Posted 11 months ago
jfrizzy
(2 items)
I bought this today on an auction just on a whim. It looked interesting but now I am having trouble finding any info as to when or where it was made.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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That is one NICE lock. Especially if it is authentic and you have a working key. If the key doesn't seem to work, there may be a "trick" to the lock. It looks like a lock that would be used on a gate. I'm going to show this to a collector friend of mine with more knowledge and see if he knows anything more about it.
-- Earth
Just figured out how to open it, definitely a trick lock. You have to put the key in part way, turn it clockwise then drop it in further to the mechanism and turn it clockwise again. Then there is a slide that looks like a screw head that you have to slide to undo the third lever which then releases the lizard and opens the lock.
Now I just want to figure out where it was made and when.
There is probalby also a trick to opening the keyhole cover. It looks like the cover latches at the bottom. I had to look closely to see what you meant by "lizard". Now I see it. That is so cool. Old gate locks were usually trick locks. Some are nicer than others, but there are collectors out there that really get into them.
The lock to the far left is a Master padlock for trailer hitches. Useful, but not much value in collecting. The other two are considered "Poorman Story Locks". The pentagonal one with the elephant was made by Miller. The roundish one with the oak leaf was made by Wm. Enders. Both of those, while not terribly valuable are quite collectable.
-- Earth
Stunning craftsmanship on the third piece. That would look great on my Vanderman trunk!