Junkunc Bros. American Lock H10 Padlock - Oldest/First Ball Bearing Padlock???

[Adrian Weber]

I forgot to add the picture.

[Retro00064]

Sweet lock! Mint (or near mint)-in-box locks are always great.

The address on the box uses the old postal zone system ("Chicago 21, Ill."), so it can't be any earlier than 1943 (if Wikipedia is right, that is) and probably no later than circa 1960s (the ZIP code system replaced the postal zone system in 1963).

It appears that the padlocks that have "JUNKUNC BROS. SUCCR'S TO AMERICAN LOCK CO." on the front (instead of "JUNKUNC BROS. AMERICAN LOCK") are the earliest ones, as the company history on the official American Lock website (link) says "In 1919 his [John Junkunc's] company moved to larger facilities and acquired the American Lock Company, a manufacturer of cylinders."

I have a smaller Junkunc Bros. American Lock padlock with a shield logo, which I think may be the next logo used after the one on your NOS lock (interestingly, it also still says "PATS. PEND."). Its key is of the same design as the one for your lock, and it has a code on the top in the same format as the one on your brass lock, with a letter, a number, and another letter followed by 6 more numbers.

[Adrian Weber]

Interesting Donnie!

I noticed that my brass American Lock also locks from the other side.
http://www.antique-locks.com/attachm...6&d=1354134730

I do not have one with the shield here yet but I am buying some at the moment at least if everything works out.

Adrian

[Adrian Weber]

Hey Donnie, we are not certain at the moment if the opening side of the shackle has anything to do with the age. Retro believes that the padlock that is marked with "Patents Pend. American Lock Co. Chicago. U.S.A." and "American Lock" (not "American Locks") + a line a line between "American Lock" and "Chicago U.S.A." on the key would be the oldest version. This key may also say "Grip Tumbler" on it. The shackles of these have a crater despite a half moon cutout for the ball bearings.

Yes this discussion is also about the Logos and a timeline that I am doing on the Logos at this very moment.
Here is what I have so far.

[Donnie]

Adrian, you have just described my brass lock & key exactly as I see it.
The wording on the lock exactly
The description of the key, exactly..American lock co.: line under the print, then Chicago U.S.A. under the line....then grip tumbler cllinder locks :under the grip tumbler logo on the other side
The crater for the ball, exactly as described
I believe this lock to be VERY early in the production of this style padlock
A better camera will let me document this data

[Donnie]

Adrian, another thing that I have learned about this style of lock is that the early locks were missing the "pin" on the backside...The "pin" illustrated in your photo #5 in your 1st post.........I'm not sure why some open opposite from the others, but there must be a reason..........All my early locks open opposite from my later ones.. I bought an early lock from someone on the web a few years ago, I will try to get in touch with him as he told me that he had the 1st version of this lock somewhere in his shop..& would let me know when he found it & would give me 1st choice on buying it..Never heard from him, but will email him for data or buy the lock if he ever found it..................Donnie

[Donnie]

Websters dictionary describes successor: one that follows.....person that succeeds another position or ownership of property
Actually my source of this info. is from a Thorndike- Barnhart dictionary.....Donnie

[Adrian Weber]

Hey Donnie,

you did not upset me at all so don't worry please
Just want to focuse on the locks rather than on the lubrication for now. I will make some short presentation videos on Tunap and Locksaver. Explaining how I use what and why. I will post these together with a discussion in the Colti part of the Forum then!

I just bought this padlock and do not have it here yet but will make sure to tell you as soon as I get it!