Very old Yale tubular lockset

[YALE7750]

Billy B. Edwards, Jr. (BBE)+ who is also a member here, reported over on ClearStar Security Network that this was likely a re-branded Challenger lockset, Challenger Lock & Hardware was once a division of Yale & Towne. Challenger dates back to 1937 and was sold to Yale & Towne in 1959 which phased out the Challenger operation and name in 1969*. Thus your lockset would likely date to that era. See thumbnail for a latch image he sourced from a ca 1950s catalog.

+BBE now retired, has had a long and distinguished career in the locksmith & hardware industry including a stint with Yale beginning in 1989
*The Builders Hardware Industry 1830s to 1990s, (c) 1996 by Walter H. McAninch, pg. 19

Pete Schifferli

Thanks Pete for posting this on CleaStar; it never crossed my mind that this might be from one of the companies Yale bought out in the early 1900’s. I knew about Barrows & Sager, but not Challenger (as in Hollymade?). Now that’s a name most people have never heard of before.

[Pschiffe]

Thanks Pete for posting this on CleaStar; it never crossed my mind that this might be from one of the companies Yale bought out in the early 1900’s. I knew about Barrows & Sager, but not Challenger (as in Hollymade?). Now that’s a name most people have never heard of before.

Hollymade was apparently an earlier name for the Challenger Lock Co. According to Mr. McAninch's book, Hollymade Hardware Mfg. Co. was formed in 1940 and the company name changed to Challenger Lock Co. in 1953. I also sourced a Hollymade Hardware Mfg. Co. catalog ca 1966 which states "Division of Laing Industries Ltd." in Ontario, Canada. Apparently a different company?

Pete Schifferli

[Timothy]

The Challenger lock as i recall only did it one time and that the last i ever heard. I'm sure may be able to buy these key somewhere but not going to find very many of these lock around.....Timothy.....

[Timothy]

Found two Patent Number for Hollymade door knob.

[Pschiffe]

Found two Patent Number for Hollymade door knob.

Interesting find Timothy, but it doesn't appear that either of those patents are like the Challenger lock in question!

Pete Schifferli

[Timothy]

Yes I know. That will be the harder one to lock for, I'm still looking as you all know just about how many patent number they have for all these lock.....Timothy.....

[YALE7750]

Yes I know. That will be the harder one to lock for, I'm still looking as you all know just about how many patent number they have for all these lock.....Timothy.....

Normally I don't collect anything cylindrical or tubular, too modern.

I have two of these, one passage function and one entrance. It uses the standard Yale PARA keyway.

I just wish I could remember the model number...years ago I saw one like this in the typical red Yale box.