The Forum at Handcuffs.Org

Wood's Cuffs

28 visible archived posts · 28 preserved total · topic ID 3584

Ron Spitz 29 Jun 2010

This auction closed a few hours ago. The pictures show the locking bolts are missing on both locks. Someone notified the seller of this and he posted the email.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

They are a rare cuff but I am surprised at the price for them in this condition. I checked my pair and the patent papers and it sure looks incomplete to me. Am I missing something??

Ron

Dorson 29 Jun 2010

Nope Ron, you are square on target...

Damon Shields 29 Jun 2010

Ron,

All the patent pending model needs is the screw to secure the chain there is no key lock. The screw has a double hole top like the plug from a plug eight. I'm guessing the buyer probably has the where with all to make the screw- a few dollars and you have a working first model. A nice cuff for someone.

I didn't see it in time either.

Damon

Anonymous 29 Jun 2010

Ask Bushey. He's the one that bought them.

Ron Spitz 29 Jun 2010

Thanks for the info. There had to be more to it than meets the eye. I'm sure John will fill us in on this nice find. The seller did not post pictures of one of the sides where the key would have been. Given this info there would not have been a key hole. Very interesting.

Ron

John Bushey 29 Jun 2010

Hi all,
I'm surprised to have one this nice item. The Pat. Applied for version of the Woods had two simple screws. That's it. The tips of the screws were
turned down a little to enter the chain. The backs had two small slots milled to use the Key, which resembles the back end of a plug 8 key.
Well, Guess what I have here??? Parts from a few old shot cuffs I bought several years ago. I have the two screws I think that will put
this cuff back in perfect order. John

Ian McColl 29 Jun 2010

Hi John, nice purchase and good that you can make it whole again. I wish I trusted Ebay or I would have got this mother' also.

cheers

Ian

Ron Spitz 30 Jun 2010

Great buy John. I had no idea the pre patent cuff were made that way. The patent papers shows the use of a key with a bit. All the cuffs I have seen have no bit just the tapered end. Do you know of any being produced using a key with a bit as shown in the patent papers?

Ron

Mark Lyons 30 Jun 2010

Very nice find!
I just know this item will be complete and functioning in no time.
I was not aware of a pre-patent version before.
Maybe you should add some chain and make it a leg iron!
Congrats on an unusual find.

mark
O--O

John Bushey 30 Jun 2010

#10

HI Ron,
I got a new computer, old one crashed. Ron, and other friends, can you email me sending me your addresses, phone #'s, etc...

I'm really hoping the screws I have are for this cuff. It's a steel coarse threaded screw, with a flatend and the top has two
milled slots running to the edge which you can unscrew with a key similar to the back end of a plug 8 key. John

I'm rebuilding my address book since the old computer crashed. That's why I'm asking for new addresses/phone #'s, etc...

Thanks all, John

lauher 30 Jun 2010

#11

Here is a picture of one of the screws.

Joe

Unresolved image reference ↗

Dorson 30 Jun 2010

#12

So is the threading 5/16-20? Is the head notched on the other side?

John Bushey 30 Jun 2010

#13

Hi,
Yes it's notched, or milled on the other side as well. I haven't measured the two screws I have here, but mine are much cleaner than
these. If mine fit I'll have a complete and original pair, if not I'll have to machine two screws that do fit. I'm impatiently awaiting
the mailing of the cuffs and arrival here. John

John Bushey 03 Jul 2010

#14

I know some doubt that this is indeed a Woods patented product, but I believe it is. The bodies are too similar, although one is shorter.
Simpler locking mechanism. Perhaps they made this, they improved the locking mechanism and then patented it??? Anyway, the box of parts I
bought from a lock collector a few years ago had two screws. Guess what??? I got lucky, they are original screws for one of these
rare restraints. Enclosed it the photo of my new handcuff, with the two screws which fit perfectly into the handcuff. I made a working key,
and I'm thrilled with this item. Best Wishes to all, John Bushey

Unresolved image reference ↗

joe 03 Jul 2010

#15

JOHN :: very nice item.... i believe the wood cuff was made by STANLEY SMYTH....... joe

Ron Spitz 03 Jul 2010

#16

John--Very nice addition to your collection and thanks to all who posted information. We all learned a lot about this model.

Joe--If Smyth made this cuff it would not have been stamped with the Pat. Applied For markings. All the Smyth items I have (3) have Smyths' marking on them. If Smyth made a copy of the Woods cuff, which he may have, I don't think the patent stamping would be on them.

Ron

LARRY KOEWING 03 Jul 2010

#17

RON I AGREE,ALSO AS TO UR ? ABOUT THE PATENTED KEY MODEL JOE'S GALLERY SHOWS ONE WITH KEY HOLE AND I THINK YOSSIE SHOWS ONE WITH THE KEY

? FOR JOE :
THAT WOOD INSPIRED CUFF HOW DOES IT WORK , LOCK WITH KEYHOLE OR LIKE JOHN PAT.APPLED FOR MODEL, ALSO DO U THINK SMYTH MADE THAT ONE???

LK D~D

John Bushey 03 Jul 2010

#18

HI,
The model I have is plated brass or bronze. Stamped Patent applied for. How does this chain link compare with real woods cuff??
John

Ron Spitz 03 Jul 2010

#19

John--The chain on my cuffs are twisted like yours however, they "stick" to a magnet so they are not brass or bronze. The pre- patent model was probably made for trial usage and was cheaper to make using the screw locking device.

Ron

joe 03 Jul 2010

#20

LARRY & all :: i am not sure what you mean... remember, i am old & senile -- lol ..... i am sure that this woods is GENUINE, but i just thought that i would throw a TWIST into this post..... somewhere around here, i have a notebook binder filled with drawings of restraints drawn by SMYTH & a couple of other people that SMYTH wanted to make.... i KNOW that he did make several of them as letters that i have state so..... most of his items that he owned & maybe made were stamped with an --- S --- ... as to other markings who knows.... maybe - maybe not..... joe

Ron Spitz 03 Jul 2010

#21

Sorry Joe--I thought you meant this one was made by Smyth. In the Smyth catalog put out by Don Stewart there is no listing of any Wood style cuff. Of course that doesn't mean he did not make one.

At least we now know that there are at least three forms of the Wood cuff (not including reproductions):

Pre Patent with screw bolts
Patent with bited key
Patent with tapered end

This has has been educational and I'm glad I started this post.

Ron

John Bushey 03 Jul 2010

#22

HI again,
I have another patent applied for style woods. It's brass, with different chain, and obviously handmade. Definitely not McColl as I
checked with him. It's just brass with small screws like the real one, but different size/shape etc..... I'll post a photo later and maybe
someone out there can tell me who might have made it. Maybe this one is a Smyth?? Best, John
PS Thanks to all who posted and to Joe Lauer for this forum. All this information between us collectors has really enlarged our knowledge.

lauher 04 Jul 2010

#23

There is a Stanley Smyth chain cuff. A picture can be found in the Don Stewart book, page 13. And as Joe Tanner has stated. It has a "S" stampled into the side. I think everything that Stanley Smyth ever owned has tha "S" embossed.

Joe

Stanley Smyth - Woods inspired chain cuff

Unresolved image reference ↗

Ron Spitz 04 Jul 2010

#24

The cuff on page 13 of Don's book is the same as the one on page 135 in the Smyth Collection book (I looked under Woods but it was listed under chain cuffs) also put out by Don. There is more operating information in the collection book. The book does not state that it was made by Smyth although it probably was. There are several items in the book made by Smyth and does not state so, but they were marked (I have three of them and they are nice work).

Joe-the picture you posted looks like it has a lever to open it. How does it work and are there any markings on them?

Ron

Ron Spitz 04 Jul 2010

#25

Joe--looking at your picture of the Smyth cuffs, is that the square post that the key would turn and if so is it unscrewed to show the post?

Ron

John Bushey 04 Jul 2010

#26

Here is another unusual item I've had for about 25 years. I talked to Ian, and he did not make it. It's like the patent applied for Woods with screws. Bodies are entirely brass, apparently machined from one piece. Nice steel chain, the holes are oval shaped in the cuff body. There
are file markings, and it was never properly polished or really finished off. Can anyone tell me who might have made it. Enen the screws are brass on this one. The brass is old and has dark patina. It was well made, except for no markings and no real "finished" appearance. I bought this years ago at a magic collectors convention in Chicago, possibly from Don Hintz, although I can't remember, and have spoken to him and he can't remember either. He did say he sold several Wood's chain cuffs, and even a Burdick leg iron there. That much he remembers. Any ideas?? Either way, since I have an official version now I'll be selling this one, so would like to know where it came from. any idea on value??
Best Wishes, John Bushey

John Bushey 04 Jul 2010

#27

Sorry, I forgot the photo. Here it is. John

Unresolved image reference ↗

lauher 04 Jul 2010

#28

The key to the Stanley Smyth cuff is a clock key. It has a square end to match the post you see in the picture and on the handle end a "claw like" knotch that was used to pull the chain of an stand up clock. On the cuff it can be used to pull the chain through the cuff. Neat.

Joe