The case had a spike that restricted key entry to one hand or the other.
The lock may have been made available for single sided entry though with a different follower
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Cheers Tom, that is a lot easier way to do it than the way I went about it if I want to make some up.
I've got at least two Fortress knocking around somewhere, one is probably very early eighties at a guess, with dark blue box with the black lock silhouette on the cover, other one is the later light blue open ended boxes from the 90s.
Tom its interesting what you said about the hands on the key profiles, I had never noticed they were always cranked the one way.
We supplied a few over the years (considering the price of them!) although not many compared to the basic castle 110s.
Can remember back then you could get the Fortress off the shelf with 3, 6 or 9 keys as they were classed as "restricted", so we usually ordered them with 6 as sod's law the customer would always ask you for a couple more a month or so later.
Never noticed which hand the keys were though, so when I get a chance I'll dig out the ones I have and have a look.
Well this morning was our annual half dry day of sunshine here in Wales, so it was time to empty the shed and find that long forgotten crate of old Chubb locks.
Disappointed to find only the one Fortress, but did find a 3M51 clutch bolt and a big 3J60 hiding with it. The rest are all the more recent packaging 5 lever, 7 lever domestic range and a few more 5 detainers.
Having moved everything from BMX bikes, outboard motors and wheelchairs as well as the countless crates and boxes of stuff I'll never use in a million years, I now realise why our friends across the pond are always having 'yard sales'..
please let me know when you have your yard sale!
Am I right in thinking that the hardplate on the fortess would take either section key, the ward is on the mild steel case part?
Apologies Gary, didn't see this when I added the photos. Yes you are right, it's actually quite intricate where they've formed the ward, not only the shape cut but its also counterbored to form the recess/bearing for the bolt thrower to pivot, and the hardplate then spot welded on top like on the later pattern 110's.
Cheers Huw.