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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    Country: United States

    Default 1890s Mortise Cylinder - Help, I need information and a key blank!

    My next door neighbor has a home built in 1895 (so far as can be told) and i thought nothing of pulling the original lock cylinder to have a new key made. Unfortunately for me, the key is an obsolete key, being of a U shape. The patent on the cylinder I believe says, "Pat. OCT.27-95" Although the "95, could be an 8/9 and a 5/6) One locksmith suggested that the cylinder may be a Schroeder, another says that he may be an Eagle. I guess it has a double pin mechanism that each leg of the key activates. I am curious to the manufacturer, the actual patent date, and I'd like to find a key blank for it. Any help would be much appreciated.

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    Wesley

  2. #2
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    Mar 2010
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    Boston
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    Default John Luebbers

    Here's the patent:

    US 570032 A



  3. #3
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    Oct 2010
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    Tonawanda, NY, USA
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ryan Krakowsky View Post
    Here's the patent:

    US 570032 A


    Review of Patent No. 570,032 reveals it was issued Oct. 27, 1896. Inventor was John Luebbers of Cincinnati, Ohio and it was assigned to J.B. Schroeder & Co. also of Cincinnati, OH. They were an old time lock manufacturer from that era but I have little information on them. I did find some reference to old Schroder sectional key blanks from Ilco and Graham but nothing like the cylinder image or patent. See thumbnail attached.

    Pete Schifferli
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails SchroderKeyways.jpg  

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
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    Country: United States

    Default J.B.Schroder Co. Cylinders Any idea how old?

    Quote Originally Posted by Pschiffe View Post
    Review of Patent No. 570,032 reveals it was issued Oct. 27, 1896. Inventor was John Luebbers of Cincinnati, Ohio and it was assigned to J.B. Schroeder & Co. also of Cincinnati, OH. They were an old time lock manufacturer from that era but I have little information on them. I did find some reference to old Schroder sectional key blanks from Ilco and Graham but nothing like the cylinder image or patent. See thumbnail attached.

    Pete Schifferli
    I have a couple of cylinders clearly marked Schroder that are the conventional pin tumbler type. Keys are 6 pin nickel silver, D keyway, (2632GD for the Graham sectional blank) with what I assume is the key code in letters stamped into one side, much like an Eagle key code. The funny thing is the cylinder itself has an entirely different key code stamped on the back of the cylinder in numbers. Searching on the Internet turns up no info about these. Apparently the only pictures are of a few that have shown up on eBay, nothing else. I’m going to assume they were not produced for very long just based on their apparent scarcity and the absence of info about them.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    Tonawanda, NY, USA
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by YALE7750 View Post
    I have a couple of cylinders clearly marked Schroder that are the conventional pin tumbler type. Keys are 6 pin nickel silver, D keyway, (2632GD for the Graham sectional blank) with what I assume is the key code in letters stamped into one side, much like an Eagle key code. The funny thing is the cylinder itself has an entirely different key code stamped on the back of the cylinder in numbers. Searching on the Internet turns up no info about these. Apparently the only pictures are of a few that have shown up on eBay, nothing else. I’m going to assume they were not produced for very long just based on their apparent scarcity and the absence of info about them.
    There is scant information on J.B. Schroeder & Co, however it appears they were established in 1834 and I see evidence that they were in business as late as 1922. I'm guessing that like many manufactures of the era that they may have failed during the great depression which began in 1929. Multiplex (sectional) keyways were first introduced and patented by Yale in 1896. Again, I'm guessing your cylinders may date to c.1920.

    Pete Schifferli

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Seattle WA
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    Default

    Well that is kinda like a BiLock. Different than it once you get into the lock and how it works.Blanks will have to be made by hand as I don't think that was ever in the after market. If that lock is up for sale let me know. I would love to have more pictures at least.

  7. #7
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    Dec 2009
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    1,485
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    A more recent analog is the Bi Lock from Australia, US patent numbers 4,478,061 and 4,498,327. See http://toool.nl/images/f/f9/Cutaway1.pdf page 15. It's unlikely the blanks would be close but I thought it would be interesting to point out the similarity. See also http://www.bilock.com/ and http://www.bilock.net/. At least the concept is still alive.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    Country: United States

    Default What goes around, comes around.

    Thanks for the information, and for the patent! It's really quite an interesting setup, for a lock that doesn't even activate a deadbolt for security. Where does one begin to make blanks? Or are there those out there who do? Is the bottom of the "u" crucial to the key function?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    714
    Country: United States

    Default 1890s Mortise Cylinder - Help, I need information and a key blank!

    Not sure about it as looking up patent number 31278, from L.Yale JR. The reason for is as you look at the key blank it just about close to it.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Seattle WA
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    Default

    I would take two flat blanks and braze them together with a bridge at the bottom. Then merge the key at the "head" of the key and use one of the key heads from the ones I used for the blades. Once done if done correctly would look good. It will take someone that knows metal work.

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