- Created by
- Hiatt & Co. Ltd., British, founded 1780
- Date
- 2000s
- Medium
- nickel
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 1 7/8 × 1 × 13/16 in. (4.7 × 2.5 × 2 cm)
- Diameter: 1 in. (2.5 cm)
- Caption
- Produced by one of the oldest, most prolific producers of iron restraints, Hiatt and Company, these contemporary cuffs materialize a deep connection between racial slavery, the carceral state, and militarization. Established in Birmingham England, in 1780, Hiatt and Company supplied slave traders across the Atlantic with handcuffs, collars, and chains well into the 19th century—long after the abolition of slavery in Britain and the United States. Two centuries after its founding, Hiatt became the first British company to introduce the rigid cuff design seen here and now used worldwide by police and militaries.
- Description
- One (1) small nickel key for the locking mechanism of the rigid speed handcuffs, "Model 2103 Speedcuff," manufactured by Hiatt & Co. Ltd. (NMAAHC 2024.23.1.1). This is one of a two-key set and features an open ring base with a small straight end and straight front length with notched key.
- Place made
- Birmingham, England, Europe
- Classification
- Weapons and Ammunition
- Type
- keys (hardware)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2024.23.1.2
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




