The padlocks of Manuel Guerra

[BIGORNEX]

Good evening,
I would like to present you the fabulous work of a man who regrettably left us too early.
These padlocks are made as those of the Middle Ages.
He was a blacksmith to Cuenca in Ecuador....
The links:

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5_HhdkawrM

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRa_OnlS_kk

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FUPU7m7hME

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paUZghp1-bY

You do not dream it takes place well in our time.....

[raimundo]

Wow, really impressive

the metal is white and the techniques that would be required to produce the art look like silversmithing, casting for the cow head, etc and for the flat scroll work, its likly piercing with a jewelers saw and sweat soldered onto the metal backing.

My guess is that these are made of silver. who knows more about them.
Someone who is signed up at Youtube should message the person who posted this and learn more about it. obviously the ones shown are someones collection, I dont see them mounted, just displayed on a cloth.

[raimundo]

OOPS posted that too soon, the later video shows the manufacture and I can tell by the sound of the metal being pounded that its not silver, its some iron based alloy. I used to do silversmithing. Might get back into it if the possibility occurs.

[RevDisk]

That is among the most beautiful metalwork I've seen in a long time... Mr. Guerra was a very skilled and brilliant man.

[Raymond]

I feel honored to look at these videos. They are not locks - but pieces of art. The raw skill and knowledge to create these is a wonder and tribute to a great man and a dying skill. Thanks for showing them to us.

[BIGORNEX]

I think especially that these parts will cost rather expensively one day between collectors...
I have an blacksmith anvil with all the equipment and it is my dream to make one of this pieces one day ( it will take me a lot of time, I think ).

[unlisted]

I love the style of older locks (and more so old safes or vault doors) how they look more like artwork with all the detail.

Glad to see some still keep it alive. I wish I could get some locks like these.

[GutterClown]

Detent lever system, openable with a piece of wire.

[raimundo]

sometimes on this kind of lock the spring is very strong, and this is the difficulty in picking it, not just any piece of wire is strong enough,
That said, the locks are riveted together, and can be destroyed, so I wouldn't use them to secure the front door, but if you had a wooden chest as in so many of the photos, that would be great to have in a room. as usual, it will keep honest people from temptation, and the dishonest could be motivated to steal the lock I suppose.
It all about the history, the artisanship, the beauty of an old technique in metalworking.
Im with bigornx, I'd love to make one of these.

[digital_blue]

Truly spectacular work. Love it! Thanks very much for sharing!