Hiatt leather belt

After I bought a Hiatt leather belt, but before it arrived, I emailed a few collectors to ask their opinion. The opinions ranged from reproduction to authentic. Now that I have it, there is no doubt in my mind that it is 100% authentic. No markings on the belt, but the cuffs are marked "Hiatt British Made". There is a metal liner inside the belt. The same keys fits the cuffs and end lock. The leather key and wrench holder came with it. It makes sense that the cuffs would be interchagable, so you did not need a separate belt for each size of cuff. This way teh cuffs are easily chaged to a different size as needed. It is impossible to remove the bolt on the clevis without the wrench (or another tool). I think the cuffs and belt date to the 1960's. I am interested in anyone elses opinion.
Thanks.
Stan

Without a doubt Stan the belt is a genuine Hiatt product. Very interesting to see the kit that came with it (never seen one before). I do have a set of Hiatt Home Office pattern cuffs that were presumably on a belt and have the correct fastenings so would be easily interchangable with the belt.
I would think the date to be nearer 1970, this was about the time when Hiatt changed they key design and 7 years before they introduced their alloy pattern cuffs.
You certainly got a good deal there!
Chris Gower

Thanks Chris:
I was thinking late 60's, early 70's. Every once in a while Mark Lyons misses omething on ebay. I think several collectors did not bid because they thought the way the cuffs are attached is not correct.
Stan

Hi All,

I was one of the collectors who thought the way the cuffs are attached is not correct. And I was also suspicious, because of these strange pouch, which seems to be attached to the belt on the auction's picture. Now I know better. Congratulations, Stan, for this nice bargain!

Best regards,
Guenter

Hey Stan,

I think you done good. The first time I saw one of those, the hokey clevis and bolt connection made me sure they were fake. Then every one I saw after that were the same so I realized that they were supposed to be that way. But I never knew why.

I think you've solved a big mystery. The funny looking bolt and clevis are there to enable changing the cuffs for different sizes. Ohhhhh....

Hopefully Mark won't see the next one.

Brad