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New information about the Kakola handcuffs!

13 visible archived posts · 13 preserved total · topic ID 930

larho01 12 Oct 2005

I just got very interesting information from a Finnish collector about the Kakola handcuffs. This collector confirm that these handcuffs actually are manufactured att the Kakola prison in Åbo, Finland. Maybe we from now on should end up calling them Schwartiger but Kakola.

Lars

www.holstcollection.com

Manufactured at the Kakola prison, Åbo Finland.

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Monica 12 Oct 2005

For prisoners, by prisoners.

larho01 12 Oct 2005

Hi Monica,

I'm sure many collectors share your question. However, these handcuffs are extremely hard to find and there are only a few sets known.
As you wrote; made by prisoners, for prisoners.

/Lars

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Monica 12 Oct 2005

Thanks, Lars.

This part of your statement led me to think that they are still being made and are somewhat available on the marketplace:

"...these handcuffs actually are manufactured at the Kakola prison..." (as in present tense)

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larho01 12 Oct 2005

Monica,

I'm sorry for my bad English, it should of course be were and not are. These handcuffs were probably manufactured around the turn of the last century.

/Lars

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Monica 12 Oct 2005

Thanks, Lars.

I'm pondering how I would possibly escape from these cuffs. The side-entry locking teeth are novel to me. And, what with the very short chain, lock location and no swilvel-through, it looks like shimming and even escape w/ a key would be difficult. These don't double-lock, though, do they? That is an odd key as well.

Would you entertain parting with them?

BTW, not to worry, you're English is exceptional!

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Mark Lyons 12 Oct 2005

Hi Lars, I am glad to have finally met you and show you around town by way of scenic bypasses. I also hope you enjoyed meeting my other handcuff collecting friend, bearing crosses as much as I did.

I was wondering what specific information your collector friend had about these cuffs being made at the prison. I have a cuff that looks quite different from these but is constructed very much in the same manner. There is very nice cuff in another collection that shares many similarities to this cuff but is styled much like a Tower cuff. While all three styles of these cuffs could be made at the prison, it seems odd to me that they would have a name stamp made to advertise who or where they were manufactured.

In any event, I vote to rename it Kakola as your example is marked as such. I know of no cuff marked Schwartiger.

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larho01 12 Oct 2005

Hi Mark,

Many thanks for your hospitality of the first degree. The weekend in California was one of my best for a very long time, so many nice people and so much laughter. I especially appreciated your scenic tours around LA. When are we going to write the book "Jokes for handcuff collectors"?
I would very much like to see what cuff you have that reminds of this one. -Is it by any chance a Mühlenfeld? Please mail me a picture!
I agree that it seems odd that the prison would have their name stamped on the cuffs. On the other hand; the information about the manufacture comes from a long time collector from Finland that appears to know what he's talking about. I always thought the construction is too great to be of Russian origin. Stan, do you also agree to rename the handcuffs to Kakola?

Finally, I want to thank you and all other fellow collectors for being so nice and warm people! Ill never start collecting stamps, I promise

Best wishes,

Lars

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stan willis 12 Oct 2005

I absoultely agree that the name should be changed, and I've said that for a very long time. I have the German bar cuff that was patented in 1912 by Schwertfeger, so a new name would avoid confusion.
Stan

PS: It was great meeting you.

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larho01 12 Oct 2005

#10

Hi Stan;
I'm happy you agree to the change of name of these rare and nice cuffs.

It was very nice meeting you too Stan! It wasn't for the last time, that's for sure.

Lars

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van Axe 29 Nov 2005

#11

I'm very interested about this finnish collector that calls finnish town Turku by its swedish name Åbo. According to my knowledge those cuffs are schwertiger. Could have been made in Kakola, but I only knew about the H & R -lisenced cuffs that were made by Kakola.

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larho01 29 Nov 2005

#12

Hi!

I'm the one who calls the town by its Swedish name, Åbo, since I'm Swedish. I also know the Finnish name for the town is Turku. The collector I have got the information of manufacture from is the man who bought the collection from the late Finnish escape artist Timo Tuomivaara. The collection is now located in Tampere, Finland.

When you are talking about the H & R -lisenced cuffs I assume you are talking about Konepaja Voima. First, the handcuffs were not manufactured at Kakola but in Helsinki. My set is clearly stamped "Konepaja Voima Helsinki". Second, these handcuffs are patented in 1928 and could hardly be licenced from H & R since their handcuffs are patented first in 1934, six years later. H & R probably bought the licence from the Finnish manufacturer to manufacture them in the U.S. There is also a later Finnish model with grooves in the bow, very similar to H & R second version. These handcuffs are named Heteka (Helsingin Teräsvalmiste).

Regards,

Lars

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van Axe 29 Nov 2005

#13

Aa.. close to me he is..

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