5 Attachment(s)
Bell Ringing Antique Lock
I have this lock that I will call an Antique Bell Ringing Box Lock. It appears to be used on some type of large antique box. The purpose of the lock is to alert someone that the box was being unlocked by sounding a bell as the key is turned.
As the key is turned, the housing that the key fits into, turns with the key and rotates a five star assembly attached to the end of the housing. This in turn lifts an arm that then falls on the bell and rings it.
It appears that the star should lift and then drop something that then allows the clapper arm to drop and ping the bell. The bell will ping 5 times with one complete rotation of the key. Some sort of spring assembly (either flat or coil ) pulls or pushes the clapper arm down to ping the bell. Whatever it is would have to fit under the inside cover plate. That piece would also hold the housing in place when the key is removed, ready for the next time the box would be opened or shut and locked.
I am wondering if anyone has worked on one of these and might have an exploded view of this lock and know what I need to make this bell ring.
cash box lock..patent 1838
Hi There:
This looks like a lock designed by a woman in England in circa 17th century.
The one I have rings quite loudly.
Because the lockcase has the metal tags hammered down,
it is therefore sealed to inspection.
I will have to look it up in my files to provide more information.
It was acquired from a basement collection owned by a elderly collector.
...............OK OK I got up and found the information now.....................
It was Sally Thompson who held the Patent for an "alarum bell lock for
a cash till"
Both your model and mine are later editions of this product.
Brian .................................................. ............................
Cash Box Lock-Patent 1838
Brian Denyer
Hello, I have just, belatedly come across this thread. Sally Thompson sounds quite a woman, so I searched through all British patents from the beginning (1617), and unfortunately failed to locate the patent. Have you possibly misspelled her name? I did check for Thomson from 1617 to 1850, but still nothing. Did you find the reference from another publication?
I have a suspicion that such indicating locks were known before patents were even originated, as I vaguely remember seeing a very old lock somewhere, a long time ago!
Regards,
Martin Cummins.