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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
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    3
    Country: United States

    Default Unusual Corbin Padlock

    Forum members,

    I found this lock metal detecting the other day:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_2858.JPG 
Views:	24 
Size:	599.6 KB 
ID:	16246Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_2859.JPG 
Views:	21 
Size:	656.2 KB 
ID:	16247

    I was able to find several pictures of an almost identical "Climax" lock made by Miller Lock Co. on the web, but am confused why this lock of same design would have a Corbin logo. The logo also is different from the usual Corbin logo. Does anyone know if P&F Corbin Co. acquired Miller Lock Co? Welcome any insight you might have.

    Best wishes,

    Chris

    Examples of similar Miller locks:
    Antique climax padlock?
    Vintage Brass Miller Lock Co. CLIMAX Lock Padlock
    Antique Padlock Miller Climax Cast Iron Brass, Unusual Vintage Lock Original ? CAD 26.45 - PicClick CA

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Tonawanda, NY, USA
    Posts
    900
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cjdamman View Post
    Forum members,

    I found this lock metal detecting the other day:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_2858.JPG 
Views:	24 
Size:	599.6 KB 
ID:	16246Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_2859.JPG 
Views:	21 
Size:	656.2 KB 
ID:	16247

    I was able to find several pictures of an almost identical "Climax" lock made by Miller Lock Co. on the web, but am confused why this lock of same design would have a Corbin logo. The logo also is different from the usual Corbin logo. Does anyone know if P&F Corbin Co. acquired Miller Lock Co? Welcome any insight you might have.
    Your padlock was found on pg. 47 in Catalog No. 38, dated 1928; of the Corbin Cabinet Lock Co. who, rather than P & F Corbin made most padlocks with the "Corbin" logo back in the day. It was apparently made in two sizes and two materials. No. 2832 was 1-1/2" wide of cast bronze while No. 02832 was 1-1/2" wide of cast bronze. No. 2834 was 1-7/8" wide of cast brass and No. 02834 1-7/8" wide of cast bronze. These were warded padlocks with flat steel keys and 6 changes. The smaller version used key blank no. 4749 while the larger took key blank no. 4747.
    The Miller Lock Co. of Philadelphia, PA was purchased by Yale & Towne in 1925.

    Pete Schifferli

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    3
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pschiffe View Post
    Your padlock was found on pg. 47 in Catalog No. 38, dated 1928; of the Corbin Cabinet Lock Co. who, rather than P & F Corbin made most padlocks with the "Corbin" logo back in the day. It was apparently made in two sizes and two materials. No. 2832 was 1-1/2" wide of cast bronze while No. 02832 was 1-1/2" wide of cast bronze. No. 2834 was 1-7/8" wide of cast brass and No. 02834 1-7/8" wide of cast bronze. These were warded padlocks with flat steel keys and 6 changes. The smaller version used key blank no. 4749 while the larger took key blank no. 4747.
    The Miller Lock Co. of Philadelphia, PA was purchased by Yale & Towne in 1925.

    Pete Schifferli
    Thanks Pete, Very helpful and interesting. Are there electronic versions of these catalogues? Still confused though how an originally Miller Lock Co. design ended up in a Corbin Lock Co. Catalogue? Did you see the pasted links to the nearly identical Miller locks? Do you have similar catalogues for Miller? Could this be a "rip off"? Maybe the design was off patent? Could the design have been acquired by Corbin from Miller somehow? Best wishes, Chris

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Tonawanda, NY, USA
    Posts
    900
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cjdamman View Post
    Thanks Pete, Very helpful and interesting. Are there electronic versions of these catalogues? Still confused though how an originally Miller Lock Co. design ended up in a Corbin Lock Co. Catalogue? Did you see the pasted links to the nearly identical Miller locks? Do you have similar catalogues for Miller? Could this be a "rip off"? Maybe the design was off patent? Could the design have been acquired by Corbin from Miller somehow? Best wishes, Chris
    Chris,
    I am not aware of any electronic versions of those catalogs. About thirty years ago, the late Don Stewart of Key Collectors International offered vintage catalog reprints. Copy technology was not what it is today but they are legible. With that said, Richard Chenovik of West Coast Lock Collectors Assn. still sells some of the reprints, see pdf listing on the Internet here:
    http://www.wclca.net/documents/don_stewart_books.pdf
    I scanned the catalog page in question, click on the link to view it in pdf format.
    CorbinCabinetLockCat38Pg47_0001.pdf
    You may be interested to know that their successor company, CCL Security Products; is still in business in Wheeling, IL, website here:
    http://cclsecurity.com/
    With reference to the similarity to the Miller product, I can say that it was common for the many padlock manufacturers of that era to offer very similar models.

    Pete

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Posts
    3
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pschiffe View Post
    Chris,
    I am not aware of any electronic versions of those catalogs. About thirty years ago, the late Don Stewart of Key Collectors International offered vintage catalog reprints. Copy technology was not what it is today but they are legible. With that said, Richard Chenovik of West Coast Lock Collectors Assn. still sells some of the reprints, see pdf listing on the Internet here:
    http://www.wclca.net/documents/don_stewart_books.pdf
    I scanned the catalog page in question, click on the link to view it in pdf format.
    CorbinCabinetLockCat38Pg47_0001.pdf
    You may be interested to know that their successor company, CCL Security Products; is still in business in Wheeling, IL, website here:
    http://cclsecurity.com/
    With reference to the similarity to the Miller product, I can say that it was common for the many padlock manufacturers of that era to offer very similar models.

    Pete
    Pete, Many thanks again for the helpful information! Best wishes, Chris

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