Ball and chain stumper

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

I have seen pictures of balls with those handles attached, no chain, used as weight training in Russia.

Howy
Cincy

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Those are called Kettlebells - it isnt a kettlebell. Here are a few links of similar ones:

http://www.blacksteel.com/hcs/index.cgi?
section=Collection&subsection=&find=&type=12&manufacturer=&collector =

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2011/
post-4096-0-97345700-1323628013.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soupenvy/2910313437/in/
set-72157607708255836

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7553334

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Youll need to copy and paste those links they dont seem to work as click throughs

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Well, it's not your standard ball and chain (such as a Tower) which would be used for a restraint. However it could be what is considered a prison ball and chain which means...whatever crap they could conjur up to use....they would use. It may have served it purpose at the time for just that or dozens of other uses such as a gate weight. Without a leg iron or such attatched it has relatively no monetary or collector value other than a coversation piece or for someone else's project. It's not the first example thought to be an authentic ball and chain and won't be the last. Wish I had better news for you but if nothing else it could make a neat story.

Cheers

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

So anything that isnt a a tower isnt a ball and chain? Tower seems to be the only one to advertise them and I have seen no other manufacturer attributed to making them. Did you look at the links I posted? This isnt a gate weight, clock weight, kettlebell, ag weight, scale weight, marine weight. Its definitely designed for use with a chain and seemed to be used in an institution where a number was etched in it near the handle.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Oh, what wonderful memories.

Some nearly half a century ago, I cobbled together a ball and chain using one of those things.

And I had a hell of a story to go with it.

How the poor prisoners were forced to use that handle to lift it up and drag it about. And how the number cast on the side was somehow or another a designation of how dangerous they were.

All sorts of stuff.

Made a great story, for a twelve year old.

Sorry to bust anybody's bubble, but what you have is a counterweight to an old sheet metal brake (used to bend sheet metal). The rectangular slot, just above the ball, runs along the fulcrum, and the handle is, well, the handle used to lift the ball along the notches of the fulcrum.

Could this item have been used to restrain some horrible criminal in ancient times? Sure. Maybe.

Just like I used my creation, incorporating chain I swiped from a swing set, with an old Yale lock, to get even with Jimmy Dolan in 1964.

I don't remember why Jimmy and I were at odds with one another. But I do recall my father making me carry that damned counterweight back to Mr. Reynolds, the owner of the sheet metal shop, and apologize for boosting it from behind his place of business.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

I'm not sure your question or argument. Certainly before Tower ever made ball and chains they we're still around...and after. As I stated, this COULD'VE been used for that purpose and if so... Well then it's a ball and chain in this case. However I have seen these weights many a time not being used for that purpose. What I will bank on is that this particular "ball" was not manufactured for such reasons even if that's how it ended up. If a Pakistani repro cuff was used to restrain someone at some point in time...doesn't change that it's a reproduction knock off cuff. Similiar can be said for your piece. Either way it doesn't have a shackle attached and therefore incomplete and we will never know. What I do know is that out of the three items in your above picture the so called ball and chain is of the least value and interest.

Oh, what wonderful memories.

Some nearly half a century ago, I cobbled together a ball and chain using one of those things.

And I had a hell of a story to go with it.

How the poor prisoners were forced to use that handle to lift it up and drag it about. And how the number cast on the side was somehow or another a designation of how dangerous they were.

All sorts of stuff.

Made a great story, for a twelve year old.

Sorry to bust anybody's bubble, but what you have is a counterweight to an old sheet metal brake (used to bend sheet metal). The rectangular slot, just above the ball, runs along the fulcrum, and the handle is, well, the handle used to lift the ball along the notches of the fulcrum.

Could this item have been used to restrain some horrible criminal in ancient times? Sure. Maybe.

Just like I used my creation, incorporating chain I swiped from a swing set, with an old Yale lock, to get even with Jimmy Dolan in 1964.

I don't remember why Jimmy and I were at odds with one another. But I do recall my father making me carry that damned counterweight back to Mr. Reynolds, the owner of the sheet metal shop, and apologize for boosting it from behind his place of business.

Click to expand...

Your Prisoner story is more likely than the sheet metal brake story. Had you used a metal brake you'd know the weight goes through more than 100 degrees of swing there is no way a loose weight on a notched rod would stay. Nor is there any wear on the casting from such use. Metal brake weights are fixed with pins or set screws even on the earliest models. I worked for a third generation sheet metal/blacksmith shop with manual and overhead shaft driven machinery from the industrial revolution. I'm calling shenanigans on your story.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Josh,
The ball is definitly the most intriguing as there is a bit of a mystery to it. The other stuff was easy to determine its origin and use. The monetary value doesn't concern me. The ball initially seemed easy enough when every picture i found online of a similar item called it a restraint. Now i have my doubts about the ball to be sure but honestly no other use makes much sense. There are lots of photos online showing this type of ball with leg shackles some in the links posted above(not that anyone has seemed to have bothered to look at them). There is not much good information about balls and chains beyond the tower out there. For such an icon of restraints I'm surprised.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Ike:

I know my tale may sound odd.

But it is the truth.

I may be wrong about the sheet metal brake, but I remember all those things behind Mr. Reynold's shop on Burleson Street in McCamey, Texas, just two blocks from where we lived. He had so many of them, I figured he wouldn't miss the one I snagged.

It was out in the West Texas oil fields, and it was a long time ago. I remember my fascination watching that old man, surrounded in a cloud of cigar smoke, move those counterweights around on long levers of antique whatevers to manipulate with ease iron bars and metal plates into all shorts of shapes.

In any event, congratulations on what you have. Regardless of original purpose, it is indeed a relic of bygone days.

And damned heavy. Daddy wouldn't let me drag it back in the manner I drug it home. I had to lift and carry it back to Mr. Reynolds', with the definite assurance that my father's razor strop would meet my butt for every time I let that thing touch the ground. Longest two blocks I ever walked in my life.

Oh, yes. I distinctly remember that thing.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

HI
Ive had a couple of these balls over the years
they were used at first as ships ballast
later on becuase of what they are they lent themselves handily to being parts of prison made ball and chain restraints

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Again, I repeat it's the least interesting piece of the three. You saying that it indeed is means nothing as you have no idea what "it" is nor do you know what the others are let alone the history behind them. I was trying to drop you a settle hint. Forget about the junk piece.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Josh,
It may be the least interesting to you, but the tower leg irons and the delestatius cuffs arent that interesting to me. They are a known quantity. I'll probably sell them.

Marty,
These could have been used as counterweights, but I dont think that was their original purpose. I have been using antique metal forming equipment all my life and have never seen anything like them. If they were as common as you say, then Im sure I would have come accross them.

Michael,
Thanks for the input. This seems feasible but a couple things bother me about that explanation. It seems like a very expensive and large casting for ships ballast. Being a diver, all the ships balast I have ever encountered has been stone. The stone was loaded onto the ship, and dumped when the ship was to loaded with cargo. It seems an unruly size to have in the bottom of a ship and an expensive casting to get rid of. This ball also has a hole in it which appears to be designed for chain. Why would ballast need a chain? Anyway if you have any additional information about this type of ball being used as ballast Id love to hear about it. Came up with very little online.


Further thoughts. I am inclined to think that perhaps the 3 relates to the weight of the casting in stone. Its awfully close to 3 stone (42 lbs) when weighed (47lb). Its possible this came from england. I am amazed at how many of these or very similar examples are in institutions described as restraints. I hope to get to the bottom of this. Thanks for all of your help.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

I am going to offer the forum members a couple of ball and chains that I acquired from the United States, I believe these to be military made from the mid 1800's. The leg shackle is adjustable , it can be used on the ankle area of the leg and also around the neck. The chain links are all hand forged , the swivels are also hand forged. the chain on both have three different sized links. The length of chain is 7 foot 2 inches on one, the other is 7 foot 6 inches. The weight of the first ball is 21.8 pounds, the second is 22.00 pounds , the total weight is 26.6 and 26.8 . Near identical in length and weight . Manufactured by the same person or company. The ball also has a unique attachment for the chain going to the ball, both are the same. I do believe this is one of the earliest manufactured restraints made in the United States, one by itself is an oddity but two near identical pieces makes for an extremely rare item, one made with a purpose, the quality shows it was made by skilled craftsman, not a hurried up cobbled together piece. Who else has that type of time on their hands, except maybe a government contractor. I hope to hear from others who may have similar ball and chain restraints.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Here is some more info I have found:

Currently there is one ball of exactly this type on display at the National POW Museum in Andersonville and two similar ones on display at the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville. I have emailed these institutions as well as the Old State Museum in Arkansas to get more information about why they have fishing weights or whatever they are on display I also found, in the information given to me with these restraints, some notes on where various items in this gentleman's collection came from. Interestingly, there was a note for the ball and chain. I call the number and it was disconnected, so I looked up the name and was lucky enough to find a current number. I reached a fellow by the name of Bill in Ontario California who is 87 years old. He sold this ball to the father of the fellow I got it from about 35 years ago. Bill proceeds to tell me that after he retired, he and his wife would travel around buying antiques they thought were unique or interesting . They purchased the ball from a fellow in Arkansas who worked as a warden for the state prison system there.

I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with him and he was very pleasant and gave me all the information he could remember. He was amazed I had found him after 35 years and was pleased to hear about the whereabouts of the ball. I find it to be an amazing coincidence that all of these phony balls are coming out of the south eastern united states prison system. In most cases, directly from the prison systems. Im trying to track down the guy he got the ball from to see if he can tell me more but I think he may be deceased. I also hope to hear back from the curators of the museums with them on display. Some slick traveling salesman must have made a fortune selling these machinery weights/kettlebells/ships ballasts/gate weights to prisons back in the day I guess . . . More when I find it

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Trusting a museums word on provenance would be a poor assumption. Nearly every collector here can show an example of where a museum has been way off base on either the description or the name of an item. I'd say there was high likelihood that your ball and chain was probably just that. However that "weight" being used was not made for that purpose but seems to do the job just fine. I guess if your mission is to find specifically what that weight was made for then perhaps that's a means to an end. If your trying to show that it was specifically made for the use of a ball and chain then your wasting your time. I do know a collector that used that exact style of weight and cut off the top portion and made his own ball and chain. He can't really help though as he found two of them at an antique mall and bought them with strict intentions of morphing them. Perhaps I can get a photo to show his end result.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

I certainly agree that museums frequently make mistakes (paintings attributed to the wrong artist etc) However I also think its a little too much of a coincidence that all of these relatively proximate, but wholly separate historical institutions are making the same error. It also strikes me as odd that the ONLY references to them online are as restraints. Furthermore, the evidence regarding its origin points to that use at least during part of its existence. Nothing even remotely similar comes up searching for these other uses. Hopefully I'll come up with something more concrete regarding its original use, and we'll all learn something new.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Now this is a ball and chain! But I must get a bigger car

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Hello mister,

Maybe you would like to trade your authentic ball and chain, minus the shackle part for an authentic piece of fossilized dinosaur doodie that Ruff just dug up?

Dennis

Sounds awesome - I will sweeten the deal with an authentic kick in the teeth



PS - they are called coprolites

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Unless classified as a cannon ball, practically all steel or cast iron balls are considered to be one end of a ball and chain by almost every antique peddler or museum official, especially if it has any protrusion welded or attached to it.

Just the same for any old key larger than average size. Makes sense to them that it must be a jail key as they know jail locks are big.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Tom's pictures raised a question in my mind. Forget the ball, or wherever it may have come from, but (1) how is the ball attached to the chain and (2) how does the whole affair get attached to the prisoner?

Typically, when these things pop up on eBay or other auctions, they have some sort of leg iron on them. For the ones Tom has, that incredibly cool adjustable shackle thing is adjustable for use either on a leg or a neck.

Dug around a bit and found this picture from the Texas Prison Museum. Sorry for the small size and lack of detail. From what I can tell, both of these items use a neck collar.


Here's two photos I borrowed from the Forum's article on Tower articles:


What's instructive to me is that the chain has a swivel in it. Tom's articles have two swivels, one at the ball and another halfway along the chain (like the Tower).

As I understand it, one of the reasons for using a ball in the first place, as opposed to a big hunk of stone or other heavy object, is to allow the prisoner serving a sentence at "hard labor" to roll the ball along the ground while he performed whatever manual hard labor tasks to which he was assigned. Hence the need for a swivel mechanism somewhere in the chain assembly to prevent kinking.

Now, in Ike's instance, the handle would also serve to make it more expedient for the prisoner to move the thing along as he chopped cotton, broke up rocks, dug ditches or whatever.

I know that nobody likes to reveal details of the source of their items, but if Tom would be kind enough, I for one would like to know any history he can share on his two items. As he noted, having one of these things is a curiosity, but having two, substantially identical ones is really odd. Looking at the photo of the construction of the shackles, in all their detail, I think belies any question that these are indeed purpose made items for prisoner restraint, and not a "made up item".

That combination flexible leg/neck apparatus is fascinating.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Marty; I got the first ball and chain from eBay, I was the only bidder, and I was real happy to get it. The second ball and chain came from an American lawyer who just gave me the ball and chain, he sent it to me as a gift, he did tell me who the original owner was, an American escape artist, who regularly sells on eBay.I was given the ball and chain as he said one is nothing by itself , but two together makes for something special. There are probably more examples of the same design out there but none have showed up so far, so I have the only two known examples. I believe these were made in the mid to early 1800`s, because of the adjustable leg-neck shackle. Thanks for the photo of the other ball and chain with the neck collars, I would like to have one of those in my small collection. I am always looking to buy or trade for ball and chains, I do have some interesting restraints that I would consider trading.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

when i first got that ball and chain many years ago, the gentleman that i bought it from wasnt sure what it was
he ran across it way down south. He was told it was used for either neck or leg and I had to agree with him. It was the most unusual ball and chain I had ever seen. Now to see a second one, thats cool.

I ended up getting rid of several balls and chains (no divorce pun here) I would love to learn who made this style

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Thanks Michael for that information, your name was mentioned as the previous owner of the ball and chain. My ball and chain came from the southern US but was part of a collection a son was selling from his deceased fathers estate, he had no information to go with it. It does fit around the neck, although tight it could be worn that way. Yes this is truly an unusual ball and chain.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Tom:

An American lawyer GAVE you one of those?????

That's a lot better story than anything I could ever come up with.

Anyway. Back to topic.

What I am seeing here, amongst all the threads:

These old ball and chains all seem to come "from the South" and they were made to go around a neck, rather than a leg.

In all honesty, I don't know where this is going, but the neck versus leg thing is really beginning to fascinate me. In the cryptic historical accounts I've run across, all that is ever said is that the person was "placed in a ball and chain" or similar words.

I had always assumed that meant a leg iron arrangement. But it seems that assumption on my part may be in error.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Yes Marty an American lawyer did just give them to me, Michael Griffin should remember who he sold them to. I was stunned also, but after getting to know this gentleman, I am still in awe of this gift he gave to me, his friendship.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Hi
its not unusual at all to give handcuffs or things as surprises
i have given several things to other collectors with out letting them know it was coming,,,,kinda cool actually
ya just never know.....

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

The problem is you have a ball, a chain, and what appears to be a padlock. The chain is rather large to be a restraint chain, and there is no fixture for attaching to to a person. Since the items can be seperated, or could at one time, there is no assurance they were originally together.

So you have a ball and a chain, but very likely not a ball-and-chain.

The cast in number? Whatever it came from, it may have been No. 3 size. We still designate some sizes and weights by numbers.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Looks like a weight from a scale.

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Anyone interested in a Tower Ball and Chain?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220958409612?ss ... 1423.l2649

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Hi, just bought on similar to yours, mine has no numbers but is same design, mine weighs around 50 pounds on the bathroom scales, have you found any additional information regarding yours, thanks Steve

Hello,
I recently purchased some restraints from a collection. Some rankin cuffs, some tower leg irons and most perplexing a ball and chain. It has a large "3" cast into it as well as a number etched below the handle. Ive seen about a dozen similar balls and chains photographed in collections, museums and auctions online (most look like more legitimate institutions FWIW). I think its kosher but I have spoken with another collector who thinks its original use is not a restraint but some sort of agricultural or commercial weight. Thoughts? Anyone seen another? The chain appears original and the last link is longer so that it can pass through the eye of the ball. Its pretty cool whatever it is:

Follow up thought, from the design and from looking up pictures of old ball and chains, I would think it would be more likely that it is designed for a 2 leg leg iron, the chain would be through the rectangular hole and shackled to each ankle of the prisoner, the handle is for transportation, by the guards since they have to shackle and unshackle the prisoners before and after the work detail, and then put the balls back in storage, and also by the prisoners, after you shackle them , if you bus them to the work site, they have to be able to load and unload from the bus, and walk to the field, or work site. Some of the Balls with handles from the pic I have seen have the handle separate from where the chain attaches into the ball, for a single leg iron, As far a manufactures goes, there were a lot of small foundries around, we had one in Jackson Mo, which was a tiny town, they would make you a wooden mold of item you wanted and use it to cast your item out of cast iron, it was in business from long ago into the 1970's, Any prison or county jail that wanted a ball set up , seems to me would just contact the local foundry and place an order, support the local economy, and a cast iron ball would be an easy item for any foundry. Plus if you consider the weight factor, if you ordered one from a big city manufacture, you would have to have it shipped by train, then pick it up with horse and wagon, verses having your local foundry just make it. Turn of century things were different.