French "Thumb Bagnos"

<img src=http://www.cerasum.camelot.de/Cuffs/3ba ... bcuffs.jpg>
Hello fellow collectors,

some time ago I bought three almost identical "Thumb Bagnos" from French dealers – two unplated, one plated (the Bagnos, not the dealers ). I also saw such a restraint offered at the Houdini-Radner auction with an estimated value of US$ $2,500.00 - $6,000.00 (typical "Houdini Hype"). In this auction was written that those devices were used during the French Revolution (1789), but according to information I got, they were rather used in the late 19th until the first decades of the 20th century.

Does anyone of you know more about history and potential manufacturers of these "Thumb Bagnos"? And how could you distinguish between an original and a replica?

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

Hi, obviously without the thumbscrews in the hand, it is difficult to say, but just going off the photo you have supplied, the one on the right appears to be a new casting. The surface is two similar all over and the holes for the padlock have not been cleaned out.

The other two appear old and may have markers marks.

Ian

<img src=http://www.cerasum.camelot.de/Cuffs/3ba ... bcuffs.jpg>
Hello fellow collectors,

some time ago I bought three almost identical "Thumb Bagnos" from French dealers – two unplated, one plated (the Bagnos, not the dealers ). I also saw such a restraint offered at the Houdini-Radner auction with an estimated value of US$ $2,500.00 - $6,000.00 (typical "Houdini Hype"). In this auction was written that those devices were used during the French Revolution (1789), but according to information I got, they were rather used in the late 19th until the first decades of the 20th century.

Does anyone of you know more about history and potential manufacturers of these "Thumb Bagnos"? And how could you distinguish between an original and a replica?

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

Click to expand...

Thank you, Ian.

I had all three Bagnos in my hands. The right one was about 95% identical in shape to the left one. But the right one is nickel plated. Do you think it might be possible that the plating was added later (I mean decades after the casting and the use of the restraint)?

Regards,
Guenter

<img src=http://www.cerasum.camelot.de/Cuffs/3ba ... bcuffs.jpg>
Hello fellow collectors,

some time ago I bought three almost identical "Thumb Bagnos" from French dealers – two unplated, one plated (the Bagnos, not the dealers ). I also saw such a restraint offered at the Houdini-Radner auction with an estimated value of US$ $2,500.00 - $6,000.00 (typical "Houdini Hype"). In this auction was written that those devices were used during the French Revolution (1789), but according to information I got, they were rather used in the late 19th until the first decades of the 20th century.

Does anyone of you know more about history and potential manufacturers of these "Thumb Bagnos"? And how could you distinguish between an original and a replica?

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

Click to expand...

Hi Guenter, again, just looking at the photos, the one on the right just doesn't look old or handmade. In that there is not polishing to the curved inner top section and or file marks on any given part.

It is as if an original was sand cast (in a fine sand box)then removed, parts fitted togther and then nickel plated.

There might still be signs of were the sprues (feeds)for the metal. These are usually filed flush or polished off the surface.

If I was making them, I would have set the sprues at the ends of the three rocs sections, this way there would have been no cleaning up required.

The regular pattern is what caught my attention, maybe they were sand blasted and then plated.I don't know , can only guess.

Ian

<img src=http://www.cerasum.camelot.de/Cuffs/3ba ... bcuffs.jpg>
Hello fellow collectors,

some time ago I bought three almost identical "Thumb Bagnos" from French dealers – two unplated, one plated (the Bagnos, not the dealers ). I also saw such a restraint offered at the Houdini-Radner auction with an estimated value of US$ $2,500.00 - $6,000.00 (typical "Houdini Hype"). In this auction was written that those devices were used during the French Revolution (1789), but according to information I got, they were rather used in the late 19th until the first decades of the 20th century.

Does anyone of you know more about history and potential manufacturers of these "Thumb Bagnos"? And how could you distinguish between an original and a replica?

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

Click to expand...

Hi,

I just want to inform you that the right Thumb Bagno is for sale at eBay now. I guess there are some collectors or escape artist who are interested in such an unusual restraint - please have a look at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

The costs for insured US shipping are only US$ 7.00.

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

<img src=http://www.cerasum.camelot.de/Cuffs/3ba ... bcuffs.jpg>
Hello fellow collectors,

some time ago I bought three almost identical "Thumb Bagnos" from French dealers – two unplated, one plated (the Bagnos, not the dealers ). I also saw such a restraint offered at the Houdini-Radner auction with an estimated value of US$ $2,500.00 - $6,000.00 (typical "Houdini Hype"). In this auction was written that those devices were used during the French Revolution (1789), but according to information I got, they were rather used in the late 19th until the first decades of the 20th century.

Does anyone of you know more about history and potential manufacturers of these "Thumb Bagnos"? And how could you distinguish between an original and a replica?

Regards,
Guenter aka Atame

Click to expand...

Hello,

Here is a another French thumb cuff marked "ACE". According to the seller it's manufacured and used in France in the late 1800's.

Cheers,

Lars


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