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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    13
    Country: UK

    Default Probable 17th English Century Box Lock

    Hello People, I thought that you may be interested in a large (7 inches long) early box lock that I bought a while back. It is a Ward lock of a sort, but has a quite complex set of levers to detach the lock plate. I am estimating it as 17th Century, but it may well be earlier. It is made of iron and was probably a custom made (?) lock for somebody. If anyone has seen one before or has any other ideas I would like to hear from you. Cheers, Alan.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_0040.JPG   IMG_0041.JPG   IMG_0042.JPG  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Frankfurt Main
    Posts
    705
    Country: Germany

    Default

    This is definitely too old for me and I hope that one of the other users will be able to help you

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle WA
    Posts
    1,327
    Country: United States

    Default

    It looks like a sliding door/gate lock if I had to guess. Interesting design in that it looks like the key has to turn two different directions to work the lock. I could be wrong on that but from the design that is my thoughts.

    Cool lock. Would love to see some closer pictures in say two sections, right and left if it isn't too much trouble.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    England
    Posts
    110
    Country: England

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    Very interesting lock that one, would be nice to have seen the key that works this. Always nice to see the key with a lock but over the years most get lost or broken which is a shame.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio USA
    Posts
    1,433
    Country: United States

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    Can you supply a closer view of the key area? Is the contact point "talon" for the key broken off?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    13
    Country: UK

    Default Old Box Lock.

    Hello All, The key would have come in from the open side, having passed through the box (of course it may have been a door !) and the 'Talon' carried on through the hole that you see in the first picture. Hope that makes some sense. The Ward would have made it difficult to determine the details of the key (from the outside) that were needed to forge a key. Alan.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    13
    Country: UK

    Default

    Hello All, The three pictures were taken at Hampton Court Palace by a friend of mine (I was showing it to some people who work there). I will try to take some more pictures with a bit more detail and also get some proper dimensions for the lock. I would also like to attempt to make a key for this lock (maybe in wood first of all to work out the shape and details) and to try to get it to function to some degree. Cheers, Alan.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle WA
    Posts
    1,327
    Country: United States

    Default

    I might advise caution on getting this lock to "work". If I am right this lock has not been in use for a very long time and might be brittle and could break easily. As metal ages it will crystallize. This is your lock so you can do as you wish but I thought I would toss that out there.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    13
    Country: UK

    Default

    Thanks for the warning Dean, I will tread carefully, the springs still feel pretty good for their age, but i'm not going to over stress them. Alan.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    34
    Country: UK

    Cool

    That's an impressively complex mechanism for such an old lock.

    I'd suggest it was used on a trunk, as it looks like the plate is secured by claw or hook arrangement. It could have beena sliding gate, but that would be unusual back then, plus the key only enters from one side.

    The key would look like the negative of the ward plates at 8 and 10 o'clock, plus have a deep cut at two positions to avoid the two long radial wards.

    For all the complexity of the mechanism, a bit of curved wire through the keyhole would likely press the detecting lever, & opened the lock.

    Thanks for sharing the photos.

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