Michael Busch 12 Dec 2004
#7I have variations of the Horst-Moabit handcuffs that are different from those shown in the 1960's catalog. I have posted pics at my web site, along with notes showing the differences. Can anyone help me decide which ones are older and approximate dates. Pics are at:
http://www.handcuffsandbadges.com/special.htm
thanks.
Stan
Dear Stan,
thank you very much again for your mail that I received today. Having read the thread and having seen the pictures on your site I am afraid that I cannot be of much help in dating items A and B, and in fact I now see for the first time Horst Moabit items in this configuration.
Ragarding the pivot-hinge handcuffs placing the key-holes on the outside of the cuffs can be considered a technical improvement, as problems will occur with the pivot cuffs with the key-holes on the inside as these cannot be opened when both halves of the cuff are placed on one wrist for whatever reason. This may indicate that items A and B are younger than the other cuffs.
A fact that speaks against this theory is that Horst Stein at one point made the lockcases and the bows of the model 608 (Berliner style cuff with flexible bows and no anti-slip device) larger. In my collection I have a 608 from April 1961 which is much smaller than a cuff of the same model from May 1974 that I also have. This might lead us to the conclusion that also on the swing-through models the sizes changed, possibly at some time between 04/61 and 05/74, so that A and B may be older than the other cuffs shown. Not answered is, however, why items A and B have no manufacturing dates stamped in.
Regarding the MK stamping: My older 608 cuff has a similar stamping on the lockcase. I do not know what it stands for but I assume that it is the trademark of the factory that provided Horst Stein with the parts for their cuffs. Or may it even be possible that MK made the cuffs for Horst Stein? I am in the posession of some paperwork that I received from Mrs. Stein, the widow of Mr. Horst Stein, some years ago. At that time Mrs Stein still ran the Horst Stein company, providing different items for hospitals and other institutions. As far as I remember there is a letter among these papers from Mr Stein to a company in Great Britain, where he states that "for this year the production of handcuffs again could be asured". Does one have to asure the producing of handcuffs when they are made in the own factory?
When I have the time I will try to fin out more about MK...
Best wishes,
Michael
