Unusual Harvard Handcuff

Recently picked up a ? un-documented pair of Harvard Handcuffs. I am fairly certain they are genuine and they take a solid key. They appear to be similar to the 1st model and are marked Harvard Lock Company New York. The key which again appears original is solid brass and fits in the key way from either side. The bows are not milled and in the lock case there are 2 sets of plates to secure the bow.
The other photo for comparison is the normal model 1 cuff with milled grooves and 4 sets of locking plates. Is anyone familiar with this solid key model?

Hi Chris

Thanks for the picture. I have not seen a solid key model before. However, the number of plates is know to vary so that part is not new.

Your key looks quite unusual. Are you sure this in not a post factory modification? Could a user have removed the pin and cut out the back hole?

In any case one more odd ball Harvard cuff.

thanks
Joe

Recently picked up a ? un-documented pair of Harvard Handcuffs. I am fairly certain they are genuine and they take a solid key. They appear to be similar to the 1st model and are marked Harvard Lock Company New York. The key which again appears original is solid brass and fits in the key way from either side. The bows are not milled and in the lock case there are 2 sets of plates to secure the bow.
The other photo for comparison is the normal model 1 cuff with milled grooves and 4 sets of locking plates. Is anyone familiar with this solid key model?

Hi folks,

I've got a set of Harvard cuffs that are about as close to mint as you can possibly get. They are marked Harvard Lock Company New York, use a barrel key, but the bows are not milled. They have 2 plates inside, but I'm quite certain that the key is not original. They work very well, with strong springs, and both double lock well. They have the chain connectors as shown in the pictures above. They have 2 right cuffs rather than a right and a left cuff. Is this a variation you are familiar with, and can anyone offer an approximate value of these cuffs (key and cuffs only, no box or instructions)?

Phil

Recently picked up a ? un-documented pair of Harvard Handcuffs. I am fairly certain they are genuine and they take a solid key. They appear to be similar to the 1st model and are marked Harvard Lock Company New York. The key which again appears original is solid brass and fits in the key way from either side. The bows are not milled and in the lock case there are 2 sets of plates to secure the bow.
The other photo for comparison is the normal model 1 cuff with milled grooves and 4 sets of locking plates. Is anyone familiar with this solid key model?

Because these cuffs were mostly sold to the military, the materials used to make them seem to be a "what was on hand" rule.

This accounts for differences in the number of plates making up the bodies of the cuffs.

Also the number of plates that make up the ratchets differ. I have seen one, two, three, and four ratchet plates.

Steve Santini