Tower parts anyone?????

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Great photos John. Thanks for sharing.

Damon

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Hey John, I am curious about the photo showing the Tower handcuff bodies. How is the hole for the bow arm cleared out? I am assuming that the casting has some sort of filler for that that is removed?

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Hi Bruce, A separate piece call a CORE , made of sand and a glue(?), is prepared. This is the reverse of how the cuff are cast. The sand core is made in a metal box and produces and removable piece, after the body is cast.
This core has the shape of the hole of the interior of the lock body ( where the bow would travel thru) and has the same shape as the protruding ends on the photo of the lock bodies.
When the mould is made in the sand of the lock bodies, they will also produce a hollow section for the core to fit into. After the metal is poured, the sand of the core is smashed out, leaving the track for the bow.

Hope this makes sense.

Ian

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

John;

Thanks again for all the many FanTastiC things you always find and keep bringing to our stunned attention.

Just when we get to thinking we have learned about... heard of... maybe collected, no wait, seen! then nope! John's got another one.

Well, keep 'em comin please.

Elliot

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

John, thank you for taking and posting these amazing pics! I have heard about these molds and castings from the owner and hoped someone would shoot some photos of it. Next step is getting him to part with this stuff. LOL! I know, that's about as likely as getting me to part with my Palmers or my Tower Single Lock 3-Way cuffs......never gonna happen. =)

Cheers, Mike D~C/

P.S. I e-mailed you about an unrelated topic.

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Wow, amazing stuff indeed, especially to still have the moulds in existance, glad they missed the scrapmans eye. looking at these pictures has got me thinking, i do not have a nice late single link double lock tower cuff in my collection, can anyone help?....chris...handcuff_collector@live.ca (no, not a george brett alias!).

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

There is at least one on eBay every week. Keep watching and you will find one for a price that you can live with.

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

cheers mike, i am not a great fan of ebay, (who is?), and i do look on there from time to time, so far no luck with a single link model, seen a few three link ones, but i just don't like the look of those three twisted links!. not very pleasing to the eye, if you get my drift. thanks again though for the heads up, chris.

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Chris, you can also post a Wanted thread here on the forum. There might be a collector who is looking to part with a pair and your thread would save them the trouble of listing them on eBay. I have had great success using this forum to buy, sell, and trade items and avoiding the world wide flea market (eBay). The cuffs you are seeking are very common and I think you will have no trouble finding a pair......just make sure that both cuffs work properly before you buy them. The Tower Double Lock cuffs are infamous for not working right. =)

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Okay, Let's see if I get this right, maybe Ian or someone can correct or fill in the blanks...
The molds you see look to be Aluminum and what they are used for is pouring the wax into for the lost wax process. The wax is a hard wax compared to candle wax. Then you take the wax casting and then pour a material like plaster of paris but will withstand the head of molten metal like steel. When it has hardened, then it is heated up so the wax melts out of the mold. Then the mold is probably heated and the molten metal poured into the mold and let cool. Then the mold is broken a part to get the casting. Then from there you cut it off and do whatever machining is necessary for assembly and finally finished product.

-Dorson

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Hi Dorson, These patterns are used in foundry sand casting, a different process to lost wax casting.
In sand casting, the aluminium pattern is set between two boxes filled with sand. (these boxes are usually top and bottom less rectangular steel tubes)
After the sand has been compressed, the boxes are parted and the pattern removed. The boxes have interlocking tabs, so when they are put together again, they line up exactly.
Molten metal is poured between and when cooled the sand is smashed away. Leaving a Tree of given parts.
Cores, made of sand compressed in a core moulds can be set within the voids made by the pattern parts and when the metal is poured, they create cavities, such as the curved groove in the handles of the chain twisters and bow holes in the Tower locks (reference photos above)

This is very, very brief. Best to google sand casting.
Ian

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

I have done sand casting when I was a teenager but not using that process. We just set the pattern into the cope and drag. Also learned that sand treated with oil instead of water produced a much nicer finish. Keep in mind all we were equipped to do was Aluminum casting... Thanks for clearing that up as I couldn't tell from the photo's.

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Dorson. the method you used, where the mold is placed into the dope, the drag placed, and sand rammed around it, is the old style method. It's still generally used for small runs, as the molds are easier to make. Sheet molds are expensive to make. There's no difference in principle, just how the mold is created.

The Foth molds were probably first made the way you describe, then cast into an aluminum sheet, and that used as the permanent mold.

Hello everyone,
Anyone need Tower parts? Here is only part of a collection of the Foth Tower manufacturing parts.
Seen are the original molds used to cast the keys, parts for handcuffs or chain twisters. Also
seen are many parts, some still on the casting trees, including lock body parts, oval rings,
clevis's, etc... A box with all the springs and internal guts of Tower cuffs is also seen.
I can't post more photos, but this collection also contains a box with all the drill jigs,
punches, etc... to assemble the Tower cuffs. There are other molds, parts, and a guy could
probably go into production if he really wanted to! Would anyone want to buy a whole tree of
key blanks?? I think it would be a great item. What a fantastic piece of history.
I think an article or even small book could be written by what is in this collection.
Thanks to owner for permission to post these photos. There is a lot more, like the boxes of parts
of come-a-longs, tower beans, and other fantastic items. I've had the
pleasure of seeing this stuff several times, and it blows me away every time I see it. Thought I'd post
some of it here for all of us to enjoy. Best Wishes, John Bushey

Click to expand...

Yes Dennis and Ian, it was the old method as we were doing one at a time in the junior high school metal shop. We had 2 different sand pits and the quality wasn't bad at all when we were done. I actually wound up making some of the patterns for the shop as I was pretty good at it. But I had a knack for working with my hands anyway a bit of a type A personality when it came to making things. I also don't see why a wooden pattern can't be made instead of Aluminum for a small run. My ex housemate had a wooden gear about 2 feet in diameter that used to be a pattern for casting. What gets me is to be able to do the keys and get the metal to flow into the smaller part of the cavity and make a good key for sand casting.

On another note, I don't suppose that collector wound up with the Cobb(flat key) patterns?