Pinkerton Leg Irons

These are rare enough to say that they don't come around very often, or ever! So I guess the selling price is very fair.

A super pair of early Handcuffs / Leg Irons in excellent condition with minor wear from use. The cuffs work well with the original key. - eBay (25 June 2012)

This set of leg irons had a high bid of $770.67 (Plus $8.15 Shipping).
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1870's TOWER IMMATATION DETECTIVE Handcuffs

Here is a nice set of counterfeit handcuffs. Note the slight differences from the real Pinkerton handcuffs seen here:

nice set of 1870's TOWER IMMATION handcuffs complete with a nice working key...... the maker of the IMMATATION TOWER was put out of business shortly after making them as they were charged with INFRINGMENT rights from the real TOWER handcuff maker...... therefore, the IMMATATION TOWER DETECTIVE is actually RARER then the TOWER DETECTIVE ......... some of the difference's in THIS cuff are the STRAIGHT cuts accross the BOW, the PROTRUDING rivet pins in the hinges, & a NOTCH where the bow goes into the body of the cuff......... - eBay (9 Feb 2010)

These handcuffs had a 'Buy-it-Now' price of $285 (Plus $8.50 Shipping).
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Fake Tower Detective Handcuffs

Tower Detective handcuffs, a.k.a. 'Pinkerton Handcuffs' are very cool. They have a nice design and even feel good on. As it so happens, these handcuffs were copied and there are many fakes around. Here is one example:

Antique handcuffs that my Grandfather had, probably from around 1900, good condition with key, few small spots where chrome has come off. - eBay (9 April 09)

This set of handcuffs sold for $202.50 (Plus $5 Shipping) which oddly enough is more than what I paid for my first set of Pinkerton's a couple months ago.
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Another set of TOWER DETECTIVE Handcuffs

Here is another set of Tower Detective / Pinkerton Handcuffs. There have not been any up for auction lately. Too bad as I am looking pick up another set:

Here is a nice old pair of handcuffs. I do not have a key for them. - eBay (18 Dec 08)

This set of handcuffs sold for $123.62 (Plus $7.10 Shipping).
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Tower Detective / Pinkerton Handcuffs

Here is an excellent set of Pinkerton handcuffs:

Here I have a very nice set of Tower Detective (Pinkerton) handcuffs. The cuffs are in excellent shape and have about 98-99% of their finish. The cuffs work great and have a key. - eBay

A have a set like this and I am looking for another. Too bad the bidding for this set rose dramatically in the last seconds.

This set of handcuffs went for the pricy sum of $328 (Plus $8 shipping).
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TOWER DETECTIVE Handcuffs

I think these are my new favorite handcuffs:

Nice pair of antique hand cuffs. I love the sculptural aspect of the birds heads. These hand cuffs are in fine working condition and I believe the key is original.

I just learned that these were made by John J. Tower in 1887. They're known as Pinkerton Detective handcuffs because that law agency was believed to carry them. - eBay

This pair sold for $201.76 (Plus $4.80 shipping)

I have a pair like this. They are nice.

Here is another set:

Tower Detective Handcuffs w/ Key - Nickel plated Tower Detective handcuffs in perfect working order. Cosmetically they are covered with scratches (they are handcuffs after all) and there is some rust and pitting from rust, some which can be seen in the accompanying photo montage of the back of the cuffs (on the top) and the front of the cuffs (on the bottom.)

Referencing the accompanying photo, the largest area of pitting is around “eleven o’clock” on the upper left side cuff; around the sides of each cuff’s joints (upper right side cuff and lower left side cuff); and on the lock plate faces (mostly on the lower right side cuff).

The handcuffs' key comes with a retainer ring that is a jointed, 1 ¼ inches in diameter, circular metal arrangement with a spring closure to lock it securely. I believe this retainer may have been an item originally provided with the handcuffs. The only markings or writing on any of these pieces is stamped on the key retainer and appears to reads:

PROV PROTB
25130/08

I say “appears to read” because I am not sure if the “B” is a “B” or a “P” or something else. The other letters and numbers are clear. I have no idea what the writing means or to what it refers but somebody went to the trouble of putting the writing there.

The handcuffs are about 9 inches across; the links about 2.25 inches of that length. The cuffs weigh 12 ounces and lock from an inside diameter of about 6 inches to 8 inches. These appear to be as strong and secure as the day they were first manufactured. - eBay

This set went for $177 (Plus $3.99 shipping)

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