Dating tips? (For old locks)

[BBE]

Does anyone have any tips for dating old locks?

I run into quite a lot of them, repairing and making keys, etc. and most are over 150 years old, with church wards in the better houses and, well, churches.

The last ones I worked on, we dated to between 1820 and 1837 from the Royal Warrant, but they did look somewhat older than that to me. I can put up some photos if I can get Tapatalk to work. (Does anyone else have issues?)

I've seen plenty of locks with hand cut screws, which I take to date from pre-1800 usually, since pins, nails and threaded items were among the first to be mechanised. Firm dates would be good though!

Hello Nigel,

I am in the US and we don't see many warded locks with any quality. I am familiar with bridge, case and end wards but don't know what a church ward is. Can you explain? thanks,
BBE.

[NigelKTolley]

Church Ward and bridge wards are the same thing.

Bridge warding was far more expensive than just knocking a pin through the side of the case, so were only available to the rich and powerful, which became synonymous with churches. Many people call these big iron keys "Church keys" to this day around here. (English countryside near Wales)

[BBE]

Church Ward and bridge wards are the same thing.

Bridge warding was far more expensive than just knocking a pin through the side of the case, so were only available to the rich and powerful, which became synonymous with churches. Many people call these big iron keys "Church keys" to this day around here. (English countryside near Wales)

Thanks Nigel. You can understand my curiosity when you realize that in the US this is usually referred to as a church key.
BBE.