HISTORY & HERITAGE • 75
A screw key padlock, made in a variety of sizes, typically used to secure hinged shackles and chains, this example made by Hiatt.
Peter Frima( 1892-1969) Dutch police Superintendent before and after WWII, passionate about locks.
Adjustable screw key handcuffs negated the need for carrying a range of sizes.
Frougart screw key handcuffs with integral locks. Made in three or four sizes to accommodate various wrist sizes.
The spring barb gave way to the screw key device and at the same time became part of the shackle thereby making the device more compact and somewhat more comfortable for the wearer.
The screw key device endured well into the 20th century. Possible permutations of internal thread diameter, thread pitch, thread length and both left and right hand threads gave a surprising
A Lips made handcuff, solidly made and with a double bit key – just in case the prisoner had a concealed hairgrip!
This French item,‘ Le Massenotte’ quickly calms the most troublesome prisoner! This class of restrain went by various names including a Twister, Nipper and a Come-A-long. number possible‘ combinations’ although many authorities would have matched sets. However the screw key restraints were bulky, heavy and cumbersome to use and a number of propriety types started to appear focusing on lightness and easy quick operation.
By the 19th / 20th century showmen such as Houdini had created an entertainment aspect to chains, shackles, handcuffs and legions. Escapology was a science that enthralled the public. Although the chains, shackles and padlocks used in the show were intimately understood by the performer many escapologist also had good collections of such devices for reference in much the same way that a modern
The American one piece Quick-Kuf. It featured ratchet style bows for rapid application and a solid plastic grip style linkage; comfortable to wear but prevented the manoeuvrability of the hands which was sometimes a weakness with flexible linkage types.
Harry Houdini( 1874-1926) studied his craft thoroughly and thought laterally to achieve his end; much the same as locksmiths do in another way.
locksmith might have a reference collection of locks, according to his speciality, on hand to check features and functions.
All the artefacts illustrated here are from the famous Frima lock collection, now part of the HoL Museum collection. Peter Frima was the Dutch Police superintendent in the years before and after WWII. He had built a considerable collection of locking devices of all types including the restraints featured here. He and Vincent Eras of Lips were very close collaborators in improving locking products and fighting crime.
Brian Morland, curator of the Heritage Collection of locks and keys, welcomes comments and corrections on historical aspects of locks and keys. Brian can be contacted by email: brian @ emorlands. com
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL. CO. UK | SEP / OCT 2018