Thread: Padlocks found in Montana

They are known as Scandinavian padlocks. There are other posts on the site about them, a search for Scandinavian should provide further info.

Like oldlock said,they're scandinavian design.They were made by the Star Lock Co.(1836-1926). The values run from $25 to $150 for most of the Star locks unless they have a logo or name cast on them.They were used on jail house doors and strong boxes and anywhere else a tough lock was needed in it's day. Nice locks,wish I had them in my collection;-)

The locks began as those being made by Conrad Liebrich in Philadelphia around the 1830's and were marked as such. When he retired in the late 1860's and sold the company to two employees they took on the name Star Lock Works and added the star to the lock. Very collectable and the bigger the better, there is actually a method to determine key codes by the series of dots located by the star on the bottom. I think Abloy stole an old idea ???? Besides Scandanavian they are sometimes referred to as Jail house or Strongbox locks.

there is actually a method to determine key codes by the series of dots located by the star on the bottom.

Dots are are in groups from the keyhole down, read left to right.. Cuts are tip to bow... one dot means no cut (90°), 2 dots means a cut of about 80°, 3 dots is a cut of about 60°.

I have a Star Lock Works padlock, but mine is a brass lever crab style. I'm pretty sure the company was bought by Louis Hillebrand and a guy, last name Wolf. The company was known as Hillebrand & Wolf. I don't know the exact date they started their company but I do know they were making all sorts of padlocks and bank safes through the 1870's. Louis Hillebrand died April 2, 1912 and Mr. Wolf took over the company. From there on I don't know. Mr. Hillebrand is buried in Phil. PA in Mount Vernon cemetery, Memorial #53771696. He was born in Mannheim, Germany on March 4, 1912. He didn't appear to have married or have children. If you go to Findagrave.com and fill out as much info as you have and search under the city of Phil. PA you may find the guy who had the company when your lock was made. I have search everywhere for info on Star Lock Works and can't find a thing on-line. Not a very famous company I guess. Good Luck and Happy Birthday to Mom. Reba 729

It is reasonable that they are called Scandanavian locks since they were invented in either Sweden or Finland in the early 1700's. There are still examples of these original locks around and if I was home instead of in a hotel I could look up the name of the original inventor. The original locks that were made in Scandanavia had a very long heel side shackle, so long in fact that it stuck ut the bottom of the lock. That is why another name for them is 'rat tail'. That tail was usually slightly curved and very recognizable. I have seen them sell as high as $1800.00.

I think most of the Star Scando's were cast iron but other companies also made some of brass. There are a couple of brass ones that seem fairly common, one has emblazened on the side '99' the slightly larger version is marked '999' in the same way. Yet another brand had 'Bull' on the one side and 'Dog' on the other. There are examples from Yale, Russel & Erwin and those others mentioned on my web site www.1st-net-lock-museum.com on the pages for "Other Stuff" which doesn't readily fall into the other categories at the site.
BBE.

Hi BBE,
Bless you as I found my lock on your site. It was listed as LB2N 2/99. Been trying to find out about mine. Only stamping on it was just under the opening and said Pat.Mar.70. I have a copy of the original patent submission, patent number 100402. Mine doesn't have that ball and tail on the bottom of it but does have the hole. Don't know what to call it or what it is for. Hope you can help. Thanks lots. Reba729

---------- Post added at 11:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

BBE, I should have mentioned mine is a brass crab style lever lock invented by Louis Hillebrand.

Originally Posted by Reba729

Hi BBE,
Mine doesn't have that ball and tail on the bottom of it but does have the hole. Don't know what to call it or what it is for.

The hole in the bottom of your lock is most likely a drain hole for letting captured rain water escape. I would call that a snap lock since it can be snapped into the locked position. It may have a special purpose but I don't know that either. It is more likely that it was designed that way so a patent could be obtained and no competitor could copy it for 17 years. There was a lot of that going on in lock companies 20-30 years either side of 1900. Most of them were design patents for scroll work or specific brand names like Champion, etc.
BBE.