Bean Hook

On September 4, 1883 Edward Davis Bean was issued a patent  for a "Policeman's Hook", a mechanical nipper. Some of these have the correct patent date stampings, but others read "Pat'd May 6, 84". This date is for Bean's chain nipper. In addition, in 1890 Bean published a book which was in part a catalog of his equipment and in it the Hook is labeled "Patented Nov. 4, 1883.  The earliest hook had no markings and a hook which pointed away from the body of the nipper. This model used a flat spring. Later models used a coiled spring and a hook that pointed up, toward the handle.  Samuel A. French, a dealer in police goods, advertised Bean's hook in his 1887 catalog as did John P. Lovell in 1891. The hook is not listed in the 1892 S.A. French catalog, nor is it listed in the 1904 issue of The Detective, a publication advertising police equipment. It looks like it was on the market for no more than ten years.

Matt

Matt that is interesting info indeed, do you know where I can obtain a reprint of the 1890 Bean catalogue?

Thanks Spencer

Spencer

I have never seen a reprint of this catalog. I have two versions of it. One is a book entitled "Hints to Police Officers and Sheriffs by E.D. Bean, printed in 1887 which contains a variety of information about first aid, dates that each state holds elections, legal holidays in the U.S. etc. Intermingled in the book are advertisements for Bean's police equipment. The other one is quite similar, but was issued by the John P. Lovell Company and includes a brief history of the Lovell company, followed by a title page, "Hints to Criminal Officers ,by E.D. Bean. This booklet also contains information about first aid and other topics, such as How to Kill Animals Humanely, Advice to Mounted Police Officers, The Inspector's Museum (Inspector Byrnes,  NYPD) and How Revolvers Are Carried.

Matt

Thanks Matt those original catalogs are a great source of accurate information on restraints.

Spencer

While reviewing the Bean Hook Nippers from the recent Forte Auction, I noticed the different variations with the dates on these items which were in his collection.
This blog from a few years back talks about the different date variations, so I am now able to show a few of them. 
I only have one of these Hooks.

I do not have a pic of one with the "Patented Nov. 4, 1883" -- 4th known variation.





Patent Applied for-- 1st model.


Pat'd September 4.1883 
The date got placed onto the "trigger' shaped hook end versus the top as in all the other variations.


Pat'd. May 6, 1884