Very rare french handcuffs for the thumbs : rare because of the link. Year 1895

Hi

As I wrote you in a previous message my collection is for sell. I would like to present you this model for the thumbs. 
By chance, I found 2 same models, at a second-hand dealer, for sale. Of course I bought both of them. These handcuffs with this link is rare. I had never seen them before with this link. Look for them on internet you will never found them with this link but perhaps with a chain. 
I sale my collection but I keep one of these models for my pleasure.
This models had been used between 1895 and 1920 by the french police.

If you are interested contact me to this address  robdur75000@gmail.com with a nice offer

Hi,


I don't recall any blogs about them, so I do not know much about these.
In my collection, I have a few, but they are mostly the same thing with slight differences and am happy to learn from you, what date range they were used.
It was believed to be used by prisons; from what little info I came across.   They seem to be used for torture or punishment, so it is interesting to see your picture of them being used for transportation.

Merci!


Please share any other info that you have about these.

Hi Mark

This set has never used for torture but only for transport.

It was the use just before the first handcuffs in France. It was the In the 20’s with the « « LYON PRRSTO » made in the French city LYON. then arrived the handcuffs « LA POLICIÈRE then « LA MASSENOTTE « of mister Albert MASSENOT in 1927. The MASSENOTE was a révolution. It was the first secure handcuffs

My mistake for the first use. It was not in 1895 but in 1846

My mistake again The handcuffs LA POLICIÈRE arrived in 1899 before the handcuffs LYON PRESTO in the 20’s

Interesting to see the thumbscrew attached to a horse snaffle bit and then some curb chain and handle. A strange combination. 
 

Ian, I agree with you. we could think that it is a fake done with a thumbscrew in the past but I have two same models. I never tried to find an other one.

If you had a third sample, then I would not be so suspicious. This bit also has what appears to be used as the handles.  

alouette40 wrote: ↑

Mar 05, 2024

My mistake again The handcuffs LA POLICIÈRE arrived in 1899 before the handcuffs LYON PRESTO in the 20’s

I am surprised that the La Policiere is dated 1899.
My understanding was that this cuff came out during the 1950's (or was still being made up to then).
These are 50+ years older than I was aware of.
I will look for patent papers or other sources showing these as turn-of-the-century.

Thank for bringing this interesting fact to our attention.

I was looking online for what information I could find on La Policiere and there is not much.  I will attempt to translate in French to see what comes up.
I was excited to find this from Worthpoint and discovered that I must have sold a pair on eBay a long time ago and have no recollection of doing so.
The listing included a pic of my time on Pawn Stars.  The Bockin cuff, which was supposed to be the original cuff, and the La Policiere was thought to be a clone.  If 1899 is accurate, the LP came first and the Bockin was the clone as it was 1924 era.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 3862813111

This may be irrelevant, but chains with T handles were used on WW1 horses. The handles pass through an oval disc with a cross shaped hole in the middle. It also allowed for daisy-chaining horses in a row.

Paul,  I think the handle and obviously the bit have equine roots and not associated with the restraint.

Hi

Some seerious informations

08.21.1846 Thumcuffs with a 23 link chain
10.20.1857 the same thumcuffs with a 33 link chain

1899 the used of the thumcuffs is forbidden. Excuse me but I do not know the name in english, in french it is  "le cabriolet" (photo ) at the same time, I CONFIRM, the handcuffs " La policière" is used; It was the first automatique french handcuffs (information from a museum)

in 20's the LYON PRESTO is used. A photo with a rare chain. The chain was originaly short or long

1927 a revolution with the arrival of the handcuffs called MASSENOTTE invented by Albert Massenot. These first handcuffs were used with a long chain. a photo of the handcuffs SURETE NATIONALE.

1943 Handcuffs with 2 padlocks (information on the padlock F for France; 221 for the key and 48 for the year 1948)

1948 First RIVOLIER handcuffs (photo) : model 1948 .....model 1955..... then model 1972....

1985 First model of MANURHIN

I need a replacement Presto Lyon bow if anyone has spare parts. I didn't realise how brittle it was when I tried to straighten it! #%$#
Paul

The no chain cuff has a different bow than the long chain one. 
 Both may be the same size, but the markings are different, or so it appears on EVERY one of the 2 models I have handled.

The long chain and no chain comparison markings:
"Brevette" (and Depose" on the reverse side) appears on the bow in plain text on a long chain version

"Brevette" appears in a box on the bow in the no chain version


Sorry to hear this story, I did the same on a LaPegy that was on the rare side.
Michael Busch, saved the day with another cuff half.

About the Lyon presto, I write that it is a rare model not about the markings but the chain. I often see a short or long chain and I have never found an other model with the chain of mine.
For your information LYON is the name of the French city and PRESTO the district of the city where the cuffs hab been made.

alouette40 wrote: ↑

Mar 08, 2024

About the Lyon presto, I write that it is a rare model not about the markings but the chain. I often see a short or long chain and I have never found an other model with the chain of mine.
For your information LYON is the name of the French city and PRESTO the district of the city where the cuffs hab been made.

I have never seen a "short chain" version either.
There is also a variation where the internal ratchet is solid vs 2 part.


"I did not know that "Presto" was a city district.  I always thought it was a reference to a word used by magicians, perhaps a shortened derivation for "prestidigitation."
Merci bien!

My LYON PRESTO