Objects Database

Hiatt Karabiners (very early versions)

Accession Number

1706.2023.1

Object Name

Hiatt Karabiners (very early versions)

Created

18/01/2023

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

18/01/2023

Brief Description

Two eliptical shaped Hiatt karabiners with snap locks

Materials

steel

Dimensions

10(L) x 5(W) cms

Number Of Objects

2

Inscription Description

"BRITISH MADE HIATT 2 TONS "

Colour

silver

Maker

hiatt

Object Production Place

Britain

Provenance

It seems that Hiatt started making prisoner’s handcuffs, felons leg irons, gang chains and various nasty restraining devices for the slave trade in Birmingham around 1780.
Fortunately, the slavery items were soon consigned to history and the company went on to become the world’s leading handcuff manufacturer.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, a company that specialised in high quality restraint devices saw a potential market in the production of karabiners; we think in the 1950’s though it is possible they made some ( maybe these two) for the War Department in the Second World War.
Either way, we have two excellent examples of early Hiatt karabiners here in the collection; made in the UK when most karabiners were imports from the continent so no fancy kilogram breaking strains, just a good old fashioned 2 tons!

Acquisition Date

18/01/2023

Condition Check Date

18/01/2023

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

18/01/2023

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