RARE 1939 LOCKABLE LEATHER RESTRAINTS

Here is a real set of leather restraints:

For your consideration…from a local estate

They say if you can't find it on the internet it doesn't exist, I can add to that and say if you can't find it on ebay it doesn't exist. But when you can't find it on the internet or ebay how rare is that? Out of millions of items listed on ebay in running or completed auctions you will not find another J.H. Woodside lockable restraint. Likewise if you do an in depth search on Google you will not find these restraints nor the lock. Needless to say they do exist, but you may be looking at what might be the original 1937 prototype. After exausting several search engines for reference to these unique lockable leather restraints I finally went to the official U.S. Patent office website and completed a search of the patent number. Lo and behold John H. Woodside of Pomona, California filed a patent on this unique restraint lock buckle on November 22, 1937. The patent 2,155,159 was issued on April 18, 1939. The Patent Office have several pages of drawings, descriptions and other information on these restraint locks at http://patft.uspto.gov/ Go to the search page and type in the number above (without the commas) to see the information. These remarkable restraints are made of very heavy leather and heavy lockable iron buckle, total weight about 2 lbs. The unique lock device works great and comes with the brass key shown. The leather belt is adjustable from a 28" to 50" waist (!) in addition to 12 settings from very thin to very heavy wrist sizes for each of the wrist cuffs which unscrew to adjust. Once they are on one could not unscrew them. The belt is 52" in length. They appear to have been well used and well taken care of. The key and lock work perfectly and are marked in crude stamped name and patent number (see closeup below). I would say this restraint would be most difficult to escape from if one was unfortunate enough to be locked up in it. Even if you had they key it would be virtually impossible to get out on your own as the key had to be pushed in (with a spring resistance) with one hand holding the key and the other holding the buckle in place. Needless to say if your hands are imobilized by the heavy cuffs this feat would be all but impossible. The heavy, high quality leather is in remarkable condition, with no cracks or other issues I can see. I did not oil it to enhance its appearance for the internet but if one was to do so I am sure it would look amazing. I sell 'em as I find 'em so will leave the sprucing to you if you so desire. What you see is what you get (so please scroll down and supersize the many images I have posted for your evaluation below). What you will get is a very RARE set of lockable restraints indeed, with leather that is not cracked and very supple as found at an antique dealers estate. Best of all this is a LOW RESERVE auction designed only to protect our investment in this lot. Is this the only set in existence? Were these made and simply not referenced on the internet? Did Woodside sell the patent and the new owner rename them? Is this one of the original working prototypes that the patent office requires to register a patent then later marked by hand with the number and patent owners name? Finally one last question? When will you ever see another pair of leather lockable restraints like this? These would be an amazing addition to any collection or museum display of handcuffs or restraint devices. Bid now with your highest offer... - eBay (15 Feb 09)

This set of leather restraints sold for $190.39 (Plus $13.85 shipping).
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