Ball and Chain question

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum. Thank you for accepting my request. 
I am a senior antique collector however my expertise is in glass. Came across this beauty which boasts a romer lock which I understand was patented in 1874. Can anyone enlighten me on this ball and chain. Forged clasp, delaminated cast ball which I think is 40-50 pounds.

Thanks in advance. 
Matt Miller
Matt8265@icloud.com 

Ball and chains have been made by a lot of different users.  The two main manufactures that are of interest to collectors are Tower and Bean.  This one in not made by either of these.  This leaves the question as to who made yours and unfortunately like so many other sets, we can not tell.  Many law enforcement agencies are known to have made their own for use in their own jails, prisons, chain gangs, etc.  Even mental institutions have been known to make their own.

So, if you were going to sell them, it would be up to the buyer to decide it they want them in their collection.

Ron

I agree with everything that Ron stated in his post but we know from advertising copy that the Providence Tool Co. also offered a ball & chain upon request which makes a total of three companies that did so. Were there others? Not that I’m aware of. Also I’m unaware of any commercial model that did not contain a swivel in the chain. Nevertheless your ball & chain is an interesting configuration.

Thank you Gentlemen. I guess I am not shocked to learn that this was not from a primary manufacturer as the idea of casting a mold within a mold ( more secure and tamperproof I am sure was the marketing ) had to be more expensive and laborious than an external lug. Tried as I might there isn’t an example of this type on the internets. Hopefully more info will be posted and someone will pick up these pictures for knowledge serving the greater historical good. I very much appreciate your time and knowledge. 

Ball and chain have been used for centuries (at least) and were often made from standard canon balls. Professional manufacturers are a more recent thing.
I can see a few things worth considering. The link closest to the shackle has a newer electric weld. The thickening in the centre of each link shows electric-weld chain making, but the chain is old. A blacksmith made link would be joined at the end of the link. The shackle itself has sharp edges which would cut into the ankle, so it is not professionally made. The lock is much older than the heavy chain. The ball is "oddball" and could have been a hanging weight.
IMHO

date the padlock if it is attached by a chain to the shackle
https://www.facebook.com/groups/399052796838127/

Thanks Paul and X, very observant PJD I had not noticed the final welded link.

The chain and the ball are one. At least whatever is inside the ball as the ball connection is not accessible. I am a, or was, a cast iron cooking collector and have seen this type of delamination circa 1865-1885 making me think the ball and chair are from that period. As I don’t FB I am not positive as to the lock age but assume after 1874 when that lock was patented. 

A blacksmith certainly made the shackle, so, as was mentioned earlier this is not a production piece 

How did the connecting link get electrically welded or was that a repair ... guess I will never know. If anyone has input on the ball, that woukd be interesting! Thank you both! 

Found this on the Miller Welder site

1890
In 1890, C.L. Coffin of Detroit was awarded the first U.S. patent for an arc welding process using a metal electrode. This was the first record of the metal melted from the electrode carried across the arc to deposit filler metal in the joint to make a weld. About the same time, N.G. Slavianoff, a Russian, presented the same idea of transferring metal across an arc, but to cast metal in a mold.
1900
Approximately 1900, Strohmenger introduced a coated metal electrode in Great Britain. There was a thin coating of clay or lime, but it provided a more stable arc. Oscar Kjellberg of Sweden invented a covered or coated electrode during the period of 1907 to 1914. Stick electrodes were produced by dipping short lengths of bare iron wire in thick mixtures of carbonates and silicates and allowing the coating to dry.
Meanwhile, resistance welding processes were developed, including spot welding, seam welding, projection welding and flash butt welding. Elihu Thompson originated resistance welding. His patents were dated 1885-1900. In 1903, a German named Goldschmidt invented thermite welding that was first used to weld railroad rails.

All,

Figured out how the chain is inside. 

Chain was put on a rectangular piece of steel. Ball with a slot was cast. Chain and piece hammered into hot ball casting. Allowed to cool. There for life. When I looked at the bottom of the ball I can see the rectangular piece.