WW2 JAPANESE ARMY OLD MAIL 5" BRASS PADLOCK

A very nice example of a seal padlock.

This is I'm sure a very rare Japanese padlock that was brought back as a souvenir by a WW2 US Army vet. The lock stands 5 1/2" tall or 137mm and weighs 1 3/4lbs(heavy). The body is heavy brass w/the key & shackle being iron. As the pics show - there is a sliding (door or cover) that lifts to allow insertion of key. When key is turned to open lock it also allows the complete hinged front cover to fall open. There are 3 weep holes to bottom. I have owned this lock along w/some other Japanese items for over 25yrs -never out of my basement since purchase) and it's time to pass it on to another caretaker. The kanji to left reads; Ministry/Department of Communication. Middle characters; Mail / Post not sure of 2 kanji to right but maybe NewLock? A truly rare item - Oh yea, Upper backside is dtd; Showa 4 Nen 3 Gatsu ( March 1929). The vet had taken this from the Phillipines along w/swords, bayonets, canteen, paper money, even some uniform parts, etc. Good investment and great collectible ! - eBay (3 Nov 2009)

This padlock had a high bid of $699 (Plus $6.99 Shipping).
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Rankin Handcuffs

Here is a set of Rankin handcuffs. I take it that they can be opened that they are either broken or the are somehow stuck open. But the fact that they do not lock shut is probably not a good sign.

A super early pair of handcuffs in excellent condition. looks like Hank Phila Pat Date Dec. 1861 Stamped on the cuff Side hole for a key. A Great early pair of cuffs.

Questions and answers about this item

Q: the maker of the cuff is Rankin i have a set dan
A: Hi Dan, Thanks for the info. Bob

Q: I read the question and answer to the last question. Are you saying they don't lock? and could you include a picture of them in the open position. Thanks.
A: Hi I have someone who does my ebay I dont have access to the camera. I am assumining you have to have the key to lock them as they are in the unlocked position. Thanks for Looking and good Luck, Bob

Q: Is there a key? It looks like one of the cuffs is partically open. If you pull on opposite sides of the lock will the cuffs pull open? Thanks
A: Hi, No key, Both cuffs are open..Thanks for Looking and Good Luck, Bob

- eBay (26 Oct 2009)

This set of handcuffs had a high bid of $710 (Plus $5.20 Shipping).
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Cotterill’s Climax Detector Padlock

A very nice looking padlock.

Edwin Cotterill’s padlocks are amongst the most prized by collectors and the fantatically named Climax Detector lock is a rarity. This is a really big, extremely sturdy and heavy one – it is just over 5 inches tall and has makers marks, numbers and the pronouncement that the lock is “unpickable and powderproof”. The lock is working and has the original key. The lock is really well worn from heavy usage. The escutcheon that would have covered the keyhole is missing and it has some dings and small dents. There is a couple of millimeters play in the hasp but it locks completely solidly. The key is a bit corroded but you can still make out “climax detector”. - eBay (1 Nov 2009)

This padlock had a high bid of 513 British Pounds /$855.40USD (Plus 13 Pounds Shipping).
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ORIGINAL ANTIQUE HANDCUFFS - BEAN GIANT-WITH KEY

Another example of a Bean Giant up for sale. This is another rough-looking example and again it does not seems to hurt the final price. Clearly there is a floor for these, at least as long as they appear to work.

ANTIQUE BEAN GIANT HANDCUFFS WITH AFTER MARKET LOCKSMITH MADE KEY.

UNMARKED BUT DEFINITELY A BEAN GIANT--" IT IS NOT THE MOST POPULAR OF THE VARIOUS BEAN PRODUCTS, BUT IT MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE MOST FAMOUS. THE BEAN GIANT WAS MADE FAMOUS BY BEING USED, EXTENSIVELY, BY THE GREAT ESCAPE ARTIST HARRY HOUDINI" MANACLES OF THE WORLD CATALOG. OPENS/CLOSES PERFECTLY. - eBay (11 Nov 2009)

This Bean Giant had a high bid of $1,860 (Plus $8 Shipping).
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1884 BRASS COMBINATION LOCK PADLOCK BROOKLYN NEW YORK

This is an amazing price to pay for an antique padlock.

What a rare find. This auction is for a heavy ( little over 1lb ) brass combination padlock / lock. It's being sold in found condition. It has a crescent moon on one side with Green, Keyless lock co, Brooklyn N.Y. pat Sept.23,84 and on the back is 159 with 4 turn knobs. I was thinking that MAYBE it was used by the police dept. at one time ( because of the crescent moon ). The lock is about 4 3/8 x 2 2/8" x 3/4" thick.

I don't know the combination, so you will have to work on that. Without the combination I don't even know if it works. All of the knobs turn, one turn freer than the other. I have never seem one like this before. If you need more picture be sure to email be before it get's to close to the end of the auction. - eBay (15 Nov 2009)

This padlock had a high bid of $4,494 (Plus $9.05 Shipping).
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My Bean Giant

Here are some photos of my Bean Giant. The auctioned is posted somewhere here earlier. I got them from the seller after his auction failed to meet his reserve price with me having the highest bid. I purchased them for $1,600. They came with a key and work fine.

At the levels this latest auctions have been going for, I seem to have gotten a good deal for these. No matter, I have no intention of getting rid of them anytime soon. One never knows though!

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Rare Bean Giant Handcuffs Marked Iver Johnson Co. Boston

Another example of my favorite handcuff. Nice that there are a couple coming up for auction. This one looks like it might have been opened at some point in the past.

This is for a pair of Bean Giant handcuffs from the 1880's marked Iver Johnson Co. Boston around the hinge on either side. No patent date but we know when these were in use. They measure just over 6 inches in lenght and 2 7/8 inch closed. the plating is bad in a couple spots as I have shown in the photos. There is a 5 marked twice on the centers on each side. The buttons push in fine and for a while I had a home made key and it worked the cuffs fine but the key has been misplaced, so I know they would work with the right key, available on other websites. Guarenteed to be a original pair and rare. - eBay (7 Nov 2009)

This Bean Giant had a high bid of $2,010 (Plus $8.10 Shipping).
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BEAN GIANT Handcuffs - Extremely RARE - PAT.NOV.1.'87

Bean Giants have to be my favorite. It seems that I am not the only one as the average price of these keeps going up.

You are bidding on an extremely rare BEAN GIANT....

Captain E. D. Bean of the Boston Police Department invented this restraint in 1887 and offered $500.00 to anyone who could escape from them. According to Bean, with both hands immobilized in this rigid cuff, and with the double locking mechanism, the key could not be put into the keyhole while a person's hands were in the restraint. The famous Houdini accepted the challenge and escaped from the restraint, but it is uncertain whether or not he ever collected the reward because he would not tell Bean how he accomplished it.

This Bean Giant measures 6" across by 2-3/4" high. It weighs 12.2 ozs. on a postage scale. I do not have the key. It's in nice shape but does have a few spots where the nickel is worn. I am neither an expert nor a collector of handcuffs, but I am told the nickel in these areas can be restored. I have not attempted to clean it up as I am not an expert, but here again, I am told it would polish up very nicely.

I have included photos of the front and back of the handcuffs and a closeup of the writing "PAT.NOV.1.'87" which appears on the back of the cuffs. I have also included some interesting info regarding the Bean Patent for these handcuffs. - eBay (11 Oct 2009)

This set of Bean Giants had a high bid of $1,900 (Plus $20.75 Shipping).

The new owner of the cuffs, Lars Holst, graciously sent me a photo of the cuffs, confirming that they work perfectly.



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