British Backstrap Darbie

I received a British backstrap darbies with some interesting markings.  The backstop has 136 stamped on one side,  the number 2 is stamped on the bows along with the letter R on one bow.  The end caps have a double v which should be the mark of the person who made them.  This led me to believe that they are Hiatt's.  After further cleaning, and they were quite rusty, the name NETILFFOLD & SONS was stamped on both bows.  I have never heard of this company.  The cuffs came without a key but using Ian's tool they opened right up with strong springs.  There may be some other markings but I was not able to make them out. 

The cuffs are most likely from the mid or early 1800's due to the use of the backstrap.  If anyone has any thoughts on this company any information would be appreciated.

Ron

Mark, I agree with your spelling of the name.  I also found this link telling the history:   https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Nettlefold_and_Sons

Ron

Nice job finding this info, Matt!
I mean Ron!

ronspitz wrote:I received a British backstrap darbies with some interesting markings.  The backstop has 136 stamped on one side,  the number 2 is stamped on the bows along with the letter R on one bow.  The end caps have a double v which should be the mark of the person who made them.  This led me to believe that they are Hiatt's.  After further cleaning, and they were quite rusty, the name NETILFFOLD & SONS was stamped on both bows.  I have never heard of this company.  The cuffs came without a key but using Ian's tool they opened right up with strong springs.  There may be some other markings but I was not able to make them out. 

The cuffs are most likely from the mid or early 1800's due to the use of the backstrap.  If anyone has any thoughts on this company any information would be appreciated.

Ron

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Aww!! Ya got me an early Xmas present!!


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Interesting cuffs Ron. I see it has an Arrow WD and possibly a C or O under that. So it is a War Department cuff, not M&C which is Military and Civilian. Could it be a new stamp which stands for War Department & Civilian - just a guess, never seen one before. I have quite a few First World War backstraps almost identical in manufacture to that. Interesting that Nettlefold was at 54 High Holborn because Parker Field were at 233 High Holborn. I would suggest Parker Field sold it to Nettlefold, but Parker Field got it from Hiatt.
Paul D

Thanks Paul.  Your comments on it being a War Department cuff if very likely.  There is a Arrow and other marks but I could not get a good picture of them.  On one of the lock cases there may be a design of some kind but it is too worn to tell what it is.  The marks on the end caps suggested to me that it was made by Hiatt.  It's different.

From this 1892 directory, Nettlefold are railway stores contractor, which may account for the R on them which seems contrary to the Arrow WD. If you can post a pic of the other mark you can't make out, I might recognise it.

This may also be relevant since it has Arrow WD and R.   Paul

The War Department Light Railways were a system of narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in World War I. Light railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort in the First World War, and were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded.

Paul, here are a few shots of what looks like the broad arrow with W and D.  There is a small mark under the WD which I can't make out.  The other bow has what looks like a small o in the center.  The lock case does have some marks.  Thanks for your knowledge.  I have the book "Broad Arrow" which contains the markings for mainly ordinance items and has not been of much help for handcuffs.

I made a mistake on the label of the second picture it should be /l\ WD

Here is my pair.  Unfortunately I don't know anything more about the company.  It has a C&M mark. Don't know what that means either.
Joe

I did some more "cleaning"  and the mark is  /l\ with WD with a G underneath (could be a C).  The mark on the tube looks like VR with an oval above which makes it look like a crown.  The bow with the small o does have more markings but with further cleaning I can't see enough to even guess what the stamp may be.

So Joe's is marked C&M 1880. To me, C&M is the same as M&C - Military & Civilian. 1880 is the dated which is required for a military contract. 1880 is also the date of the first Boer War in Africa. So that all makes sense.
Having seen that and comparing the detail of the cuff and the similar Nettlefold stamping, it would be reasonable to think that both cuffs are of similar age.
Looking at Ron's, the pic of the lock tube stamping looks like they had 2 goes at stamping it. The first letter is the top of an M and the second letter is the top of an R or B or P - maybe Military Railways or Military Police?? The arc in between could be the bottom or a round letter like a C or O. Obviously stamping big letters on a curved surface is difficult.
Going back to the Arrow WD mark with the C (or maybe O with some more cleaning) under it; if the other bow has an O or C by itself, then the 2 marks may not be meant to be seen together.
Gonig back again to the railways "One aspect of the War Department's work was the supply of locomotives and rolling stock for use on railways in the United Kingdom, other parts of the British Empire, and in theatres of conflict."
There could even be a link to railways in South Africa which could also be during wars?
That's how I see it anyway.
Paul

Thanks Paul.  It makes sense that the date of mine is the same as Joe's, 1880.  The only part that I can make out is the 0 and there is nothing more to see but bare metal.   The British marking system is extremely extensive when it come to ordinance.  Somewhere there must be a book listing the marks for other government equipment.  It's like looking for the plans to make the Lilly irons.

Paul, I cleaned the surface down to the metal and I believe the markings on the tube are MB. There is a double stamp and what the mark between the MB is I don't know.  On the bow I think the letter below the WD is a C.  Where the date should be I could only see two o's spaced in the area shown in Joe's cuffs.

Ron