Hiatt Strap Hinge

Picked up a bargain yesterday. Looks like a standard Hiatt Darby but it is a very early Hiatt strap hinge handcuff stamped 15 with original key stamped 15. The rare thing about it is it a left handed! Never seen one in the 50 years I have been collecting! Anyone else seen one or own one??

Nice find, Chris! I do not have any Left Hand Thread Backstrap Darbys. I have heard of them, but never owned one.
-Richard Knip-

That’s a beauty Chris congratulations! I have no left hand threaded Hiatts in my collection. Maybe someday though. Ron J

I have 4 darbies that are LH and a number of plug 8 that are LH, but I don't think I have a backstrap that is LH.

I estimate the left hand threaded Darbies are about 200 times rarer than the standard pattern. The attached photo shows two more left hand Hiatt Darby cuffs including what I believe to be the smallest Darby ever made.
As far as I know there are no Irish 8 left handed keys although the exceptionally rare Hiatt Cuff with keyhole at 90 degrees is left handed. Also the Hiatt Home office pattern opens by turning the key anti clockwise.
An old time collector said he had a left hand threaded Hiatt Legiron but I have not been able to confirm this.

Hello Chris,

 Very nice cuffs. I was wondering if you've taken any measurements of those small darbies. They look like they're possibly smaller than my size 0's and I'm really curious about their measurements. I haven't measured mine yet, but would be happy to measure them and share if interested.

Thanks,
Glenn

I guarantee they are the smallest Darbies ever made. I am currently at the Master Locksmiths Expo showing part of my collection. Get back late Sunday so will measure them. Had to decide on 30 cuffs which was not easy! Photo of front of leaflet attached. Spot the mistake!

Just looked at an old posting they measure 35mm x 45mm internally.

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Oct 19, 2023

I guarantee they are the smallest Darbies ever made. I am currently at the Master Locksmiths Expo showing part of my collection. Get back late Sunday so will measure them. Had to decide on 30 cuffs which was not easy! Photo of front of leaflet attached. Spot the mistake!

Would the mistake happen to be that your display shows a Tower bean's Pattern key, but no Tower Bean's Pattern Handcuff to use that key on?
-Richard Knip-

djhalfdead wrote: ↑

Oct 20, 2023

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Oct 19, 2023

I guarantee they are the smallest Darbies ever made. I am currently at the Master Locksmiths Expo showing part of my collection. Get back late Sunday so will measure them. Had to decide on 30 cuffs which was not easy! Photo of front of leaflet attached. Spot the mistake!

Would the mistake happen to be that your display shows a Tower bean's Pattern key, but no Tower Bean's Pattern Handcuff to use that key on?
-Richard Knip-

Are you referring to the Pratt? key which looks like a Tower Bean key but does not fit a Tower Bean.

PaulJDavies wrote: ↑

Oct 20, 2023

djhalfdead wrote: ↑

Oct 20, 2023

chriscuffs6 wrote: ↑

Oct 19, 2023

I guarantee they are the smallest Darbies ever made. I am currently at the Master Locksmiths Expo showing part of my collection. Get back late Sunday so will measure them. Had to decide on 30 cuffs which was not easy! Photo of front of leaflet attached. Spot the mistake!

Would the mistake happen to be that your display shows a Tower bean's Pattern key, but no Tower Bean's Pattern Handcuff to use that key on?
-Richard Knip-

Are you referring to the Pratt? key which looks like a Tower Bean key but does not fit a Tower Bean.

Click to expand...

I did not realize that is what a Pratt key looked like? Mine looks different than that. Thank you for clarifying that though. Good to know.
-RK-

It may not be an original Pratt key??, but it is similar to the TB but slightly bigger, from memory.

The Pratt is the 2nd model so is a barrel key similar to the Tower Bean. The mistake is saying The Houdini Film starting Richard Curtis and it should be Tony Curtis!

Chris

Are the Guiteau cuffs in your collection original or ones made by Ian?

Spencer

My Tower Bean key is to large to go into the keyhole of my first model Pratt. Ron J

The Guiteau cuffs are originals. They have good springs and work well.

They appear to be in excellent condition making them a truly great and rare acquisition.

Spencer

Amazing.. Very nice indeed!

Hey Chris,

You do have my Hiatt size 0 beat by a slight bit. My cuffs measure 37mm by 49mm on the inside. 

When you get back and have a minute, could you post pics of the markings on that small cuff?

Thanks,

Glenn

Have just measured the small cuffs and they are 43 x 33mm overall length 16cm and weigh just 145g! They are marked Hiatt Warranted Wrought and Hard.
For comparison think I may also have the largest pair measuring 83 x 63mm and weigh 526g!