holstcollection
#1Not all members at the Forum follow the groups on Facebook, therefore I make this post double.
As Horst Moabit restraints recently have been brought up here I thought it was about time to make a post about them.
First, I think Michael Busch should get credit for his former investigations that made it clear that the German company Horst Stein never was a manufacturer of restraints but a sales company. The design and manufacture are as we now know connected to a master locksmith in Berlin, Kurt Metk. Those of you that came to the Convention in 2007 remember Michael's great lecture.
The “KM” stamping is visible on many of these restraints.-Many of them, but not all. Therefore, my conclusion is that there must have been at least one more company manufacturing these restraint for Horst Stein in Munich.
I started collecting in 1977, while doing my military service as a MP in Stockholm. In early 1980’s I located European suppliers and bought handcuffs directly from them. Horst Stein was no exception. I found the manufacturers through an export calendar I borrowed at the library. When I called Horst Stein in 1983 I had no clue what their handcuffs looked like and I never got a catalogue. The person I talked to was Ursula Stein, the wife of Horst Stein. After the call she sent me an invoice that I paid for. She told me they had no products in stock and I had to wait a couple of weeks until receiving them.
The Horst Stein handcuffs were by far more expensive compared to other brands like Hiatt and Clejuso I previously had bought from. Due to the high price, my expectations were very high upon receiving the package. However, the handcuffs didn’t meet my expectations at all and I remember I was very disappointed as I thought they looked aweful. Not that I had too much to compare to as my collection at that time was very small. But still, I thought they looked ugly!
Over time I have come to appreciate the odd design of the Horst Moabit. Compared to other brands the production figures must have been very low. As I understand they never sold any restraints to law enforcement, only to penitentaries. It also seems they never kept a stock but had them manufactured by order. I think Chris Gower has the same experience.
On the top of the invoice, you can see; “ANSTALTSBEDARF”. A free translation would be “penitentiary supplies”.
The model number is not stated on the invoice, only “Horst-handfessel Stahlrahmen”, Horst handcuffs steel frames. Much later, after seeing a product sheet, I realized the model is the 675.
The 675 takes a smaller rectangular key compared to most other Horst Moabit models like 607, 608, 615 and 616. Therefore I assume the 675 is late in production and put them on the rarer side. There is also a rare model 676, made of aluminum. Not many of these are known in collections. My set comes from Stan's collection.
Initially I mentioned there must have been at least one more manufacturer than Kurt Metk. I believe the cuffs I bought in 1983 is such a handcuff. They do not have any “KM” stampings but they differ in more ways. First, this model has ordinary ratchets, not the drilled holes in the bows as on the other. Second, the position of the keyhole differs (see photo). And third, these cuffs have small set screws on the sides which enables the lock cartridge to be removed.
Now, almost 40 years later, I’m very happy I picked up the phone and called Ursula Stein for an order.
Lars
As Horst Moabit restraints recently have been brought up here I thought it was about time to make a post about them.
First, I think Michael Busch should get credit for his former investigations that made it clear that the German company Horst Stein never was a manufacturer of restraints but a sales company. The design and manufacture are as we now know connected to a master locksmith in Berlin, Kurt Metk. Those of you that came to the Convention in 2007 remember Michael's great lecture.
The “KM” stamping is visible on many of these restraints.-Many of them, but not all. Therefore, my conclusion is that there must have been at least one more company manufacturing these restraint for Horst Stein in Munich.
I started collecting in 1977, while doing my military service as a MP in Stockholm. In early 1980’s I located European suppliers and bought handcuffs directly from them. Horst Stein was no exception. I found the manufacturers through an export calendar I borrowed at the library. When I called Horst Stein in 1983 I had no clue what their handcuffs looked like and I never got a catalogue. The person I talked to was Ursula Stein, the wife of Horst Stein. After the call she sent me an invoice that I paid for. She told me they had no products in stock and I had to wait a couple of weeks until receiving them.
The Horst Stein handcuffs were by far more expensive compared to other brands like Hiatt and Clejuso I previously had bought from. Due to the high price, my expectations were very high upon receiving the package. However, the handcuffs didn’t meet my expectations at all and I remember I was very disappointed as I thought they looked aweful. Not that I had too much to compare to as my collection at that time was very small. But still, I thought they looked ugly!
Over time I have come to appreciate the odd design of the Horst Moabit. Compared to other brands the production figures must have been very low. As I understand they never sold any restraints to law enforcement, only to penitentaries. It also seems they never kept a stock but had them manufactured by order. I think Chris Gower has the same experience.
On the top of the invoice, you can see; “ANSTALTSBEDARF”. A free translation would be “penitentiary supplies”.
The model number is not stated on the invoice, only “Horst-handfessel Stahlrahmen”, Horst handcuffs steel frames. Much later, after seeing a product sheet, I realized the model is the 675.
The 675 takes a smaller rectangular key compared to most other Horst Moabit models like 607, 608, 615 and 616. Therefore I assume the 675 is late in production and put them on the rarer side. There is also a rare model 676, made of aluminum. Not many of these are known in collections. My set comes from Stan's collection.
Initially I mentioned there must have been at least one more manufacturer than Kurt Metk. I believe the cuffs I bought in 1983 is such a handcuff. They do not have any “KM” stampings but they differ in more ways. First, this model has ordinary ratchets, not the drilled holes in the bows as on the other. Second, the position of the keyhole differs (see photo). And third, these cuffs have small set screws on the sides which enables the lock cartridge to be removed.
Now, almost 40 years later, I’m very happy I picked up the phone and called Ursula Stein for an order.
Lars