Seeking Information - Second Set of Cuffs

Thank you all for your information about the first set of cuffs I posted last week.  Completely out of the blue, a different gentleman approached me yesterday inquiring about HIS set of handcuffs.  Based on the information you all had shared in response to my last post, these do look more like period cuffs, but I would love to hear your thoughts!

Hopefully, the photos come through this time!

The handcuff in the image is a pair of Tower (manufacturer) Detective handcuffs, Commonly known as 'Pinkerton' cuffs. More information here viewtopic.php?p=44561#p44561

Ian McColl wrote: ↑

Aug 09, 2024

The handcuff in the image is a pair of Tower (manufacturer) Detective handcuffs, Commonly known as 'Pinkerton' cuffs. More information here viewtopic.php?p=44561#p44561

Thanks, Ian!  Any idea on a date of manufacture and value?  

I have these cuffs dated 1882 from several sources, but I have not personally verified this.
I wrote an extensive article about Tower and may have included patent dates, but having trouble searching for it as "Tower" and "Detective| show about 50 pages of posts.
The main facts about there are that Houdini liked these as they are easy to open as they do not double lock.  Pinkerton, as stated previously, favored them as they are light weight and easy to carry. They came in a model 1 version, such as yours, with 3 links and a 2nd version with a long oblong single link.
Often known as the Union-Tower model.  Tower stropped producing their line of cuffs around WWll and employee Foth resumed making Tower cuffs under his name and whether he continued making the Detective model or not, can be argued.



There is a leg iron version of these which are super rare.  Besides the one I have; I only know of 4 or 5 others. 
Several companies or several copies of these were made and have a slightly different shape to them.  It is said that the copies are rarer than the original version and can be more expensive.
All of them feature the 3 ring design.

Here is an example of the Tower detective leg irons that Mark was referring to.

Spencer

Tammy, more reading here.
http://www.handcuffs.org/tower/index.html

Thank you again, gentlemen!  I was thinking this second set of cuffs might be a good option to suggest as a replacement for the cuffs currently on display at the Yuma Prison, but after reading all your information it seems like these were a more on-the-go type of cuff that probably wouldn't have been used in a prison.

I don't trust myself to determine whether something is authentic, so if any of you see a set of cuffs for sale that may fit that 1876-1909 U.S. prison period, please let me know and I can make that suggestion for display.  Thanks again!

TSMarie wrote: ↑

Aug 11, 2024

Thank you again, gentlemen!  I was thinking this second set of cuffs might be a good option to suggest as a replacement for the cuffs currently on display at the Yuma Prison, but after reading all your information it seems like these were a more on-the-go type of cuff that probably wouldn't have been used in a prison.

I don't trust myself to determine whether something is authentic, so if any of you see a set of cuffs for sale that may fit that 1876-1909 U.S. prison period, please let me know and I can make that suggestion for display.  Thanks again!

I believe a set of Tower single lock or double lock cuffs would fit that time period. Tower was the largest handcuff maker in the U.S. for several decades. Ron J

Bean cuffs are easy to find and among the lesser priced cuffs.
Tower was the "Ford" of cuffs and Bean was the "Chevy".

This one is the rarer of the Beans as it has a rounded key (1st Model), but the flat key version which came a few years later, lies in your timeline, is under $150.  Most likey used in transporting to your facility

I was at your museum 12 or so years ago and took pics of every cuff in the display, but now I can't find them.
If possible, let's see what cuffs you have.

All I could find is this key collection.
A nice Pauly key!