Look for Yossie Silverman's WWW site. Its a great starting place. There is
very little on this topic in print, unfortunately. I am begining to think
that a serious material culture study on the history of handcuffs and iron
restraints is over due. Please contact me off list about your research, I'd
like to know more about it.
 
David Johnson
 
 
At 01:20 PM 10/3/97 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello:
>
>Try contacting your local state/federal prison.  The Folsom State Prison here
>in California has a museum that includes displays of handcuffs, billy clubs
>and other restraining devices that look more like torture tools.  The prison
>started in the 1870s and some pieces in the museum predate that time frame.
> They have some history of the equipment in some displays.
>
>If you strike out locally you could call Folsom Prison.  The main prison
>telephone number is 916/985-2561.  They have connected me to the museum in
>the past.
>
>Good luck,
>
>Mary Maniery
>