Has anyone heard of "Trumpet" leg irons in England

Has anyone heard of "Trumpet" leg irons in England.
I have read an 1857 government inquiry into prison discipline in Australia which refers to 'Trumpet' leg irons. I assume it refers to the shape of the links = like a bugle or trombone or trumpet. The prisoners refused to work while wearing them and preferred to be put in heavier rivet leg irons. The Millgate Prison chain room appear to have what I think they are at the top of the walls, some with shackles, some without. PS top left of pic appear to be heavy rivet leg cuffs on 'Trumpet' links but plug leg cuffs would be easier.
Paul D

I have a single plug leg shackle, always wondered where it might have come from. 

I knew I had a set of the bars and just found them. These actually came from the Jeff Kendall Collection that I acquired in about 1982. It was Jeff’s uncle who was an Escapologist and was supposed to have Challenged Houdini with an unusual Bar Darby cuff. I did see these and not sure what happened to them. Unfortunately most of the items in his collection were either in poor condition or had been plated. So this set of Irons were plated probably in the late 1930’s and I think ruined their look, the single legiron does not have a makers name or any marks and has a weak spring so can be rapped open quite easily.
The Bars weight just over 700g.

Thank you Chris. 
The term 'trumpet irons' may have been a local Australian term and there is no evidence that these were it, but it makes sense. I'm surprised there are not more of them around. Since they are just a link between whatever shackle is chosen, I suppose they were not considered as important as a mechanical device.

http://openmov.museumofvancouver.ca/node/66585

Another possible example of a "trumpet" leg iron.

Looks like Magwich and Pip from Great Expectations. Didn't pick you as a reader of Dickins, Mark.
Looking at the convict clothing, I'd say that illustration is from the 1890s when they wore clothing covered in Broad Arrows.
Leg irons with bars instead of chains would have been very difficult to wear.

Paul,
I wish I was as cultured as you seem to think I am, but in reality, I am just adept at finding unobtainable cuffs.
Good catch on the broad arrow markings on Magwich's clothing.  Truth be told, I thought he was Aqualung at first.
With a little help from my friends, I was directed to a postcard in my collection that I posted here in September of an unknown escape artist challenged with more of these rare items.

Below is a picture of Jack Shepherd 1702 to 1724 wearing a set of Trumpet leg irons.  He made multiple prison escapes, the last 2 from the infamous Newgate Prison. He was hung in London on November 16th, 1724. I'm not sure when this drawing was made. There are a few Youtube videos about him.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/H ... -Sheppard/

Nice image Glenn. It looks like the rivets are being struck in or out by the blacksmith. Also note the leather thonging on the end ring. That is tied around the waist to support the weight of heavy irons. Often in these old etchings some the characters in the background are key characters and were meant to be recognised. ie Judge, Priest, prosecutor etc. Paul

z

Thanks Paul,
I didn't notice the leather thong until you mentioned it, but it makes perfect sense. Without something to hold all that weight, those irons would with the trumpets attached could cause serious damage and possibly lead to an infection. In the days before penicillin, that could be a death sentence in itself.

Mark, 
Would you care to comment on the meaning of your last post? You posted "z". Not sure what that meant. Was it an accidental post? Was it something that just went over my head, or did you mean something else by it? Please elaborate.

Thanks,
Glenn

Glenn,

I have had an ongoing problem with this site and/or Tapatalk. I will explain.
For better part of a year, I am not able to look at any pictures unless I click on each and every one, one at a time. If a post has multiple pics, I find it easier to log out and then I can view all of them at once.
Customer service at Tapatalk is virtually non-existent and I have tried everything I can think of to restore normal settings.
This problem exists at my home computer, my office as well as my I-phone.

I changed my email address on this account and started up a new account under my regular email account, but I can't log into that for some reason.
I spoke to Joe about this some time ago, but he has never heard of this problem or how to correct it.

In my attempts to fix this, I have experimented with various settings and other ideas as well as writing to Tapatalk, but they NEVER answer back.

So, to answer your question, this was an error made during my last attempt to rectify this annoying problem.

Unfortunately, the "Z" could be equated with being bored of the subject, but if I were to be so crass, I would have used "ZZZ".
The topic was far from being boring and my "Z" was simply that it just happened to be positioned next to the "Shift" button.

Has anyone else had the problem of having to click on each and every picture to open a new page?  If so, how did you get rid of it?

Thanks for asking and I hope this reply is not too boring and worthy of garnering a "Z" or "ZZZ" from anyone.

Hey Mark,

Have you tried using a different browser? It's probably a problem with the settings in whatever browser you're using. 

Here is another set of trumpets for your enjoyment!

Mark O--O

In an earlier pic which I posted earlier, Paul noticed the broad arrow marking on Magwitch's clothing.
I just noticed a pic I have from Dartmoor Prison of a prisoner in an unusual straitjacket which has similar arrows.

Great pic! Never seen that one.

The Broad Arrow just means government property. You'll find it on everything.

Mark Lyons O--O Cuffs wrote: ↑

May 06, 2022

In an earlier pic which I posted earlier, Paul noticed the broad arrow marking on Magwitch's clothing.
I just noticed a pic I have from Dartmoor Prison of a prisoner in an unusual straitjacket which has similar arrows.

Perhaps the arrows just mean, "this end up?!" LOL! Just kidding with you.
-Richard Knip-

Does anyone know how the broad arrow became a government logo? Just curious how that came about. Ron J

Just google Board of Ordnance. There's a lot of info on the history.

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

May 06, 2022

Just google Board of Ordnance. There's a lot of info on the history.

Thanks Paul. Ron J

https://museum.wales/collections/online ... /Shackles/

Had to add this Griffin Nichols one from National Museum Wales.

I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to wear those things. I can see that you'd be prone to tripping if you weren't careful. Running would be impossible and even walking slowly could be a challenge. Stairs would surely present an obstacle. They appear indeed to be a diabolical restraint. 

Tom

Here is a new addition for this topic.
I knew I had this in my photo library somewhere, and it just surfaced!