new to the world of locks

[sed8ted]

Hello folks, my father recently came back from an auction sale and had picked up a box of old junk. In one of the boxes, were 2 key rings, and 3 old pad locks. I have checked all 3 of the locks with the 2 rings of keys that he had gotten, none work. 2 locks have the key hole that bend to the right side just slightly, rather than being straight. I have figured out with a small enough piece of metal I can push the leaver inside to get the lock open. (I should be able to fashion a key from one of the old keys that he has.
Anyways, the other lock has me stumped. On it, it mentions "CHAMPION 6-LEVER", and has a flat slot on the bottom of the lock.

I guess what I'm after is any information or methods to try to fashion a new key, or how to get this lock open?

Also, I have heard that that "Champion" lock is solid brass, any suggestions as to how to properly clean it, so I don't damage the lock it self.


After getting those 3 locks, I am interested in collecting old locks, as these look extremely nice. and will look nicer once I've cleaned them up.


thanks


Andy

[unlisted]

Post some photos we can help better that way.

[sed8ted]

these files that I've attached with my post, were taken with the webcam on the laptop, sorry if they're not the greatest, but I don't have a digital camera at the present time. Sorry folks, hope this helps.


Andy

[Olson Burry]

Hello, welcome

So 2 of the locks you have sound like warded padlocks, they are pretty easy to open as you've observed due to the fact an "L" or "T" shaped implement will usually push the locking dog or latch across, releasing the bolt. The 6 Lever will take a bit more than just that.

So if it really is a 6 lever padlock you'll want to learn how lever locks work. I've never seen inside a lever padlock but on mortice lever locks essentially a stub attached to the bolt holding the mechanism closed has to slide through the various gates in the middle of the levers. The gates in the levers are lifted to the right place by the key which then goes on to throw the bolt.

To pick, you apply tension to the bolt, pressing it in to the levers which are then manipulated with another tool, either one by one or by overlifting the whole lever pack and jiggling them down to the gates. Like pin tumblers the levers will bind whilst being tensioned and so long as enough tension is there the appropriate binding lever will hang on the edge of the gate allowing them to be placed one by one. There may be false gates on the levers to make things nice and tricky.

It looks like all I've said might not apply, however because your lock looks a lot like the one in this picture:



If those are, indeed, the keys sitting by it then I have some musings on what might need to happen:

It almost looks as if simply pushing the key in up to the stopper sticking out of the side would release the bolt or in case, the shackle. So if you apply tension to the shackle and push the levers in the appropriate distance, it should pop. My thoughts follow this direction because on the keys pictured, you have 6 depths, (high, low, high, low, high, low) along the end of the key which would make sense given it's "6 Lever" logo.

Anyway, I stop rambling now, good luck with that, hopefully someone will chime in who knows what they're talking about.

[SnowyBoy]

Hello, welcome

So 2 of the locks you have sound like warded padlocks, they are pretty easy to open as you've observed due to the fact an "L" or "T" shaped implement will usually push the locking dog or latch across, releasing the bolt. The 6 Lever will take a bit more than just that.

So if it really is a 6 lever padlock you'll want to learn how lever locks work. I've never seen inside a lever padlock but on mortice lever locks essentially a stub attached to the bolt holding the mechanism closed has to slide through the various gates in the middle of the levers. The gates in the levers are lifted to the right place by the key which then goes on to throw the bolt.

To pick, you apply tension to the bolt, pressing it in to the levers which are then manipulated with another tool, either one by one or by overlifting the whole lever pack and jiggling them down to the gates. Like pin tumblers the levers will bind whilst being tensioned and so long as enough tension is there the appropriate binding lever will hang on the edge of the gate allowing them to be placed one by one. There may be false gates on the levers to make things nice and tricky.

It looks like all I've said might not apply, however because your lock looks a lot like the one in this picture:



If those are, indeed, the keys sitting by it then I have some musings on what might need to happen:

It almost looks as if simply pushing the key in up to the stopper sticking out of the side would release the bolt or in case, the shackle. So if you apply tension to the shackle and push the levers in the appropriate distance, it should pop. My thoughts follow this direction because on the keys pictured, you have 6 depths, (high, low, high, low, high, low) along the end of the key which would make sense given it's "6 Lever" logo.

Anyway, I stop rambling now, good luck with that, hopefully someone will chime in who knows what they're talking about.

Maybe it works like early French Fichet pompe locks?

[Jaakko]

You can't tension that lock by pushing the shackle, the mechanism locks itself if pushed from the shackle. Check graymans book "High Security Mechanical Locks", it has a nice diagram of the said lock Or search Google Patents.

[raimundo]

Google Miller Push key lock to find out more about that. Perhaps at Oldlocks.com or antique locks.com

[Fredmad]

I think you have got the same way to open it than on this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVofergXgKM

Perhaps to be sure the better way is to disassemble the lock to see how the different components work.

[sed8ted]

thank you all for your responses, I have tried multiple different methos of getting into this lock. If anybody has any templates for key's, that may be helpful as well. The other option is, to open the lock. I am not sure what the safest route would be to gain access. Once I gained access it will be easier to see what lever's do what and make a key from that.

Thanks



Andy