Chubb Detector

[Wallaby]

Came across this Chubb detector today ... a 3g90/1. Here are some photos for those who who have not seen one ..

From the outside:

http://tinypic.com/173dyu

With cover removed and showing the keyway and lever shields :

http://tinypic.com/173e35

With the shields removed and clearly showing the detector lever :

http://tinypic.com/173e4g

With the levers removed , leaving the final antipick lever in untampered position:

http://tinypic.com/173e5s

With the antipick engaged:

http://tinypic.com/173e9w

Basicaly its like a mousetrap ... the slightest thing that goes near the detector lever, including incorrect positioning of the key, will set it off and you have to strip the lock down to reset the antipick .. if they made these today, all locksmiths would be very busy resetting these for people .. very clever and interesting lock. . note how the detector at the front sets of the antipick at the back ...

[oldlock]

All you do to reset the detector is turn the key as if to lock the lock further, if they makes sense, This resets the detector and allows the lock to be opened normally.

The detector was patented in 1818, although it has been through a few design changes since then. Examples can be seen on my website.

Paul

[Wallaby]

that it probably should, but not with this one .... once its gone, its well and truely gone... stripping it down is the only way to reset ... interesting that some are still about in use today ...

[oldlock]

In which case there is something not right. I can guarantee it's not meant to be that way - if it where how you you open the door to take it apart ?

In the very early locks they had a different reset key - but not generally after 1824.

Paul

[Wallaby]

Quite right and thats hardly a suprise is it. Why do you think I ended up getting asked to open it. As a locksmith (?), how many do you find in doors these days ? out of those, how many are in a condition to sell at Christies or add to a collection ?

Any suggestions for a pick for it ? They are still about and this is all about lockpicking .....

[MrB]

I'm not wanting to detract from such an informative post, and I know this is not Photography101, but if I could just offer a suggestion: some of your pictures were a bit blurred. It vastly improves photos if they can be in sharp focus. I noticed that some of your photos were much sharper than others and those photos were much better to look at.

But very nice. I have not quite worked out how the detector mechanism works yet, but I'll have another look when I have more time. It seems like these locks would still be handy in security applications where evidence of entry is as important as prevention of entry.

[pinky]

you will also find this lever in the old chubb 3G114 , still found in use today, i still come across them all the time , i wonder if in 20 years or 100 years, will lockeys then be talking of finding our up to date locks still working as well then, somehow i doubt it, locks had character then.

you will easily tell the old 114 with this lever, when you look in keyway with torch, you should see a hammerite effect case in silver grey, with an oval cut out similar to henderson and old invincible in hard plate around keyhole. the hard plate is unscrewed and and you choose what side of lock you apply it too.

[airbag]

I must confess I have once and only once when i first started out drilled an old CHUBB 3G114 as an OLD INVINCIBLE all paint had come off casing they look very similar ,wont do that again, can anyone confirm if the Safeventures 114 pin & cam can be used sucessfully on these old Chubbs

[pinky]

yes the safeventures pin and cam picks this lock, you use the old pins, the kit comes with a set of old and a set of new pins, for the old 114 and current 114

[oldlock]

Just to clarify - the pin & cam will work on the old 114's it will not work on the 3G90 - which is the lock shown.

It's very odd that the key will work the lock but not reset the detector, have you figure out what is wrong yet ?

Paul

[oldlock]

you will also find this lever in the old chubb 3G114 , .

I think you are referring to the monitor lever - not the detector. The monitor lever is there to ensure that the key cannot be removed from the lock until the bolt is fully thrown, this prevents tampering resulting in a half-thrown and easily opened lock. Monitor levers were included in the early 114's.

The 114 never had a detector.

paul

[Wallaby]

got it figured .. it was the key .. it was fairly newly cut ... the first bit was slightly too long and every so often, it would catch the detector and set it off , it would not reset ... I took a mm of the length of the first bit and it now works a treat ...

[pinky]

yup thats me muddling again,

[Rockford]

A couple of pics of an old 114 showing the oval hardplate cutout.

Case and hardplate intact:
http://tinypic.com/177pu9

Hardplate removed :
http://tinypic.com/177r5t

Note: the case has been drilled - hence the edited photo's to remove the drill points.

Rockford.....

[thertel]

I kept looking at those locks and wondering what all that writing area was for.....

Thomas