Original ball & chain

[Spencer]

I am trying to find an original factory made Tower or Bean ball and chain. Anyone out there know of a source for one?

thanks Spencer

[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?

[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!