Antique & Vintage Lock Thread

[AntiqueBen]

Since I was a kid I've always been fascinated with locks. I run into them all the time when I'm out tool hunting in the wild. The craftsmanship on some of the really old antique locks are amazing. Unfortunately I don't know much about locks or their history. I'm sure the history on locks & lock manufacturers is interesting to say the least. There have been several times I ran into a really cool lock at a good price, but I didn't buy it because it didn't have a key. Which leads me to my first question on this thread. Are locks still collectable with a missing key? I see keys for sale on eBay all the time, but it would seem to me that matching the right key to an antique lock would be very difficult. Or is it? Also, what is the best way on figuring out how to properly date a lock & what is the best way to lubricate them? These are some things I would like to learn more about locks.

I found two locks today (pics below) & the only reason I bought them was because they had a key. One is a lock made by Corbin Cabinet Lock Co & the other one is called a Slaymaker with a pin tumbler. I personally like the look of the Corbin lock & it's original chain & key. I think the Corbin is cast iron & the brass details really stand out. I would like to figure out what era these locks were made.

So, post up all your antique & vintage locks & any information you have about them so we can see what's out there. I'm sure some of you have some really nice old examples.

 

[Ricky Joe]

One of mine

 

[AntiqueBen]

One of mine

Nice! I've seen several Yale locks but not like yours. I figured we would see some nice locks come out of hiding

 

[jeffmoss26]

you rang?!
youtube.com/jeffmoss26
I am a locksmith for the last 6 years and I have been collecting for probably 15 years. Happy to answer any questions!

 

[AntiqueBen]

you rang?!
youtube.com/jeffmoss26
I am a locksmith for the last 6 years and I have been collecting for probably 15 years. Happy to answer any questions!

Awesome!! Thanks for chiming in Jeff. Here's my top 3 questions:
1) How difficult is it to find a vintage key for a vintage lock?
2) What is the best way to date a lock?
3) What is the best way to lubricate a lock?

 

[d42jeep]

I posted most of mine on this earlier thread.

Anyone into vintage padlocks?

I picked up this Wilson Bonahann 74 in a box lot. Any idea how to get a key made?

www.garagejournal.com

-Don
I particularly like locks with the Ordnance logo but most of the old ones are cool.
Corbin



Yale

EagleFort

 

[AntiqueBen]

I posted most of mine on this earlier thread.

Anyone into vintage padlocks?

I picked up this Wilson Bonahann 74 in a box lot. Any idea how to get a key made?

www.garagejournal.com

-Don
I particularly like locks with the Ordnance logo but most of the old ones are cool.
Corbin



Yale

EagleFort

Nice examples Don. The military & RR locks in particular are very cool. I found this link that has some good info on military locks.

Pin Tumbler Padocks - Antique Padlocks

 

[jeffmoss26]

Awesome!! Thanks for chiming in Jeff. Here's my top 3 questions:
1) How difficult is it to find a vintage key for a vintage lock?
2) What is the best way to date a lock?
3) What is the best way to lubricate a lock?

1) finding a working key is rarely going to happen unless you have a ton of keys to go through.
2) looking up manufacturer names, trademarks, patents etc. There are also some lock collecting associations that send out newsletters throughout the year
3) anything but graphite! we use a product called Houdini for most locks. TriFlow is good for high security cylinders and things with more moving parts.

 

[AntiqueBen]

1) finding a working key is rarely going to happen unless you have a ton of keys to go through.
2) looking up manufacturer names, trademarks, patents etc. There are also some lock collecting associations that send out newsletters throughout the year
3) anything but graphite! we use a product called Houdini for most locks. TriFlow is good for high security cylinders and things with more moving parts.

Thanks Jeff. That's valuable information. Would love to see you post pics of some of the gems in your collection, especially anything antique

 

[jeffmoss26]

My YouTube channel is where I post everything. There is far too much to take pictures of but I’m sure I have some general shots of my basement shop.

 

[AntiqueBen]

My YouTube channel is where I post everything. There is far too much to take pictures of but I’m sure I have some general shots of my basement shop.

I like watching your YouTube channel Jeff. You always show a lot cool stuff. Could you guess the age of the Corbin in the pic below?

 

[jeffmoss26]

that’s a yale
I’m guessing 75 years old or more

 

[AntiqueBen]

I have a coffee can filled to the top with miscellaneous keys that I got from an estate sale years ago. I've never really paid attention to it & after briefly looking through it I've realized there's a bunch of lock keys of all different types in there. Here's a cool Master Lock key I found with a lion on it. I found a few small locks in there too.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I was selling an item on Kijiji and thought I would include a lock for the hasp on the item to sweeten the deal. Shortly after I received an email stating the individual was only interested in the lock. WTH
So are many of these old locks are of any value this is the one in question. This is the lock guessing from the 1950-60s.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

This is probably the most unique of the locks I own. CPR (Canadian National Railways) chain and lock, no key, neighbour and former railway employee gifted it to me.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Beautiful!

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's just a small sample of what's coming out of the coffee can of keys. One of them might be a key to an old Indian motorcycle. I still have a lot of keys to go through.

 

[RTM]

This is probably the most unique of the locks I own. CPR (Canadian National Railways) chain and lock, no key, neighbour and former railway employee gifted it to me.

Is that a gallon 🥹 or quart paint can. (Please don’t say Half pint.)

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Quart

 

[jeffmoss26]

The indian head key is for an old Pontiac

 

[AntiqueBen]

The indian head key is for an old Pontiac

Ok... maybe a Pontiac StarChief.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Went out hunting today & I found a couple cool locks. To be honest, I'm not sure what either of these are. I "think" the silver & brass lock might be a railroad lock. The other one is pretty big & heavy. Any ideas?

Edit: The silver & brass lock has an "S" in a diamond logo?

 

[jeffmoss26]

S = Slaymaker

 

[AntiqueBen]

S = Slaymaker

Thanks Jeff. Your right. I thought it said "Lang PA" when it's actually "Lanc PA" for Lancaster PA. I didn't realize that Mr. Slaymaker worked for the PA Railroad. Is the 1963 date on this lock the date it was put into service? Just wandering how old the lock is?

 

[Squez]

not sure how old it came in a tool box I bought

 

[AntiqueBen]

not sure how old it came in a tool box I bought

Nice. Those pimples look brass. It would look cool cleaned up unless you like the old look. Cool to see the patent applied for on the shackle.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Thanks Jeff. Your right. I thought it said "Lang PA" when it's actually "Lanc PA" for Lancaster PA. I didn't realize that Mr. Slaymaker worked for the PA Railroad. Is the 1963 date on this lock the date it was put into service? Just wandering how old the lock is?

Slaymaker is the manufacturer and they were based in Lancaster. I don’t think 1963 has anything to do with dates. The lock is much older. Probably from the 20s or 30s

 

[AntiqueBen]

I saw this Adlake lock the other day & I couldn't resist, so I went back & got it (pics below). It was priced right. It was in a case at a large local antique mall. On the other side of the mall was a different dealer that had several barrel keys. I thought why not, I'll see if anything fits this Adlake lock. Probably a shot in a million, but why not. Would you believe the very last key I tried actually fit into the key way, now the moment of truth. I twisted the key & heard a click & it popped open. The mall employee said, that'll never happen again. I have to admit I was a little shocked. Even more bizarre, the key is a Slaymaker marked B&MRR & it works on this Adlake marked for C&O Railroad.

Since I'm new to locks, is this a common happening where a Slaymaker key operates an Adlake lock? Or one railroads key will work on a different railroads lock? Or is this literally that "one in a million" instance where the lock & key gods cut me a break??

 

[jeffmoss26]

take a look here - https://railrelicstoday.com/locks.html - tons of info
possibly the locks were keyed alike between different companies, your B&M key looks very similar to my C&O.

 

[Higgy1300]

I found this lock in some stuff i got from my Dad.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Found another Railroad lock. The lock & key are marked N.Y.C.S. railroad. This one was so filthy & covered in years of grime I had no choice but to clean it. It's marked E.T. Fraim Lock Co Lancaster PA USA on the key hole cover. Also marked Fraim Made In USA on the back. It was nice to find this one with the original key. I guess this one is before Fraim & Slaymaker got together, so I'd like to figure out its age. Anyone have any thoughts on when it was made?

 

[jeffmoss26]

here is some info. They don't list when E.T. Fraim changed its name. My guess is your lock is from the 20s-30s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaymaker_lock_company

The "Lancaster: City Of Locksmiths" Story

It was an ordinary day. Looking at old photographs of the city of Lancaster and discovered that Lancaster was home to 16 padlock manufactur...

lifewithldub.blogspot.com

 

[AntiqueBen]

here is some info. They don't list when E.T. Fraim changed its name. My guess is your lock is from the 20s-30s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaymaker_lock_company

The "Lancaster: City Of Locksmiths" Story

It was an ordinary day. Looking at old photographs of the city of Lancaster and discovered that Lancaster was home to 16 padlock manufactur...

lifewithldub.blogspot.com

Thanks Jeff. I've read this article too. It says Fraim bought an interest in Slaymaker in 1920-21 forming Fraim-Slaymaker Lock Co. I'm assuming after this the locks would have been marked accordingly. I've seen locks marked F&S. So, would a lock marked Fraim only be prior to the Slaymaker acquisition in 1920?

 

[master Zoda]

Hello I am hoping someone can share some information on this padlock I just received as a present.