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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Buffalo, New York
    Posts
    7
    Country: United States

    Default Can someone help ID and date these trunk half mortise locks?

    Hello, everyone! I am here hoping to pick some brains in an attempt to assemble a puzzle. I recently rescued these very old trunks from the attic of a house I was helping clean out. I'm now trying to assemble the life of this man. I found a bronze grave marker, showing he was born in 1848, and died in 1917. I'm trying to pin a date on the trunks, and I thought the locks might provide a clue as to when the trunks were made. They seem original, as they were on the trunks when they were painted black, and they were painted black before they were lettered. Someone, at some time redid the lettering on the smaller trunk. The locks have no markings on them that I can see. The funny thing is that the larger lock "B" is from the smaller trunk. Any help is appreciated!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails trunks.jpg   Lock A.JPG   Lock A rear.jpg   Lock A top.jpg   Lock B.jpg  

    Lock B rear.jpg   Lock B top.jpg   Lg trunk top.jpg  

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

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Andyjon100 View Post
    Hello, everyone! I am here hoping to pick some brains in an attempt to assemble a puzzle. I recently rescued these very old trunks from the attic of a house I was helping clean out. I'm now trying to assemble the life of this man. I found a bronze grave marker, showing he was born in 1848, and died in 1917. I'm trying to pin a date on the trunks, and I thought the locks might provide a clue as to when the trunks were made. They seem original, as they were on the trunks when they were painted black, and they were painted black before they were lettered. Someone, at some time redid the lettering on the smaller trunk. The locks have no markings on them that I can see. The funny thing is that the larger lock "B" is from the smaller trunk. Any help is appreciated!
    I'm guessing middle to late 19th century, about the same vintage as the deceased!

    Pete Schifferli

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Gottenborg, Sweden
    Posts
    1
    Country: Sweden

    Default

    It is actually my first attempt to date something, but I would say that mid to late XIX century would be my guess. Hope that helped

    And hey - nice find by the way!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Buffalo, New York
    Posts
    7
    Country: United States

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pschiffe View Post
    I'm guessing middle to late 19th century, about the same vintage as the deceased!

    Pete Schifferli
    "Ask a stupid question....." I left myself wide open for that. LOL! I guess more what I'm looking for is possible country of origin - whether he was right from Scotland, or American, or somewhere else in Britian....Researching "McLeod" is like researching "Jones", or "Smith" - and with the first name "Donald" - fuhgeddaboudit!
    Thanks Stefan!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Edinburgh
    Posts
    259
    Country: UK

    Default box locks

    Such locks have been made in Willenhall by the million from at least 18C to 1960's. From last quarter of 19C onwards, would be likely as they are screwed together rather than merely riveted. Willenhall locks were distributed all over Britain, even as far as North Britain.

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