Tower bar cuffs

We know from ad copy in sources like the S.A. French and Union Hardware Co. catalogs that Tower bar cuffs were offered in both 12 and 14 inches but I have seen them at other lengths also and have included a photo of a 12 and 5 inch version.

Does anyone have different versions that they would like to share here on the forum?

Thanks in advance Spencer

Spencer: 

Your photo is good to see for future reference.

The "short" and "long" bars are of two different designs....Did the "short bar cuffs" all have the same bar?...and did the "long bar cuffs" all have the same bar?  

Or was it a mixed bag of whatever materials that the Tower factory had in stock?

Are the Bars "marked" in any way?

Your Tower Bars have ROUNDED "ENDS"....is that a clue for the legitimacy of them?

Here are my FAKE Tower Leg Iron Bar Shackles....but I like them anyway (looks good on a display board).

Joe you pose some interesting questions that I can’t completely answer but neither bar has any markings on them and they are not identical but similar and I think both are factory made items.

I was hoping to see more examples so that we can better determine the legitimacy of these.

Spencer

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I have three Tower bar cuffs.  The top bar is 12.5" end to end and marked Tower's Double Lock.  The middle bar is 12" and has no markings that I can see.  The bottom bar is 12" and is marked Tower's Patent with the last date of DEC 5, 82 and is stamped WELLS FARGO they have the double lock feature. 
The 1882 date is interesting because that date is for the bow stops.  This cuff has no bow stops.  

I also have a pair of cuffs that are marked WELLS FARGO that do have the bow stops.  The dates are worn and I can not make out any date.  They should be the 1882 date.

Ron

Here’s mine- got them from a military antique dealer I’ve known for 20 years


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Ron

Those are three nice and interesting sets of these rare cuffs, you don’t encounter them very often.

Spencer

I just looked through my Tower & Lyon catalogs for bar cuffs. The 1886 catalog lists both 12" and 14" bars attached to Tower's double lock handcuffs. The 1898 catalog has the same listing as does the 1904 catalog. The 1913 catalog no longer lists them, but a Darley Police Supplies catalog c. 1930-32 lists them with an illustration  and bar sizes the exact same as the T&L catalogs, though they do not call them Tower cuffs.

Matt

I just looked through my Tower & Lyon catalogs for bar cuffs. The 1886 catalog lists both 12" and 14" bars attached to Tower's double lock handcuffs. The 1898 catalog has the same listing as does the 1904 catalog. The 1913 catalog no longer lists them, but a Darley Police Supplies catalog c. 1930-32 lists them with an illustration  and bar sizes the exact same as the T&L catalogs, though they do not call them Tower cuffs.
I am sending this again because it dd not seem to post.

Matt