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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2
    Country: United States

    Default Wells Fargo Padlock

    This I'm almost 99.9% is the real deal.. I am A newbie here, and have had this lock in my possesion for 35 years..

    "WF.&Co.". 3 1/4" high x 2 1/2" wide. Steel case. Steel Shackle.There is a hole going through the case and the shackle to accept the wire seal."J.H.W. CLIMAX Co. NEWARK N.J. U.S.A." is stamped on the obverse ofthe shackle. Made for: Wells Fargo & Co. Mfg by: J. H. W. Climax Co.
    Case is all steel..cover looks as it is a cast brass.


    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails wells fargo 1.JPG   wells fargo 2.JPG   wells fargo 3.JPG   wells fargo 4.JPG  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle WA
    Posts
    1,327
    Country: United States

    Default

    What little I know of padlocks I also would lean to this is the real deal but I will wait until the padlock collectors chime in as they do know more about this than I.

    Welcome aboard and may this be a long hobby for you!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Odell Ne
    Posts
    581
    Country: United States

    Default

    Jeff, I'm almost 100% sure what you have is an origional Wells Fargo padlock. Another version of the lock has W.F.Co EX on the swing cover. Yours is the seal lock version,thus the hole in the case and bail.
    Value would be higher with a working origional key, but I would still think it would be worth $400-$500 on a good day.
    Mark A. Billesbach

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    California, USA
    Posts
    216
    Country: United States

    Default Wellls Fargo Padlock

    I don't claim to be the last word regarding it's authenticity, but I want to express my concern about this lock. The rough appearing keyhole cover makes me feel uneasy. The lines are not sharp and I see pitting from the casting. A few fake Wells Fargo locks have appeared in The Antique Lock Collector and the Journal of Lock Collecting. Although none of these are the same as this one, caution needs to be exercised. "Next to the Winchester name, Wells Fargo seems to be the most popular name that ends up on locks," said one writer. I haven't checked it out yet, but the website www.wcla.net has a section on bogus locks.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Temperance, Michigan USA
    Posts
    132
    Country: United States

    Default

    I am no expert on these locks but the keyhole cover has a serious red flag.......it is not uniform to the rest of the lock and it looks like it was worked on. In my opinion, it looks like a fake. I see faked locks and restraints all the time and I am suspicious of anything that says Colt, Winchester, Yuma, Folsom, Alcatraz, Sing Sing, Wells Fargo, B&O, Keen Kutter, and any other high profile names; I never give these the benefit of the doubt and for good reason. The fakers are getting a lot better at what they do and these fakes are getting very hard to spot. Just my thoughts.

    Mike
    The Amazing Michael~Escape Artist/Scuba Diver/Locksmith/Lock, Handcuff, and Restraint Collector......and one HELL of a model American! =)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cyberspace
    Posts
    1,318
    Country: Australia

    Default

    I don't think it's right either. Only small orders would have used cast escutcheons (and then they are much finer cast than this example) a major user of locks would have had the name cast into the case.

    While the OP has owned it a long time, I'm afraid in my opinion it's just an old fake.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2
    Country: United States

    Default I would think it is the same as the one shown here #715

    I would think it is the same as the one shown here #715

    Click image for larger version. 

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    http://www.antique-padlocks.com/exp_a-z.htm

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Odell Ne
    Posts
    581
    Country: United States

    Default

    I'm still sticking with my origional opinion that it's the real McCoy. In order for someone to have swapped the keyhole cover they would have had of taken the lock apart. Looking at the rivets, it's pretty clear , at least to me that the case hasn't been tampered with. Arnells book shows this lock also but without the extra casting on the bottom for the chain. I wonder if someone at one time or another hasn't taken the whole lock to a wire wheel to remove the surface rust, thus the wear and pitting on the cover.
    Mark A. Billesbach

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    188
    Country: Canada

    Default

    Looks like a great old padlock.
    The brass Drop Cover keyhole plate appears to be a rough Sand Caste
    instead of a finer Lost Wax type of casting.

    If you could open up the lock and show the shackle it may lead
    to other observations?

    Differences in the keyhole Plate and the lock body may be due to
    a company repair and retrofitting?
    For cost saving economy I think Wells Fargo would repair/restore
    their equipment instead of replacing a lock that was still workable
    after a patch up?

    Hey if you like it then cherish it a part of your collection.
    I am not sure anyone could give a 100% opinion.

    Brian .........................
    **************************************

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