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  1. #1

    Default Ancient Viking Padlocks

    I have been doing some research on the history of padlocks (perhaps I have too much time on my hands). But there is very little information on how the padlocks from the Jorvik settlement in York, England.

    The wiki says they had tine springs, but I cannot find out any info on what that means
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padlock
    (This is not a primary source, obviously, but it does have links to primary sources. Third paragraph of history starts talking about vikings)

    Here is a better image of the lock and keys
    http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/schoo ... ergate.jpg

    The keys look as if they would pinch together a ward spring (the spring that looks like a "V"). Just like on a Roman padlock:http://www.historicallocks.com/Other/Hi ... tid_2b.jpg

    Does anyone have any knowledge on this stuff? Or know what a tine spring is? Also I would love for anyone to share their knowledge about ancient padlocks.

  2. #2

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LocksPicksHappy View Post
    I have been doing some research on the history of padlocks (perhaps I have too much time on my hands). But there is very little information on how the padlocks from the Jorvik settlement in York, England.

    The wiki says they had tine springs, but I cannot find out any info on what that means
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padlock
    (This is not a primary source, obviously, but it does have links to primary sources. Third paragraph of history starts talking about vikings)

    Here is a better image of the lock and keys
    http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/schoo ... ergate.jpg

    The keys look as if they would pinch together a ward spring (the spring that looks like a "V"). Just like on a Roman padlock:http://www.historicallocks.com/Other/Hi ... tid_2b.jpg

    Does anyone have any knowledge on this stuff? Or know what a tine spring is? Also I would love for anyone to share their knowledge about ancient padlocks.
    What you are showing is what is called a barbed spring padlock. Very common in many parts of the world, still made today in China, India, Pakistan, etc.
    BBE.

  3. #3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BBE View Post
    What you are showing is what is called a barbed spring padlock. Very common in many parts of the world, still made today in China, India, Pakistan, etc.
    BBE.
    Good to know. That is the first time I have heard the term barbed spring ( I got V spring, tine spring, and ward spring). Very interesting that they are still be manufactured.

    Thanks for the reply!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    Torrance
    Posts
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    Country: United States

    Default

    I found this page http://romanlocks.com/Padlocks.htm about Barbed Spring Padlocks, I think you might find this useful.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Torrance
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    3
    Country: United States

    Default

    Just found out that tine springs, V springs, and bared springs are all words for the same thing. What everyone is describing is all the same mechanism. If you are still looking, for info this article is pretty complete: http://united-locksmith.net/blog/the...ry-of-padlocks

    Some pretty interesting stuff. I would love to know more about the history of locks though (in general, not padlock specific), but this was pretty comprehensive for what it was. Very good images...better than the stuff you will find on wikipedia. Very accurate! The only thing that is different (as the article will tell you) between viking tine springs and Roman tine springs is the bend on the key. They are just close the spring from a different angle. So you were right in a way.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Edinburgh
    Posts
    259
    Country: UK

    Default viking locks

    The romanlocks site mentioned above is thorough, and shows the extensive variety of roman locks.
    The type under discussion by the OP was commonly known as the 'chinese padlock'; archaeologists more commonly now use the term 'expanding barb' or barrel padlock (although barrel is far from the only form, it is more common in northern Europe). They spread west from China from 1millenium BC along trade routes, along north and south of the Mediterranean and thence throughout the roman empire. Roman models were copied by the Vikings, and died out in Britain 17C.

    Some viking models were iron, others were cast bronze, keys mostly lost-wax castings. Barrel and shackle with springs can come completely apart and tended to become separated, then discarded.

    Arabic ones usually covered in verbal engraving; Indian and Chinese ones often in animal shapes. There are masses of modern ones going cheap on eBay, mainly from China. They were in normal use until the 1960's, and still common in more remote parts of Asia. They make pretty souvenirs for tourists, and have been exported on chinese furniture.

    There is a detailed description with good diagrams in PITT-RIVERS 'On the development and distribution of primitive locks and keys' Chatto & Windus 1883 which is probably available from Google Books.

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