Tower "Bottom Key" Rivets

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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I could clearly see the rivets in the auction photo.

personally, I would leave them as is and not file down the rivets.

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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But difficult to distinguish whether the rivets protrude or not if not mentioned explicitly since you expect both cuffs to be the same.

Martin

And I think I will do so...

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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Hi Martin, I would removed them and replace them with screws (from either side) to tightly close the casing. Or rivet them tighter. Either way, then file them off and chemically patina them so both cuffs match.

Ian

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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Hello Ian,
thank you!

I filed them down. Some parts of the patina were taken off too which was intended by me. This is not a result of the file itself but of the edge of the file which isn't that sharp so the cheeks themselves haven't been damaged. Afterwards I polished it with a smooth (finger-) nail file.

As a result there are some bright and shiny areas now which are no problem since the patina will be restored soon, perhaps in a hundered years or so

Really I never would beautify a cuff with an artificial patina!

Martin

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Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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Since the time of the great Industrial revolution in the United States of America beginning mid to late 1800's, people here were

adept at making full use of goods either by repairing them when worn or broken, by the best known method or reworking them to be

used in a different manner. (What I am getting at is the fact that almost nothing was thrown away.)

People (made do) with what they had. so was coined the term of ( make do )

You can search eBay ( make do )

Who knows what the circumstance was behind the need for the repair, ( maybe a stuck key or broken spring? )

I thought the raised rivet repair gave your Tower bottom key handcuffs some extra character.

This is why I recommended that you leave them as is.

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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Yes, you are right, but I wanted to have an item as fine as possible!

Some years ago I bought an item on ebay, see photographs below. These are so called "Gestapo"-handcuffs, which are quite crude. When I received them I noticed that they had been repaired previously, which wasn't mentioned in the auction: There was a gap in the loop carrying the bolt of the bow. This gap was repaired by using a piece of steel which didn't fit the gap and which was fixed by an additional ring which widened the hinge of the bow and which required an elongated bolt.

I was a little surprised (and a little angry) about and I considered returning the cuffs. But I didn't. Instead I removed the additional ring and the wrong piece and manufactured a new one shaped according to the gap and made of aluminium like the original loop is made of. I fixed this piece without a ring by using the shortened bolt. The result can be seen below (top left of the bolt, first photograph; left bow, second photograph).

First I intended to resell these cuffs (of course I would have mentioned these circumstances). But I didn't. I have been proud of my work and I like these cuffs more than the pair in really mint condition which I bought on ebay to replace them. Now "mine" is exhibited in my display cabinet, repaired side up, while the immaculate version is stored in one of the suitcases.

According to this I really like "my" Tower "bottom key" handcuffs and I never would trade them.

Martin

Dear (fellow-) collectors!

I am a collector of handcuffs living near Stuttgart in Germany and I am the topical owner of the pair of Tower "bottom key" handcuffs introduced in the last recent auctions! Thank you to the seller. When receiving the handcuffs I noticed the extended rivets of one of the cuffs (both sides the same) which was not visible in the photograph of the auction. I think this must be the result of a reparation since I haven't seen this before on tower lock cases. Now the question is how to treat these rivets. They are not original and I think I will file them flat. Any advice and any response is appreciated! By the way of course this is no complaint since the seller himself might not have noticed these circumstances.

Kind regards,
Martin

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Martin, here is a pik of one pair Tower bottom key cuffs I have.



They are still in the original patinated condition as when I acquired them.

I too have bought my share of junk handcuffs that the seller either didn't know or chose not to show the wear or damage.

I put them together some time ago as a lot and sold all of them as is for parts.

That way the person receiving them knew what they were getting and I was rid of them with a clear conscience.

Being that your Tower bottom key cuffs are unplated, just handling them will put the patina back where you filed down the rivets. Just give it some time.

Best regards.