Mattatuck Prototypes

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

I thought for sure that I was the high bidder. Congrats, they couldn't have found a better home.

I believed they were a prototype also, but didn't want to post here to ask anyone more knowledgeable until after the auction ended.

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

Joe,

Are these prototypes in mechanically working condition? Have you tried them?
Original Mattatuck cuffs have a questionable function/quality but maybe the
prototypes are better made.

Lars

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

Hi Lars
The new one with the single link works mostly. One side does not stay unlocked, but both side lock and unlock properly.

The one with the swivel works just fine.
Joe

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

Hi Joe,

I am interested in these handcuffs. Are these a collectors item or have they been used?

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

The one with a single link looks like it has been used. The swivel looks like it was never used much if at all.

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

Looks almost identical to the linkage and swivel from a lightweight Darby cuff.

Minus the two original round outer links.

IMHO, I think this is where it originally came from.

Cheers, Steve Santini

More than ten years ago I bought strange looking Mattatuck handcuff made with a swivel instead of the familiar three rings. The surface of the cuff had an unusual finish and side to side comparison of the cuff with a regular Mattatuck showed many small differences. A regular key worked just fine.

Just recently a very similar Mattatuck with a single link joining the two cuffs showed up on eBay. Except for the single link, this new cuff is identical to the cuff on the swivel.

I don't know the history of either cuff, but my best theory is that they were both prototypes. There is no patent for the Mattatuck cuff, but there is a patent for the Mattatuck Judd cuff which has a very similar shape. Interestingly in that patent only the cuff is shown there is no linkage presented.

Has anyone else seen another example of these unusual Mattatuck handcuffs?

Joe


The Single Link


The Swivel


Both cuffs shown with a standard Mattatuck

Click to expand...

I don't think they are prototypes as some premade parts are used, top cap bow. the bodies are bronze, if they were prototype they would be likely to be made of all the same material.