Gougler keyless padlock combination?

[wylk]

Diferent Gouglers put the code in diferent places. Most often it's on the shackle, in early cases on the "under" side of the shackle at the top. In quite a few cases the available known code lists have holes in them.

But locks that were made in a group for a school or factory seem to use codes that were separate, and probably spelled out in a codebook that was supplied to the buyer, and for these the "standard" codes do not work. There may be a code on the shackle that describes the combination, plus a code on the body that is like a serial number for the lock (and could be used to track it back to the owner or locker).

In the current example it was stamped on the back of the lock and was a standard factory code (or close enough).

BTW I ran across a YouTube video showing the demolition of the Kent factory buildings last year. Search for "gougler demolition" without the quote marks.

[wylk]

Personally, I don't see any problem with somebody who has an old/historic lock like the Miller/Gougler/Miller locks trying to find a way to make it operable. This sort of question does not come up frequently and we have adequate guidelines in place to avoid helping somebody open a lock in use by somebody else. The combination is part of the lock's history, and if I own it, why should I be denied a chance of making it a working bit of history instead of just a pretty lump?

[Junker]

Ok guys. Maybe these links will work for the pics. I found these online, since I don't know when I will be able to post some from a PC.

[Junker]

Personally, I don't see any problem with somebody who has an old/historic lock like the Miller/Gougler/Miller locks trying to find a way to make it operable. This sort of question does not come up frequently and we have adequate guidelines in place to avoid helping somebody open a lock in use by somebody else. The combination is part of the lock's history, and if I own it, why should I be denied a chance of making it a working bit of history instead of just a pretty lump?

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for your defense. This is my lock, and I think how it operates is one of the most important parts of the history. Thanks again. You said it best!!

[wylk]

The odd thing about that patent date (March 18, 1902) is that the only patent I have found on that date that is remotely relevant is the Miller patent 695,472. But it's for a Miller escutcheon plate rather than a padlock. I guess they felt they could stamp on any old patent's date since it was generally difficult at the time to look up a patent.

[Junker]

Yes, I had read that in some notes posted in another thread. I believe the notes were actually posted by you as well!