Hiatt Superintendent with special marks (or not)

Dear fellow collectors,

today I got a pair of nickel plaited Hiatt Darby Handcuffs Type "Detective/Superintendent", which looks quite usual at first sight. But when you look at the cylinder tops, you can see hammer marks that are different from any other Hiatt Darby, that I've seen before (please see picture). Moreover there is a big "T" stamped in the middle of each top. This letter is also on the key.

Otherwhise the cuffs bear the normal markings "Hiatt Best" "Warrented Wrought" and "British Made"

Is there anything special about this piece or is this just an usual variation? Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Atame

I also have a set of HAITT Superintentent darbies, and mine have 'S' on the closed end of the lock tube. There is no 'S' on the key, but both cuff bows and key have stampded '10' which looks as old as the cuffs.

I don't know the significance of the letter on the cuff/key, but it cold be some kind of common fit indication, as I guess the production methods of the time would mean that some keys would fit some cuffs better than others, these could have been stamped alike to show what keys fitted what cuffs.... a guess, but it would make sense.

Dear fellow collectors,

today I got a pair of nickel plaited Hiatt Darby Handcuffs Type "Detective/Superintendent", which looks quite usual at first sight. But when you look at the cylinder tops, you can see hammer marks that are different from any other Hiatt Darby, that I've seen before (please see picture). Moreover there is a big "T" stamped in the middle of each top. This letter is also on the key.

Otherwhise the cuffs bear the normal markings "Hiatt Best" "Warrented Wrought" and "British Made"

Is there anything special about this piece or is this just an usual variation? Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Atame

Click to expand...

Atame

I have one marked like yours, but it has an "X".



I have always assumed that the "x" was a normal workers mark.

Joe

Dear fellow collectors,

today I got a pair of nickel plaited Hiatt Darby Handcuffs Type "Detective/Superintendent", which looks quite usual at first sight. But when you look at the cylinder tops, you can see hammer marks that are different from any other Hiatt Darby, that I've seen before (please see picture). Moreover there is a big "T" stamped in the middle of each top. This letter is also on the key.

Otherwhise the cuffs bear the normal markings "Hiatt Best" "Warrented Wrought" and "British Made"

Is there anything special about this piece or is this just an usual variation? Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Atame

Click to expand...

Hi Joe,

interesting. This shape of hammer-marks is not often seen. I had about 50 Hiatt Darbies in my hands and only one was marked this way.

I wish you a funny trip on the island!

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame
www.atame.info