J Parson

[macs_07]

Just finished cleaning up and making a key for this little Parson draw lock.
Very nice and for its age works very nicely.

Anyone have the patent for it.
Thanks.

[Huw Eastwood]

Hello macs, Thomas Parsons’ Patent was No:6350 from 20th December, 1832. He also took out a second on Dec 3rd the following year. A third patent that same year 1833, was I think not directly related to the Balance Lever mechanism (or Balance ‘Tumbler’ as called back then), being, i think, for a changeable version.

Parsons’ balance lever locks are beautifully made and with a silky smooth action. Most if not all were made for him by Joseph Duce, which is possibly the confusion with the J initial, and were sold through ironmongers and retailers like Burbidge & Healy.

Good to see some interesting stuff being posted- you’ve added some nice examples just now with the Hobbs and Bates Holdfast.

[Richard Phillips]

Patents were not numbered until 1852. Earlier patents were then retrospectively numbered in date order, but these numbers were not published for several years, so early publications and locks will not have numbers.

George PRICE says that in its time, 'these locks had a good sale'. Parsons offered 1,000Gn prize for picking a 26lever 3" padlock, 1834; the prize was never won.

CAWI introduced a 22lever version in 1951, realised as a cylinder lock for safes.
All described in PULFORD High-security mechanical locks.