Providence Tool Company

Most of us know that The Providence Tool Company manufactured handcuffs and leg irons in the Civil War. Recently I came across two price lists of that company, both advertising Ankle and Wrist Shackles. The ads also included an illustration of their handcuffs as well as the handcuff key. The Ankle Shackles were selling for $25 per dozen and the Wrist Shackles for $15 per dozen. What I found most interesting was that these price lists were dated 1873 and 1879.

Matt

I will take 2 dozen of each, please! Wow! You always come up with the most amazing information, in your searches! Thank you for continuing to dig up the history on the items we collect. Much appreciated, Matt!
-Richard Knip-

Here are a couple of reacquisition orders for 1/4 dozen hand cuffs and 3 1/2 dozen Police Leg Irons to Providence Tool Co.

Wish they stated the prices per their agreement.
December 13, 1861 and March 20? 1862

Richard

Thank you for the compliment. I am as interested in the research as I am in the collecting part of the hobby.

Here is another one:

John J. Tower lists his company as having started in 1865. This date is on Tower & Lyons own letterhead and trade journal advertisements. However the Lowell Massachusetts Annual Report of receipts and expenditures lists "John J. Tower, for duplex police calls and lanterns $62.00" The year of this report is 1856.

Matt

I just came across something I think is interesting.  In August 2006 a lot of 450 letters and 200 receipts from the Providence Tool Company was sold at auction.  The auctioneer (Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions) provided a description of some of that correspondence. . One piece was, "During the Antebellum years they (Providence Tool Company) produced various pieces of hardware such as hinges, nuts, bolts, washers, and wire. Besides these items, they also produced leg irons...." The Antebellum years were post 1815 and up to 1861, when the Civil War started, so it appears they were manufacturing leg irons before the start of the Civil War.

Matt

We can narrow down a little further the earliest year The Providence Tool Company could have manufactured leg irons and handcuffs. The company was organized in 1845, so that is the earliest year this could have happened.

Matt

Great info! Thanks! 

Way to go Matt, I have been trying to investigate that very question on when did their handcuffs, leg irons and ball & chain first become available and you have given us a year to start with.

Spencer

[One piece was, "During the Antebellum years they (Providence Tool Company) produced various pieces of hardware such as hinges, nuts, bolts, washers, and wire. Besides these items, they also produced leg irons....]

Matt, do you think the last bit about leg irons refers to the same period as the hardware listed? Or was it an intriguing aside used in the 2006 sales pitch? It is unclear to me and hard to know how accurate his comments are. I concede the comment is true for the early 1860's
Paul

Paul

I can't say with any certainty, but I think so.  I contacted the Rhode Island Historical Society, which has numerous Providence Tool Company documents and pointing out that I am a member of the Advisory Committee of the Washington, DC National Law Enforcement Museum, asked them if they would search their records from 1845 to 1860 for anything related to handcuffs, leg irons, wrist shackles and ankle shackles. The Society Director informed me he would forward my request to a staff member. I am awaiting a response.

Matt

I just came across a page from a company called "DC & Co.). I can find nothing about this company, but the page is titled "Adjustable Handcuffs and Leg Irons. It has illustrations of both Marlin and Tower double lock handcuffs and illustrations of the 3 cuff version of Marlin and the 3 cuff single lock Tower version. Underneath these illustrations is an illustration of a Providence Tool handcuff and key which are called Wrist Shackles and a price of  $18 per dozen. The add is from 1888.

Matt

I grabbed a screen shot of the 1888 Ad you are referring to. Its running on Ebay, currently.



-Richard Knip-

Thanks Richard, that's the one.

Matt

It is interesting to ask how much was $4 worth in 1888.  If you use the CPI inflation calculator on the web it estimates that $4 in 1888 would be worth about $110 today.   Not a bad price for such a nice cuff.
Joe