Original ball & chain

[Tom Gordon]

Can you help us foreigners?
what is it?
regards
tom

[Spencer]

Can you help us foreigners?
what is it?
regards
tom

It is a prison restraint that is composed of an iron ball connected to a shackle with about six feet of chain.

[Tom Gordon]

It is a prison restraint that is composed of an iron ball connected to a shackle with about six feet of chain.

Ah .... I thought it was some type of padlock - I am surprised that they were branded rather than just being made locally.

[Scott Klemm]

Ah .... I thought it was some type of padlock - I am surprised that they were branded rather than just being made locally.

I don't think handcuff manufacturers actually made them - but were made locally as you suggested. I saw a ball and chain at the Folsom Prison Museum in California. Its chain was only 19 inches in length and was attached to a 10 pound ball. The ball and chain was not attached to a handcuff, but appeared to be secured either by a padlock or rivet. I have seen a Houdini photo where the escape artist has two long ball and chains attached to what looks like darbies cuffs. I suspect they were made especially for Houdini's performances.

Incidentally, I attempted to attach a photo of Folsom's ball and chain along with an Oregon Boot, but I got a "the webb address you entered could not be found" message.

[Tom Gordon]

I don't think handcuff manufacturers actually made them - but were made locally as you suggested. I saw a ball and chain at the Folsom Prison Museum in California. Its chain was only 19 inches in length and was attached to a 10 pound ball. The ball and chain was not attached to a handcuff, but appeared to be secured either by a padlock or rivet. I have seen a Houdini photo where the escape artist has two long ball and chains attached to what looks like darbies cuffs. I suspect they were made especially for Houdini's performances.

Incidentally, I attempted to attach a photo of Folsom's ball and chain along with an Oregon Boot, but I got a "the webb address you entered could not be found" message.

So Tower and Dean were rare branded makers of these items?

[Spencer]

So Tower and Dean were rare branded makers of these items?

Tower and Bean were the only two commercial manufacturers of prison ball and chains an that is what I'm looking for. The vast majority of these items were cobbled together by local blacksmiths in order to cut down on costs.

[Arcade Al]

Like this:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/26115...Ball+and+Chain

Note the adjustable shackle, similar to some handcuffs.

[Scott Klemm]

I don't think handcuff manufacturers actually made them - but were made locally as you suggested. I saw a ball and chain at the Folsom Prison Museum in California. Its chain was only 19 inches in length and was attached to a 10 pound ball. The ball and chain was not attached to a handcuff, but appeared to be secured either by a padlock or rivet. I have seen a Houdini photo where the escape artist has two long ball and chains attached to what looks like darbies cuffs. I suspect they were made especially for Houdini's performances.

Incidentally, I attempted to attach a photo of Folsom's ball and chain along with an Oregon Boot, but I got a "the webb address you entered could not be found" message.

I am not a collector of restraints, but I do have some reference material on them. I looked up Tower and Bean in Alex Nichols' A Guidebook to Handcuffs. Tower and Bean did indeed make a ball and chain pattern legiron. So my earlier remark was inaccurate. Sorry!