These cuffs made by Froggatt and still owned by the family once had a key. They look as if they would work if a the key was present. They are made of silver. One of the early Froggatt family members was a silversmith. The watch is not bad either!

These handcuffs must be those that Mick Hanzliik has in his book "Houdinis mirror handcuff challenge 1904"

They where made by Thomas Froggatt for his daughter. A proof of real craftmanship but sometimes in Europe it was common to make real small things in your trade.

I wonder if they are the smallest ?

Johan Ahlberg

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I like the double "birds foot" mark at the center of the bottom of the lock case. These signature builders marks were used by Froggatt the same way as Hiatt used letters. Depending upon the cuff you will see one, two or three marks.


Joe

Amazing.

Too small to fit even on thumbs but still fully functional.

Incredible work.

Steve

Yes, they are the ones in my book and in my article in the last handcuff Annual. I had the pleasure of handling these and they are a work of art. I don't recall them being made of silver. They were not a bright color, probably originally nickel plated. You can see some of the plating is missing on both locking tubes.

Apparently, Thomas made them as a key chain for his daughter, and they are now owned by his grand-daughter, Zeena, along with a rare Froggatt grip.

If not the smallest, certainly they have the most historical interest.

Has anybody any idea what they would be worth to a collector?

Mick Hanzlik

I'm not a handcuff maven, but I know a little about silver. I would say they are not silver. Maybe they are silver plated, but I don't think so either.

On early ocean liners there were often souvenir shops on board that sold metal ashtrays, match box holders, and other metallic items that were plated with an alomst identical finish as these cuffs.

It was called "Nickel silver wash" and was cheaper than regular sterling plate.

I think that is what these cuffs are also plated with.

The pics may be decieving due to the fucos and lighting but it seems, at least to me, that there are areas on these where the plating has worn away and shows brass underneath.

The cuffs themselves may be made of brass.

Nickel silver plating was very thin and cheap and wore away easily.

Steve Santini

I think you're right about being plated, whether silver or nickle. I was told they were silver and wasn't sure if the brass color was a reflection. I'd also expect an assay mark if they were pure silver. No being into Houdini, I've not seen Micks book so these will be interesting to the rest of us I hope. I guess I should start buying the Annuals as well to keep up to date and stop covering old ground.
Paul

If they are plated, I don't think it would be "silver wash". I would guess it might be German Silver, a better form of plating. If you went to the expense of making these, I would presume you finish it the right way, ie, not to go cheap.

As mentioned above, it could be nickel plated.

Either way, WTF is the key?

Kevin....As far as I can remember, no-one in the family had seen a key. As these were mage by Thomas as just a key chain,the key maybe just got put somewhere and forgotten about.

I'll email the owner and let you all know what she said.

Mick

I have just been in touch with Thomas Froggatt's grand-daughter who owns the mini-cuffs. She thinks there was a key, but she can't remember seeing it. I can remember looking at the screw thead in the tube, so they would have been working cuffs.

They were made for Thomas's Daughter in Law, his son's wife. Thomas didn't have any daughters.

Regarding what they are made of, Zeena (the grand-daughter) has tested them with a magnet, with no reaction, so as Steve mentioned, they are probably brass with a plating of some kind. She took them to a local jeweller who said they were nickel, but I guess he was referring to the plating.

She's getting a second opinion from another jeweller, so I'll let you know the outcome.

Also she's trying to get a valuation.

Mick

All you have to do test it is drop one droplet of silver test acid on it. If it turns blood red, it's silver.

Yeah, But can Santini get out of these?

Could you?

I could, while swimming in his wake too!

MICK, WHEN U NEXT TALK WITH HER U COULD MENTION THAT IF SHE CAN'T FIND THE KEY BUT WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THEM ,USE A SMALL PIECE OF COPPER OR ALUMINUM TUBING THREAD IT ONTO THE STIM AND PULL BACK IT DOESN'T MAKE A NICE LOOKING KEY BUT WILL OPEN THEM AND BEING SOFTER THAN THE STIM SHOULDN'T HURT THEM !!

LK D~D

Hi!

The Froggatt handcuffs are most likely the smallest working Darby handcuffs ever made.
The fact they were manufactured by T Froggatt, are antique and was probably only manufactured in
one specimen makes them, of course, very valuable. I'm sure some of us would be prepared to pay
very much to get them. I would!

Here is a picture of an even smaller, working, miniature pair of Peerless handcuffs. They are
manufactured by a Canadian miniaturist and are fully working. There are 20 notches on each bow,
exactly like the Peerless. Even the double lock feature is working by inserting the top of the
key to the double lock button at the edge of the cuff.

You can never be sure but I think these are the world's smallest working handcuffs ever made.

Lars

Nice touch with the Rolex Lars.
Maybe this can be our new standard for measuring cuffs, more consistent than inches or cm !!
Paul

Paul, I just thought it was a little funny to use a similar watch for the comparison of miniature cuff sizes.

Lars

Lars- those are a superb piece. Sadly no longer available from the maker. What is out there is it.

Damon

The S&W with American Munitions/Handcuff style key was available a few months ago. Maybe it is also sold out by now.
Stan

Damon,

Stan is right! The Peerless are discontinued but they have made very nice S&W mod 90 miniatures.
They haved turned very pricy though, $850 for a set.

The maker obviuosly got an American Handuff key with the big cuffs.

Please let me know if you are interested and I will contact the manufacturer.
Pictures below.

Lars