Matt3114
#1DeWitt C. Alden was issued a patent (372,836) on November 8, 1887 for a "handcuff". I put that word in quotes because what he invented we would call a mechanical nipper since it was designed to capture a single wrist. The nipper was made because there are photographs of them, but it is probably one of the most rare nippers out there. In more than 30 years I have never seen one on EBAY.
Alden was born on February 17, 1829 in Howard, New York. He served in the Civil War, after which he became a Revenue Inspector for the U.S. Internal Revenue service in 1868. At that time he lived in Syracuse, New York, but by 1870 had moved to Bath, New York, where he was listed as a hardware merchant. For four years (1882-1886) he was appointed Postmaster of Bath. Alden died on August 11, 1891. Interestingly an obituary of his death published in The Pharmaceutical Era stated, "DeWitt C. Alden, who has been long connected with the drug business at Bath, N.Y. died at that place last month, aged 62 years" The man seems to have had a varied work history.
Matt
Alden was born on February 17, 1829 in Howard, New York. He served in the Civil War, after which he became a Revenue Inspector for the U.S. Internal Revenue service in 1868. At that time he lived in Syracuse, New York, but by 1870 had moved to Bath, New York, where he was listed as a hardware merchant. For four years (1882-1886) he was appointed Postmaster of Bath. Alden died on August 11, 1891. Interestingly an obituary of his death published in The Pharmaceutical Era stated, "DeWitt C. Alden, who has been long connected with the drug business at Bath, N.Y. died at that place last month, aged 62 years" The man seems to have had a varied work history.
Matt