Thread: What is the age of these keys?

Hello. I am sending an additional picture with some details.

http://img29.imageshack.us/i/keysdetail.jpg/

Nobody has ever seen such a type of keys?

Thanks

People are generally relucant to follow external links. Try posting your pictures on the server, see the tutorial in ' Whats new and forum information '

hello

I have tried it but always an error occurs. Could you, please, try to insert the images in my messages, please? It would be a great help. Thank you

Lets try this.

And the detail.

Thanks Dean for posting the pictures.

Keys of this type are hard to date given the lack of technical features, it is however possible to make some general observations.

1 - Security prior to 1787 relied on complex warding, and after that date the 1st security locks had 'Barrons Patent' multiple levers. These have neither the quality of the warding to be prior to 1787 or Barrons levers.

2 - So we are probably looking at standard, low security locks made after Barrons patent, but not before the patent expired and was widely copied, also the turning on the two smaller keys is quite fine so I would estimate a date of early in the 1800's

Hope that makes sense and helps.

Thanks, friends, for posting the images and your answer.

1- The probable date of early 1800s is also valid for the larger one?

2-Is possible that any of them are from the period 1787-1800?

3- and finally: I am just starting to collect antique keys: Could you let me know any site where I could see keys from the period 1700-1787?

Thank you very much for your help ;-)

The large one maybe later, possibly for a cast & machined ward. As mentioned before it's very very hard to say for sure one way or the other.

It's quite possible that they maybe earlier, but I would expect the warding to be better if this were the case.

if you check some of the other threads in this area of the site there are many fine keys on show. There is a fine collection coming up for sale, I'll see if I can post details.

Greetings Peter:

These are nice old Bridge Ward type of keys used for surface mounted locks. The date of use would have to be approximate. Although it appears that the keyhead bow may be of the Georgian time (King George of England) period or after? Many later keys had the wire bow stle flattened out, during approximately 1880's. Illustrations of keys from the time 1700-1787 may be of fancier designs then the everyday working model keys you have. So your keys could date from before 1800? Longer lengths indicate the class of use also, with Institutions using the longer ones of 6-8 inches. Shorter keys were used for thinner internal doors and the long ones were for thick front doors

I have some similar keys to yours but in the 9 inch length.

Brian...................................