First Model Maltby Single Lock (Double Wide)

I've been stuck in the house for a little over a week now due to most of NYC being on kind of a voluntary Caronavirus Quarantine, so I figured that there's no better time to post some of my newer cuffs. 

 I picked this one up on eBay Back in June 2019.  I knew that one side had been damaged by looking at the auction pics (not mentioned in the auction listing), but even with the damage I was surprised that no one else bid on them. I had been watching eBay for a set of these for quite a few years and this is the first one that I've seen come up for auction. On one side there was a really bad attempt at a repair and when they were delivered I found that one side could be pulled open without using the key. I was happy to get them in any condition and the spring action worked on both sides so I never even considered returning them.  One month later I brought them to the Lancaster Lock Show hoping that Bob Dix would be there so I could talk to him about a possible repair. Between the auction price and the cost of the excellent repair work that Bob did, they were worth every penny. Now both sides work as intended and I couldn't be happier. Now I just have to file a prettier key.

The left cuff in the top pic was the side that was repaired.

Nice! Bob does amazing work! I have been searching high and low for a decent, but not too pretty, Tower Double Lock Leg Iron. I need one with patina to match a ball and chain that I have with a hacked up, broken Tower Leg Iron on it. When I find one, Bob will be rebuilding the ball and chain by replacing the leg iron. He did a really nice job on your Maltby! The double wide Maltby is another that is on my search list.  Thanks for sharing the pics and the story!
-Richard Knip-

How long have you been looking for a Tower leg iron for? When I first read your post I was thinking that I had one, but then I checked and it doesn't have that brown patina that you're looking for. I thought that it did, but my memory isn't what I thought it was. My Tower bottom key leg irons have that brown patina, but not the double locks. Have you discussed the patina issue with Bob?  I don't know what is possible and what isn't, but I remember John telling me that he was really good at using other methods to match the patina on cuffs that he was repairing.

Its been quite a while. All of them I have found in that time, were either too clean or didnt work. Or, they would go to high in bids to make it reasonable to cut them up. I just need one good side that works. Hoping someone will end up selling one that is junk on one side. May be able to pick it up for a lower price, that way. Bob was quite busy last he and i talked. Was hoping to run into him again in Indy. But, we all know all events are canceled, at the moment. He is the one who suggested getting an older looking Tower Leg Iron to swap this one out with. I would like to stay Double Lock, since that is what it had from the factory. The search continues.
-Richard Knip-

Some of the other cuffs in my collection made by Mattatcuk.

The Maltby Flat Key marked US Secret Service.

The Maltby Round Key


The Mattatuck 

The Judd

Judd Leg Irons

Hello,
I have been thinking about Judds. I have talked to a number of people and it seems to me that they are really fussy. I have one pair that has one wonky side. However, if I put the key in my 40 degrees below zero freezer, the key contracts enough to seize the internal post of the cuff and then that side will open.
I have been playing around with the good side and it seems to me that this is true--I put the key in and turn it a little bit and the cuff will open. If I keep going in the same direction a little bit more, the locking bar retracts into the cuff and stays there. Now the bow can swing in and out. If I open the cuff all the way, it clicks and the next time I insert the bow, it will lock.
Here is my question--After getting the bar to retract, my key can continue in a 360 degree circle. It will just go round and round. Is this the way it is supposed to be?
Mike

When you turn the key to retract the pawl (bar), the key should stop. You pull the key out and the pawl stays retracted until the cuff is fully opened and the pawl is reset.
-Richard Knip-

That one i was warning you about on Ebay, just spun around and around, even if you could manage to get it to open. The key never stopped spinning. One of the reasons I sent the Ebay pair back for a refund. This was after the guy claimed they were tested with a working key and worked fine.

-Richard Knip-

Richard is correct. If the key is turning 360 degrees then either the key is stripped, the post is stripped or both are. The only way to tell is to purchase a new key and test the cuffs again. The man to talk to about that would be Ian. I'm not sure if he has any Judd keys for sale, but he would be the best chance you have of acquiring one. I've never trusted the design of the Judd or the Maltby round key enough to lock a pair on my wrists, and I say that knowing that mine work as designed.

I put up a post at my Handcuff keys group  last month, that I would require prepaid orders to fund getting more keys made. With out my escape equipment and repro cuff business,, I don't have the cash flow to fund such projects. I'd  heard collectors apparently talked among themselves about wanting keys but only one person contacted me directly to put his name on the list. Respect to him and thank you. I have no idea if/when others will step up and commit. Handcuff keys group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274871910110997/
Stockade Locksmiths
https://www.facebook.com/Stockade-locks ... 435716704/

A few more Maltby/Judds

what are the differences between your's and Glenn' ?

There are two sizes of triangular posts and matching tri holed keys known. 

The Department of Justice Handcuff does use a smaller diameter tri-key than the regular issue Maltby.
The Department of Justice Leg Iron uses the normal sized tri-key, so either sized key will work.

Correction....not Maltby...Judd

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑

Mar 27, 2020

The Department of Justice Handcuff does use a smaller diameter tri-key than the regular issue Maltby.
The Department of Justice Leg Iron uses the normal sized tri-key, so either sized key will work.

Incorrect, Both keys have the same outside diameter but the size of the triangular cam is different. A regular key will just spin over the DOJ model.  

Can you modify a regular key to work in a cuff with the smaller cam?
-Richard Knip-

djhalfdead wrote: ↑

Mar 27, 2020

Can you modify a regular key to work in a cuff with the smaller cam?
-Richard Knip-

Unlikely, but if you could, it would not work the original cuff it once did..

OK. That you for that information. Did not realize there were two different sized cams. Good to know.
-Richard Knip-

djhalfdead wrote: ↑

Mar 27, 2020

OK. That you for that information. Did not realize there were two different sized cams. Good to know.
-Richard Knip-

Yes a collector sent me the restricted cuff to make a key to. The key I made fit that particular cuff but needed adjustment to suit another he had. Later Mark Lyons asked about a key for the DOJ cuff and I asked the original collector what mods he did but he never got back to me. I asked Mark if he could contact the collector and then after 19 emails back and forth over several month which lead now where, I gave up on the project.  I can only help those who are committed and help me. I still have the tooling to make what I first did.

I have about a dozen original round tri-keys for the Maltby and Judds.
NONE of them will enter the circular keyway in the Dept of Justice handcuff.
All of them will enter the Dep. of Justice leg iron.
My conclusion in this matter is that the outside diameter of EVERY ORIGINAL key that I have is larger than the opening in the handcuff body!
Yes, the ad nauseum emails, between you and I did not produce much substance for either one of us, but at that point, I suddenly remembered that I had been a locksmith for over 43 years....so I then was compelled to put this task at hand and it resulted in my proceeding to make a key for myself.
The key of my own manufacture was then tested and verified to work both sides of the Dept. of Justice handcuff, the Department of Justice leg iron, a triple Maltby and these.

An error has occurred with my memory on this matter.
The HANDCUFF takes the regular key as well as the smaller Tri-key.
It is the Leg Iron that has the smaller key as the regular key will not go past the round keyway in the leg iron body.
Sorry for the confusion.
It has been a few years since I handled either of these items and I had it backwards

I am glad that after 43 years as  a locksmith you were finally able to make a key.  
During my apprenticeship I made my first Judd key.  LOL 

https://www.geni.com/people/Judd-key/60 ... 4031229034

I don't understand how you could claim that you made a Judd Key so early on.
I could understand it if you were Dr. Frankenstein or know what he has done in his research.