Hiatt Darby - Newer or Older - Any experts who could tell from this listing here?

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

They do not say British Made so they are earlier than 1920. My guess is late 19th century or early 20th. Say 1880-1920.
Joe

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Joe. Here is what the seller told me about the finish:

"The handcuffs have not got an overall brown look, but more brown with what looks like a 'marbled' greyish/silvery look showing through in parts."

Doesn't that make them sound newer? And what is your take on lightly cleaning them. Yes or no.


Thank you,
Dan

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

I would clean them with soap and water, but not much else. The finish looks fine to me.

Joe

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

some people like them to look like this as it makes them look old and some people like to cleen them to make them look like new. so do what you think looks best.

martin

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

I would only use some mineral oil to clean them up with to get the loose oxidation and stuff off. To make them bright and shiny takes a lot of work and then you need to seal them with a clear enamel finish to prevent oxidation. It will also show more of the pitting and other flaws. One of the determining factors should be whether they are wrought iron or steel. From the pictures and how the patina looks as well as the description, I would say it is wrought iron. Wrought iron doesn't rust like steel does and rust on wrought iron is sort of a protective finish in of itself. I think somewhere in the past was a discussion on the difference between the 2 metals and there characteristics.

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

Here's the thread....
http://www.network54.com/Forum/261154/m ... y+Question

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

so how do you tell wrought iron from steel

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

Hi, wrought means that they are malleable iron, now called steel. Not brittle cast iron.

You cannot tell by looking.

Ian

I came across these on Ebay and I don't know if they are older, or are they just dirty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hiatt-Handcuffs-N ... otohosting

If anyone is able to tell from the photos there as to their approx age/time period... I'd greatly appreciate it. I seem to think they are newer (circa 1970-1980's rather than WWII era. Any opinions?

Thank you

Dan
(DMR)

Click to expand...

Wrought is roughly the modern equivalent of "Forged." The steel is formed to shape with hammer blows, usually in a die.

But forged stuff can be if iron, classically "wrought iron," which is a specific material as much as a method of construction, or steel of various grades. "Hard" indicates that it is medium to high carbon steel, and has been hardened by quenching and tempering. Wrought iron or mild steel do not heat-harden significantly.

You can estimate the various grades of iron or steel by touching it to a grinding wheel. The sparks look different for the different grdes. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend applying a nice pair of cuffs to a grinding wheel. There's a "gun" type metal analyzer that will tell you the composition of metals, but it'$ big buck$.