Vintage Peerless Handcuffs Help needed

[lock-ed]

Hello, good people.
I have been asked to help make these old handcuffs functionable. They have great affectionate value to the owner. I am quite familiar with "modern" handcuffs, and the internals, but not this model.

I believe it to be "Peerless Model 1"

The key was jammed in 3'oclock position(if you insert in 9'oclock). I "strongly encouraged" it CW to 9, and extracted.

Does someone have a cutaway of this particualr model, or could help me with how the double-lock is (de)activated? They are both double-locked now.

Also, if someone knows where to source a key, that would be great. The one we have is damaged. We have already been in contact with Peerless, but they were not able/willing to ship overseas

TIA,
Ed

[L4R3L2]

I'm not sure how your modern cuffs differ, but the double lock is usually deactivated by turning the key the opposite direction before unlocking. Do these have the pin hole on the side for the double lock? If these are different, I'd love to learn as well.

[MHM]

The relevant patent appears to be here:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US1531451A/en

The patent image below demonstrates that you push a pin on the side in the normal manner to double lock; to undo the double lock you turn the key clockwise which slides the locking bar out of the way, then counterclockwise so that the key tip rides against surface "d" to disengage the ratchet. This is pretty much identical with the system used on modern American cuffs.

Interestingly the Peerless patent date stamped proudly on the cuff is the date of their very first ratchet patent, which is a much simpler system to this one. Patent 1,017,955 here, if anyone is interested): https://patents.google.com/patent/US1017955A/en

The mechanism in the one you have seems to date from March 1925 so this cuff probably isn't as old as the date stamped on it.

In terms of getting keys for this set, I'd be inclined simply to buy a few keys for currently available models of handcuff - get a Peerless / Smith and Wesson / whatever. They're all commonly available and are all ALMOST the same. Choose the one that is the closest fit to yours, and then carefully modify it to suit. Use a hand file not a Dremel, ask me how I know.

Let us know how you get on mate.

Michael.

*Edited for clarity.

[Squelchtone]

I live in Springfield Massachusetts and know where their office/factory in in the city of West Springfield just a few minutes from my house, so if I can get you new keys, I will be happy to mail them to Norway.

Send me a private message if you wish to do this.

Squelchtone

[lock-ed]

Thanks, people!

Squelchtone, PM sent.

MHM, thanks for pointing me in the right direction, I found the excact patent here
https://patentimages.storage.googleapis ... 161562.pdf
These handcuffs do not have a "pin"(used to double lock) visible on the ends, as shown in "your" patent and on modern cuffs. The pin on the reverse of the most common keys has no application here.

From reading/studying the patent, it appears the handcuffs unlock CCW. To double-lock, turn CW. The patent refers to "right-handed"(CW?) and "left-handed"(CCW?). Could you native English-speakers please confirm my assumptions?

The problem with these cuffs is probably the mechanism sticking. They were left unattended in a garage for nearly 50 years... I will submerge them in my super-rust-solvent(50-50 acetone + ATF), and see if they free up with some "encouragement".

To be continued with more pictures

Ed