Hiatt Darby "1894"

I have a pair of Hiatt Darby handcuffs stamped "1894" and a key that is too short to reach the bolt. The key has threads in it which don't match any standard tap that I have, so I'm in the position of trying to figure out how I can get a working key. The cuffs themselves are in great shape, and we want to use them as part of a display inside an old jail that a group of us are restoring into a little museum (in a ghost town in Arizona, USA). Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to get/make a working key for this model?

Glenn,
Try Ian McColl, ([email protected]) or Cannons Great Escapes([email protected]).
Cannons is in California and Ian is in Australia. You may have to send the cuff to them but you will have a fine working piece in the end.

Damon

I have a pair of Hiatt Darby handcuffs stamped "1894" and a key that is too short to reach the bolt. The key has threads in it which don't match any standard tap that I have, so I'm in the position of trying to figure out how I can get a working key. The cuffs themselves are in great shape, and we want to use them as part of a display inside an old jail that a group of us are restoring into a little museum (in a ghost town in Arizona, USA). Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to get/make a working key for this model?

Glenn,

Are the handcuffs marked Hiatt 1894 or just 1894?

I have a set, both handcuffs and leg irons that the screw pin is set in much farther
than on regular Darby type cuffs.

The thread is different than both the Hiatt and Froggatt and neither of their keys would
fit even if long enough.

The only markings on them are a # 7 on the bow of the handcuff and a # 14 on the bow of the
leg iron.

Both are of Hiatt quality but no idea as to the maker of these cuffs.

I have a pair of Hiatt Darby handcuffs stamped "1894" and a key that is too short to reach the bolt. The key has threads in it which don't match any standard tap that I have, so I'm in the position of trying to figure out how I can get a working key. The cuffs themselves are in great shape, and we want to use them as part of a display inside an old jail that a group of us are restoring into a little museum (in a ghost town in Arizona, USA). Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to get/make a working key for this model?

Thanks for the pointers... I'll check out the possibilities from both Cannon and McColl.

To answer the other question, these cuffs are stamped "HIAT" and underneath that "BIRM" on both cuffs (although the surface is curved, so it appears that the final "T" didn't get stamped). They also have a stamp to the right of that which has "M & C" on the first line, and "1894" underneath that.

Also, on the hinge strap is the number "156" stamped on both cuffs.

Opposite the keyhole on the barrel is a circular pattern of "Y"-ish looking stamps, with a final "Y" in the middle of the circle. Those are the only markings I can find on them.

I have a pair of Hiatt Darby handcuffs stamped "1894" and a key that is too short to reach the bolt. The key has threads in it which don't match any standard tap that I have, so I'm in the position of trying to figure out how I can get a working key. The cuffs themselves are in great shape, and we want to use them as part of a display inside an old jail that a group of us are restoring into a little museum (in a ghost town in Arizona, USA). Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to get/make a working key for this model?

Sounds like you have a rather old strap hinge set of Hiatt darbies there.

Only the older models were made with the raised strap hinge and the BIRM stamping is also early and denotes that they were made in Birmingham.

These show up much more infrequently than the usual Hiatt darbies.

Cheers, Steve

I have a pair of Hiatt Darby handcuffs stamped "1894" and a key that is too short to reach the bolt. The key has threads in it which don't match any standard tap that I have, so I'm in the position of trying to figure out how I can get a working key. The cuffs themselves are in great shape, and we want to use them as part of a display inside an old jail that a group of us are restoring into a little museum (in a ghost town in Arizona, USA). Anyone have any ideas how I might be able to get/make a working key for this model?

GLENN IT WILL NOT LOOK GOOD AS A KEY BUT TO JUST OPEN THEM TRY A PEICE OF COPPER TUBING ,SIZED TO FIT ,PRESS FIRMLY AND THREAD IT THEN PULL TO RELEASE,BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO SHOULDER TO DRAW THE SNAP OPEN
D~D LK