

The 2029 refers to the key number.

This pair of cuffs came via ebay item no, 190180891188 While I admit the marking might not be uniform it must be borne in mind that the last 2 digits will change more often than the first two. If people can be bothered to check, it's my gut feeling that there will me more pairs out there from this date range. Lets not forget they were founded in 1803 ish.

I recently acquired a pair of Ruben Craddock & Sons false backs strap darby cuffs which as far as design and construction goes, are very typical of all the other pairs of RCS cuffs that I have.

What is different about this pair is that they are dated 1915 which places them approximately 35 years earlier than it had been assumed manufacturing had commenced.

They carry the other marking such as key number and the RCS mark as well as the broad arrow mark but do not have the M&C mark which other WW1 issue darby cuffs often carry.

Would member please have a check and see if you have examples dated from this era. It may be that they are incorrectly stamped and the 1 and 5 have simply been swapped making the dated 1951 not 1915 but who can say.

Also Joe, if you get the opportunity would you please post the pictures I've sent as I'm working away from home and don't have access to the images.

Thanks,

Mark (RMP)

Click to expand...

Mark makes some good points.

I'm not seeing the sloppy stamp work as proof of fakery. The charachers are all individually stamped, as demonstrated by the variances in the angle of the impressions. The workman simply had a rack of letter stamps and a hammer. I suspect they didn't care that much that the 5 didn't match.

I'd also not place too much emphasis on the rusty 1. That could simply be a difference in cleaning between the two ends of the set. It is very fresh rust.

This just doesn't seem the sort of thing to be worth faking.