A Japanese Handcuff. Was it inspired by the Wisner and Hoyt?

Joe Tanner had this cuff on sale on eBay several times.  I finally decided to buy it.
He thought it was German and that it had made its way to Japan in some mysterious way. 
I think it is simply a Japanese cuff with Japanese markings.

The cuff is very well made with a heavy chain and well constructed body.  Once I had it in hand I
realized that the cuff that it most resembles is a Wisner and Hoyt.  Not a copy, just a more robust cuff
based upon the same simple mechanism and over all "feel".  Perhaps the maker was inspired by the
Wisner and Hoyt patent.


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Here are a couple of pictures of a Wisner and Hoyt for comparison



So what do you think?  Does anyone else have a cuff like this one?
Joe

Congratualations to a great addition Joe!

I agree, these are for sure Japanese. I have a photo of a similar set from a Japanese museum.

As far as I know; only Fred Pittella and Mark Lyons have a similar set. The original key is very odd and i belive only Fred has one.

The design to them certainly emulate the Wisner cuffs. Does these also have springs on each side?

Lars

Lars - Yes there are springs on both sides.

I don't think it was an inquired designed. I don't think the two would have known anything of the other. Why only take open aspect of the design? why not also copy the swivel, the number of notches, the bow going thru the casing to accommodate more size variations? The Japanese have been making spring mechanism lock of all type for centuries. 

The Japanese museum pair (bottom) is a bit different as it has the protruding keyway cap which is raised off the surface and it appears that the bow is broken or is otherwise not very adjustable.

The key seems to be a take off of the Marlin key in which the top blades are only used to secure the key in the key hole when turning.
The bottom blades do all the work as they retract the locking springs.

I believe that the museum pieces are older than the 3 known North American examples as the keyhole cap is much harder to make and deserving of a more simplistic design as manufacturing progressed.

oops,  I recall that mine did not have the caps and were flush like the Wisner.
I had to grab them out of the safe to verify that they do indeed have the caps too.

Thanks Mark. It is very interesting to see the original key.
It is also nice to see the cuffs displayed next to a pair of the cuffs we call the "Luna",

Joe! Great cuff to add to the collection! In really nice shape, too! Congrats!
-Richard Knip-

"The key seems to be a take off of the Marlin key" Yes the Japanese came to america just to copy this idea because there was no other way to achieve the same end. funny. SMH

 
Joe Congratulations great addition to an amazing collection!!
This is the cuff in my collection to go along with thekey Mark has posted

Japanese invaders wrote: "The key seems to be a take off of the Marlin key" Yes the Japanese came to america just to copy this idea because there was no other way to achieve the same end. funny. SMH

Yes, they came to Pearl Harbor with the sole intent of invading the military base to get their hands on some Marlins so they could steal some handcuff technology.
You'll never see that in the history books.

and went on to make the cheap and nasty clockwork toys BTW the little robots were cute. 

One interesting questions is; what cuffs came out first; the Japanese or the Wisner? We know the patent of the Wisner (July 6, 1869)
but I have no clue about the Japanese.

Lars
Good question.  I have no idea how to date any of the various Japanese cuffs.
Joe

The year of manufacture is an animal symbol on the inside of the lock.

Mr.Lauher what a wonderful cuff to add to your collection! It could not have found a better home. Ggoebel

Good catch, Joe. Always in good condition.

I was curious how the Marlin cuffs had a similar mechanism to the Wisner. Could they have been taken from them. Wisner was certainly earlier, no? And was just not robust enough to take a prisoner's efforts. The two balded key looks similar. I could go look in the patent book but I'd rather chat.