Question on Peerless handcuff manufacturing...

I know that Peerless started off by not actually making their own cuffs, but rather by contracting S&W and others to make the cuffs for them.
My question is... Did Peerless ever actually set up a manufacturing facility to make their own cuffs? And, do they make their own cuffs today?

Thank you in advance

My understanding was that they started their own manufacturing a few years in once they had the machinery to do so and would therefore assume they still do to this day.

After Smith and Wesson stopped producing cuffs for Peerless, Peerless set up their own facilities to produce their own. They still do their own production work on their current model. Smith and wesson and Peerless parted ways, sometime in the 1940s, i believe.
-Richard Knip-

You, Sir, are very much appreciated.
Simply... Thank you very much! ☺

Thank you both! ☺

Youre welcome, Jimmy. Dave Teeters is the guy who knows all about Peerless and Smith and Wesson. He has done tons of research and compiled two books on the subject. He sells the books as computer files on a memory stick. Well worth the price! Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about the companies! I use mine, often for reference.
-Richard Knip-

I have both of Dave Teeters' books and Richard is correct, everything you want to know about both Peerless and Smith & Wesson handcuffs is covered.  Woz...

Peerless Handcuff Manufacturing Beginnings

This is “my observation” on the Peerless Handcuff manufacturing beginnings.
First let me note, that I do not have any written documents on the manufacturing of Peerless Handcuffs until a document dated March 1917, which is a 3-page operation, price per part & price per pair, for Smith & Wesson to manufacture the Peerless Handcuff. This parts list is for what we refer to as the Model 1, Version 3, first 2-link chain joining the right & left hand cuffs.

Starting from the beginning, with the George A Carney handcuff patent number 1,017,955, dated February 20,1914 and James Milton Gill purchasing this patent from George Carney and on June 22,1914 forming & incorporating, the Peerless Handcuff Company.
James M. Gill, not having manufacturing experience, turned to his friend, Joseph Wesson of the Smith & Wesson gun manufacturing company. The Carney Handcuff patent addressed the new swing-through adjustable arm system, but did not have an adequate locking mechanism. On October 6, 1914, Joseph Wesson filed for a patent on a “improved lock” to be used in the Carney patented handcuff. This patent number 1,161,562 was granted on November 1915.

Starting with the first handcuff we refer to as the “Patent” model, I have never seen or know of anyone who has seen a pair (or any other model) that has been marked, MFGD BY, any company other than Smith & Wesson. Knowing the history of Smith & Wesson protecting their patents in their gun manufacturing business, and all the court battles they ensued, over the Rollin White bored through cylinder patent they purchased, Im skeptical in believing someone else manufactured the early Peerless handcuffs, being Joseph Wesson’s patent was attached to it.

My first observation on the “Patent Model” was that MFGD BY SMITH & WESSON was on the front, keyway side of the handcuffs (this is like a book title), and THE PEERLESS HANDCUFF CO. was on the back side of the cuffs. Since S&W had extensive advertising experience since their beginning in 1852 manufacturing firearms and James Gill not having any merchandising experience, I’m not sure if S&W took advantage of the Peerless Handcuff Co. by getting their name on the front showing their new venture, or if James Gill wanted the name recognition of an established manufacture up front. Anyway, the time frame between James Gill incorporating the Peerless Handcuff Co. on June 22,1914 and Joseph Wesson applying for his new lock patent on October 6, 1914, it leaves little time for anyone else to manufacture the first Patent Model. I don't believe anyone has seen a pair of Peerless handcuffs manufactured only with the patent by George Carney. If so, that would definitely change my observation.

By the time the Model 1 was manufactured, The stamping, MFGD BY SMITH & WESSON, was changed to the rear side of the cuffs & now THE PEERLESS HANDCUFF CO. was on the front, keyway side of the cuffs. Either Peerless caught on to the ploy by S&W or Peerless felt like their name had now been established, either way the change was made and continued through the Model 1 Version 2. The early Peerless logo TRADE MARK (minus the word registered), was added on the Model 1, Version 2.

The Model 1, Version 3 was the first major change connecting the right & left hand cuff by a 2-link chain, in place of the larger single link. Also the stamping, MFGD BY SMITH & WESSON was discontinued. The first document I have between Smith & Wesson and the Peerless Handcuff Co., is the 3-page document I mentioned above dated March 1917 describing this 2-link chain model.
On December 26, 1917, due to the war, the Government took possession of the railroads, Western Union Telegraph and placed it under Post Office Department and Smith & Wesson overseen by the War Department. S&W was contracted by the Government to manufacture the Model 1917 “Government Model” revolver for the war. By September 1918, the S&W factory production of the Model 1917 came under the auspices of the Springfield Armory & the revolvers were shipped to them or Army Depots. This lasted until December of 1918. 

So what happened to the manufacturing of Peerless Handcuffs during this time?

I recently found an article in the Hardware Dealers Magazine, dated January 1919 that reads:

“Peerless Handcuff Co.
The Peerless Handcuff Co. No. 47 Dwight street, Springfield, Mass., announce that some time ago the government commandeered for war purposes the plant where the Peerless handcuffs were manufactured and, by so doing, the company were obliged to draw on their reserve supply. The orders came in so rapidly that their supply became exhausted in a very short time and for the past four months the company have been able to ship but a comparatively few pairs of handcuffs. They add that the manufacture of their New Model, two-link handcuffs has been resumed and all back orders will be cleared from their books in a short time; and have so arranged their manufacturing facilities that their future output will be larger than ever. Advertising literature will be sent on request.”

It is my understanding that Smith & Wesson continued manufacturing the Peerless handcuffs until November 15, 1940, when they turned over all their models, fixtures, tools, gauges and delivered them to Bemis & Call and they manufactured the Peerless Handcuffs until Peerless took on their own manufacturing in 1950 or around that time. On a side note, in a email from Chris Gill, he stated that our first models marked with serial numbers were introduced in March 1995.

Sorry for such a long reply to a short question, and I’m sure not all will agree with me, but as I stated, this is my observation on the research I have done.
Dave 

Outstanding post, David! Thank you for clearing that up!
-Richard Knip-