Hiatt Tower handcuff key - photo required

I've purchased a Hiatt version of a Tower handcuff which won't arrive for a few weeks.
I doubt they work but it is worth a try.
Can anyone post a photo of what the notches in the flag of the key look like?
Thanks, Paul

Hi Paul,
Iam McColl sent me a set of diagrams of the four different types of keys for the Tower leg irons a few years ago.  You might want to email him and ask nicely if he has a similar diagram(s) for the Hiatts version of the Tower.

I inherited a set of Tower handcuffs a few years ago that were quite rusty, but a bath in bicarbonate soda followed by a gentle scrubbing with a solution of CLR made them look good.  I impressioned a set of keys for them, based on Ian's data, and they work OK.  Good luck with yours.

Hi Paul,
Iam McColl sent me a set of diagrams of the four different types of keys for the Tower leg irons a few years ago.  You might want to email him and ask nicely if he has a similar diagram(s) for the Hiatts version of the Tower.

I inherited a set of Tower handcuffs a few years ago that were quite rusty, but a bath in bicarbonate soda followed by a gentle scrubbing with a solution of CLR made them look good.  I impressioned a set of keys for them, based on Ian's data, and they work OK.  Good luck with yours.

Thanks David.  I thought I was going to join the zero responses club!

I'm not sure that the Hiatt version is the same as the Tower made handcuffs. If someone has the Hiatt version key I could compare the key to the Towers. I guess I'll just have to cut a few keys when it arrives.
Cheers, Paul

Trying to find a picture of the Hiatt Nigerian Cuffs I had in my collection. They are shown in Alex Nichols book but the key is not very clear. It is a very simple key without any cuts. Attached are a couple of photos of cuffs in other collections.

Just had another look and the set you have coming are the Hiatt Copy of the Tower cuffs (the Nigerian pattern only had 4 notches).
The key is the same cut as a standard Towers DL cuff,

Just realised that the cuffs you have coming are not the Nigerian Pattern (they only had 4 notches).
The Hiatt copy is the same key as the Towers DL cuffs.

Thanks Chris, your photo of the key is exactly what I was looking for. The 'Nigerian' cuff is also on my wish list but I won't hold my breath.
I doubt there are too many of the Hiatt copy Towers around but i was hopeful someone like you would have some knowledge. 
Thanks again
Paul

Paul,
I am very jealous of your newest cuff.
I always wanted one of these and don't think I have ever seen one unless Gordon has one and if so, that visit was a sensory overload, so it is hard to remember all that I saw over there.
I have a nice Nigerian that I will post a pic of soon even if it is off topic.

Mark
O--O

Mark asked if I have a Hiatt Tower handcuff. I do not, but I do have a Hiatt Tower leg-iron.

Gordon,  You have a real nice one there!
The leg iron looks to be exactly like an American made one and the stamping on the left side indicates it as British made.
Could it be made by Towers and private labeled or do you think they had the specs to make it identical? 

Have you or anyone else ever heard of a Nigerian Pattern Leg Iron?

Mark
 Good question about the Hiatt leg-iron, I do not know. I ask that question 
to everyone I show it to but no definite answer.
 Never heard of a Nigerian leg-iron, and I doubt if Hiatt made one. So few
handcuffs and Hiatt did not put much effort into the Nigerian handcuff. 
I doubt that Hiatt seriously considered a leg-iron.

Super info regarding the Nigerian pattern cuff. Thanks guys! ☘

Thanks Gordon for photo of your Hiatt Towers LI. I have a feeling they may have once been in my collection and I traded them in about 1974? Poor quality photo attached! It took me a long time to find another one which is currently ‘on loan’ about 2 months ago I got back the set of Hiatt Bean Legirons that I sold in the 1980’s - thanks to Nick Janson.
Now regarding the Hiatt Towers copy cuffs I am sure they were manufactured by Hiatt they weigh 422g compared to 455g for the Towers pattern and the lockcase is different. Hopefully the attached photos will show this.
Until I get the Hiatt Tower LI back I can not compare them but I do not think Hiatt would have gone to the expense to get them stamped out and produced. In England in the 1920’s Legirons were rarely used.
I am also interested that the set Gordon shows are marked Hiatt England and British Made - I do not remember these markings but I do remember they had a square headed key which I lost and Prynce Wheeler supplied me with a working key!

Hiatt Bean!

I never heard of that.
Just amazing!
The entire set in the pic is over the top!

Mark
O--O

Hey Chris You have the best theory about the Tower Hiatt leg-iron. The Tower  
square handle key is for leg-irons. I don't remember form whom and when I  
got the leg-iron, but I will do some checking.

Think my photo may have caused some confusion! The only Hiatt item was the Legirons the others are US cuffs.
Photo attached of the Hiatt Bean Legirons, they weigh 737g. I do not have a set of US Bean Legirons to compare. Anyone got a set for sale or trade?

Remember the old Forum Gallery?
http://www.handcuffs.org/g/index.php?mode=5
on the old handcuff org site
http://www.handcuffs.org
There are examples of Hiatt Bean handcuffs and Hiatt Bean Leg Irons in that gallery. I think a pair of H/B leg irons sold from Stan's collection, or was it Damon's. I only remember I couldn't afford it and was too late anyway. But there are Hiatt versions of Tower, Bean, Peerless and French nipper off the top of my head.

PS my US Bean Leg irons are 747g but the extra might just be the plating compared to your Hiatt one. They are available for English trade Chris.

PPS 
http://handcuffs.org/gallery_legiron/index.html
The old Leg iron Gallery has Hiatt Bean leg irons stamped with Broad Arrow and Q P which I assume is Queensland Police because I've been told that they used them. 
I suspect that Hiatt trialled there unusual cuffs in "the British Colonies" because I've picked up 2 flat key Hiatt 1960 from South Africa and my Hiatt Tower handcuffs from there also.
Paul

The Hiatt Tower arrived after 8 weeks and, as suspected, were very rusted up, but I'll describe how I got them fully operational.
Everything was frozen including the clevis' which I loosened first with WD40 because the bows won't move if the hinge and clevis are frozen. Then the same spray lubricant on the bow because I guessed there would be some natural movement in the bow through the lock even when locked. Eventually I got 8mm movement at the last notch. The key holes were full of rust at the bottom which I picked out with a sewing pin while still dry, because it falls out easier. Then I cut a key to fit snugly, which, as I rotated it dozens of times, removed large lumps of dirt and rust which I shook out after each attempt. The key was now stopping at 7 o'clock CCW and 5 CW on both cuffs. I filed a notch similar to the photos posted here and  sprayed with lubricant and BINGO! It appears to be a very simple mechanism with no double lock and the key travels all the way around CCW but not CW.
Can anyone tell me when these were made??

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Apr 18, 2022

Thanks Gordon for photo of your Hiatt Towers LI. I have a feeling they may have once been in my collection and I traded them in about 1974? Poor quality photo attached! It took me a long time to find another one which is currently ‘on loan’ about 2 months ago I got back the set of Hiatt Bean Legirons that I sold in the 1980’s - thanks to Nick Janson.
Now regarding the Hiatt Towers copy cuffs I am sure they were manufactured by Hiatt they weigh 422g compared to 455g for the Towers pattern and the lockcase is different. Hopefully the attached photos will show this.
Until I get the Hiatt Tower LI back I can not compare them but I do not think Hiatt would have gone to the expense to get them stamped out and produced. In England in the 1920’s Legirons were rarely  used.
I am also interested that the set Gordon shows are marked Hiatt England and British Made - I do not remember these markings but I do remember they had a square headed key which I lost and Prynce Wheeler supplied me with a working key!

Click to expand...

My Hiatt Towers weigh 475g or 480g with a key.

DavidWK wrote: ↑

Apr 13, 2022

Hi Paul,
Iam McColl sent me a set of diagrams of the four different types of keys for the Tower leg irons a few years ago.  You might want to email him and ask nicely if he has a similar diagram(s) for the Hiatts version of the Tower.

I inherited a set of Tower handcuffs a few years ago that were quite rusty, but a bath in bicarbonate soda followed by a gentle scrubbing with a solution of CLR made them look good.  I impressioned a set of keys for them, based on Ian's data, and they work OK.  Good luck with yours.

hi DavidWK if at all possible could u send me via email a copy of that diagram Ian  McColl  sent to you as i have several set's also my email  is lkhandcuffs@gmail.com              thank you , Larry    LK D~D

Here is a photo of the four cuts we are aware of.