Lever locks like these were very common indeed in the UK, even in the 1970s. A company called Squire used to make some that looked almost identical, although only 2-4 levers were common on them. Bigger padlocks were usually 4 to 5 levers and were made in the "Old English" style. Squire was the cheaper make, Belfry were the one that really looked mean on factory gates. hey were not too hard to get past them though and so factories that were more concerned with security went for Ingersoll locks.
Both Ingersoll and Belfry are now gone as such, but Squire is still with us and still makes "Old English" locks, with even a brass version for marine use:
http://www.squirelocks.co.uk/html/oldeng.htmLever padlocks are quite rare now, having been replaced mainly by cheaper imports of pinned locks. Lever locks have not gone away though by any means. They are very common on house doors. "Era" being a typical make, although Willenhall (who took over Belfry) also make the lever door locks:
http://www.willenhall-locks.co.uk/Just to add to the confusion, most doors here will contain a cylinder lock AND a lever lock. Usually only locksmiths will call them that though. Ordinary people still tend to call cylinder locks "Yale" locks, while calling the lever locks that are fitted in doors "Mortice" locks. This is completely different to America for example, where a "Mortise" lock is usually a cylinder lock. Both uses are correct, since it simply means that a mortice/mortise (hole!) has to be cut in wood for fitting the lock into.
