Anonymous
#1The Forum at Handcuffs.Org
R.I.P. Hiatts Handcuffs 1780 - 2008
17 visible archived posts · 17 preserved total · topic ID 2815
Mikeintightpants
#2It was indeed a sad day when Hiatt stopped producing handcuffs at their factory here in Birmingham. However, I visited the factory about 10 days ago and as most of the contributors to this site will already know, a new company has taken over the site and is producing cuffs with the name "TCH".
The product range is very similar to that of the old Hiatts, though apart from the TCH rigid cuffs (equivalent of Speedcuffs), the other items in the product range are currently of limited availability.
Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
The product range is very similar to that of the old Hiatts, though apart from the TCH rigid cuffs (equivalent of Speedcuffs), the other items in the product range are currently of limited availability.
Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
lauher
#3This is quite an event. I also find if difficult to understand why a company would think the handcuffs marked "Safariland" would be easier to market than cuffs marked "Hiatt". One name sounds like a toy company, the other has a nearly 200 year record of success.
Hiatt was founded by Thomas Griffin Hiatt in the second decade of the 19th century, about 1816-17 or so. Although no one knows the exact lineage, Hiatt was almost certainly a relative of Thomas Griffin who made cuffs under the Griffin name starting in the late 18th century (perhaps in 1780).
Hiatt went on to be the most successful British handcuff company, making cuffs under its own name as well as the "Fields" brand and many others. Their main competition in later years was Froggatt, a company that was purchased by Hiatt in the 1930s.
So is this the end of Hiatt cuffs? Not necessarily. It is quite possible that someone will acquire the Hiatt trademark and market Hiatt cuffs once again.
Joe
Atlanta*Casting
#4Kinda like when GM decided for the consumer that nobody wanted a car named Oldsmobile ...
Stan Willis
#5The literature for TCH shows a rigid folding cuff, but it says it cannot be sold in the UK or the US. Does anyone know the reason for this ?
Stan
Anonymous
#6From http://handcuffwarehouse.blogspot.com/:
On another note, Geoffrey Cross, the former owner of Hiatt, has begun making a new line of handcuffs in the old Hiatt factory in Birmingham. The new handcuffs are a speedcuff copy and are called TCH (total control handcuffs). Speedcuff handcuffs are standard issue across the UK and they have been in very short supply since Hiatt closed.
Mikeintightpants
#7Yes Stan - I asked exactly that question on a recent visit to the TCH/formerly Hiatt factory here in Birmingham, England when I visited them a couple of weeks ago. The immediate answer given was "..... for patent reasons".
Interestingly, the TCH literature that I have is titled on the front page "PRODUCT RANGE - UNITED KINGDOM". On page two there's a description of TCH cuffs model #850 and #850B, described as "Folding Rigid Handcuffs" and it includes a series of pictures that appear to be absolutely identical to the Hiatt "Ultimate" model #UL1 - in fact, based on the 5 pics that are include in the literature, I reckon they ARE Ultimates, but without using that name. A footnote to the text states "NOT AVAILABLE IN THE UK OR USA".
Hope that helps, guys. Meanwhile, has anybody seen (as in actually handled!) a pair of the TCH model 800, 810, 820 or 830? (The equivalent of Hiatt's chain and hinged models). They seem to be in rather short supply at this time!!
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Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
Stan Willis
#8The published literature is the same as what is on their web site. When you were at the factory did you see the chain and hinged models or the model 850 ?
Norhandel shows them on their site, but does not have a picture of the 850. Are you able to buy from TCH or are they only making the cuffs to order for larger orders ?
Stan
Mikeintightpants
#9No, when I was at the factory I didn't see ANY hardware. Although I got a courteous reception, the atmosphere was one of secrecy - or if I give them the benefit of the doubt - discretion. I asked to photograph their current line of restraints but was told "sorry, no - for copyright reasons". Copyright?? But I was in no position to argue.
THC would not sell me anything at the door, my pair of TCH rigid cuffs came from Protec in Merseyside. When I mentioned that at the factory, they did agree that they'd supplied some to that company but said that now their policy was not to supply to the general public.
Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
Anonymous
#10Hi,
@Mike: yes, I have already handled TCH 830, I thought I already linked to those photos here... However, they are completely identical to the Hiatts, except for the markings.
And the box is nicer:
But the rest... clearly a 2054:
In more detail:
And for those who missed the Window No. 1 of our faboulous german handcuff calendar, here also a few pictures of the 840 - tactical version in comparision with a black Speedcuff:
Greetings,
Martin
Mikeintightpants
#11Thanks for re-posting those pics Martin - I had seen your post back in November under the subject-heading "TCH Limited", but hadn't realised the extent to which you'd actually handled the cuffs.
Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
Anonymous
#12Hi,
as this cuff is not sold in the US or UK I think it's my turn again to post a few pictures
The main difference is the packaging - THC doesn't use a folded box like Hiatts used to have... The handcuff itself is exactly identical to the one we know, except for the round stamping on the plastic which now reads THC.
<a href="http://pics44.de/img/i/e/e/3c27j3ru.jpg" rel="nofollow">
(2650 x 1353, 229 KB)</a>
Of course also the included manuals differ...
But not as much as one might expect. The cuff-cliparts in both are exactly the same except for the labeling, and the text is different, but not really. Mainly a few words were changed to shorten the text or whatever.
I can clearly understand why this cuff is not sold in countries where Hiatt has patents on the Ultimate but I think those are the main counties the Ultimate sold in, at least I've never seen one in official use in Germany. Howerver I wish THC good luck with their new products and am happy we won't lose the old Hiatt models even if BAE decides to drop them...
Greetings,
Martin
Anonymousini
#13Can you get these for those of us in the US and the UK that can't buy them ? I am told that Norhandel is out of stock.
Dorson
#14After having repaired a pair of those locking folding cuffs, I hope TCH is using stiffer steel in the folding lock. The lock case metal is too soft and bends to easy. Also the pivot pins need to be harder steel too...
Mikeintightpants
#15..... and it's good to see that more gear is apparently now coming out of the TCH factory. Although they're only located just a few miles away from me here in Birmingham, I've still managed only to get hold of a pair of their 840's.
Mike Riccard
a.k.a. Mikeintightpants
Birmingham, England
mtht
#16Is Hiatt truly dead? I have seen some modern looking hinged black cuffs with a modern Hiatts logo/text on them on amazon or something.
lauher
#17A couple of years ago they changed the Safariland name back to Hiatts.