This guide is to inform Ebayers about items being sold as from The Yuma Territorial Prison

On Ebay there are numerous items listed relating to The Yuma Territorial Prison. The most numerous are guard badges and Ball & Chain leg iron shackles. Within the archival records of this notorious prison there has never been any indication that the guards wore badges. Most badges sold on Ebay are sold as "obsolete" or reproduction. There are some "old" badges out there that I believe are from early movies filmed in Yuma at the prison, maybe 1920s-1950s.

The largest number of Fake objects relating to the Yuma Territorial Prison are the Ball & Chain leg iron shackles that are stamped "Yuma Prison" cast onto the metal ball. There are hundreds of these out there and they show up on Ebay every few weeks. These are all well made reproductions and nice conversation pieces. They can be purchased from a variety of western reproduction stores online. One can chose from three prisons,Yuma Prison, Alcatraz or Leavenworth. I believe these are made in India or China. The real Ball & Chain leg iron shackles from the Prison never had the prison name stamped or embossed on the metal ball or anywhere else. Like any historic artifact there should be some kind of historic documentation that shows where the item came from, whether it be a photograph a letter or some other proof of authenticity.
Michael Freisinger, Curator, Arizona State Parks. If you are travelling through Yuma, AZ. please stop by at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and experience this unique historic site!
    ` Prison Guard   Prisoner