Thread: Parautoptic Safe Lock circa 1840s-1850s

Earlier this year I see there was discussion of locks using a Grasshopper type key - starting with the Hall 5,686 patent of Aug 1, 1848, and continuing with Linus Yale 10,584 of Feb 28, 1854 and 12,932 of May 22, 1855. However, I am looking for information about Pickford & Whiting, and their patent 17,815 of July 14, 1857. Much like the Hall's 1848 key, except with a longer base that would stick out the front of the lock while still fully inserted - and be held in place by a side spring that would project from the lock and be visible at the side of the key slot - see attached picture. (I do not have a key.)

The unique feature here is that it is a "changeable key" lock - here meaning that the key that locks the lock must be the key that is used to open the lock - and a different key could in theory be used for each time the lock is locked. There is no suggestion that the pins in the key are changeable. An additional "key" simply acts to throw and retract the bolt. Here, as in earlier locks, the straight 5-pin Grasshopper style key does nothing to move the bolt.

Attached are some additional pictures.

Does anyone have any information about these people and this safe lock - or any others that also involved a grasshopper style key? Has anyoe seen their name or dating reference on any keys? Thanks!

Unfortunately other than the patent, I have no info on Whiting and Pickford. But at the time they received their patent in 1857 numerous changeable key locks were already in use. In the 1840's several of this typealso had changeable keys but these were typically large lever keys with interchangeable bits. One of the most interesting was patented by William Hall in 1843 no.3,221. It has two stumps (fences) and the levers could pivotor slide as directed by the depth of cuts on the key. This lock was later improved on and used by H.C. Jones in the 1850's.

By the mid 1850's it had become popular to use a seperate knob handle to do the heavy work of operating the lock bolt allowing the keys to be made much smaller giving better black powder powder protection. And although many new small key lock designs were patented, Within a short time it became evident that the new dial combination
lock designs were to become the ultimate powder proof lock for safes. However in the padlock trade many small key designs continued to be used.

Changeable locks continue to be popular today. On Friday I had to open a modern Swedish Tann TRTL30X6 safe with a German Kromer Novum changeable keylock. I had made a Hobb's 2 in 1 pick for this lock in the early 90's and since this lock is changeable it can now be reset to any key. The master/slave tumbler arrangement in this lock is basically the same as several locks that were patented back in the mid 1800's. In some designs, like the Kromer, a special changing key tool is needed, where in others the action of separating the connection between the master and slave tumblers occurs automatically as the lock is unlocked. I suspect the difference in the two types is usually dependant on whether the key is retained or removable in the unlocked position. Doug

Greetings from Florida. Attached are photos of 2 grasshopper type keys. The one with a handle would require a different style keyway - a channel under the dial or something? The third key is a flat key with 4 projecting pins of the same length, the end ones being notched, and it may have nothing to do with safes - I don't know. However, if bigger, that style might be close to OK for a Whiting & Pickford key? Any key candidates anyone recalls seeing? Thanks, Doug, for the great comments!

That little key is an odd one and may be used to make an electrical connection. Just a guess. The other two do appear to be the same size and shape with the exception of the little handle. If I remember correctly John Farrel made a patented improvement to the Herring Grasshopper lock in the 1850's. It had to do with the placement of the key against the levers and was an improvement against drilling attacks. I will try to look at that patent. Maybe it will show what that key looked like. Doug

It looks like a similar to the Betteley patent lock is mounted on the safe I got from a customer. The key is missing and the safe is locked. The bit is inserted to the keyhole , moving the levers in the back, and by rotating the handle it moves downwards. I am working on finding a way to open it without drilling. Unfortunately there is no other information available.

How have you determined it is a Betteley lock? The safe looks like it could be German or Austrian. And can you supply better close up pictures of the keyhole? Doug

Doug, I will post better pictures tomorrow. It is not a Betteley lock, but the principle of operation is the same.The bit of the key stays in the lock and returns after it is locked again.

---------- Post added at 02:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

And you are right, it must be an austrian Wertheim safe.

This is the best I can do with the camera I have.

Sorry I misread that. Can you email me at "macslocks@gmail.com"? I have several questions to ask and it is easier for me with email. Doug