Info for a couple of old padlocks

[Squelchtone]

Recently, in having to go through my wife's grandfather's estate, I've stumbled upon a couple of old locks that have me intrigued. The first is a simple padlock with USN stamped on the back, and a logo that I can't make out on the front but reads Lancaster PA USA underneath it. I assume that it was an old padlock from the navy, (He was a LCDR in the navy after WWII) but was decommissioned and riveted closed. Any chance someone can make out and identify the lock manufacturer from that logo?


The second is a S&G 8088, maybe also from his time in the navy. I have the original instructions and the change key, but it appears the combo was changed from the factory default and no one in the family has any idea what it could possible be. Also, the change window is shut. From what I've read poking around for the last week, my prospects don't look very good in being able to recover and continue to use this lovely piece. So, my question on the S&G; Is it a very nice looking memorable paperweight now, or is there a way to get this up and running again?

[MBI]

That brass lock is interesting. We have some very knowledgeable collectors here so I imagine someone will chime in with some information, but if not, I recently bought an old book on antique collector padlocks. When the book arrives I can look that one up and see if it has any info on it.

As for the other lock, discussion of decoding combination and vault locks is restricted to the advanced forums here, although if locks interest you, I hope you stick around and participate on the forum until such time that you can get access.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2474

I'm not an expert in combo lock manipulation, but as I recall the S&G 8077 and 8088 locks are supposed to be impervious to that. However, I have a friend who is working on a theory of his which may allow them to be decoded. I seem to recall he's had some limited success, but he's not sure yet if it's just a fluke so he's still working on it. Perhaps by the time you're eligible for the advanced forum, he'll be ready to write something up on the subject and you can get that lock back into service.

[sidewinderstudio]

Thanks Squelchtone for fixing those links, I knew something was wrong there, but couldn't find the edit button to go back in and fix them myself.

And thanks for the reply, I look forward to someone having a bit of info on that brass navy lock. As far as the S&G, I wasn't necessarily looking for help in decoding or manipulation right now, I read enough not to try that this early in my postings .

But I do hope to stick around long enough, and learn from the wealth of knowledge here in order to get to that point.

Thanks again, and as always, any info is much appreciated
-sidewinder

[cledry]

possibly Reese. There were a few manufacturers of USN padlocks and several in Lancaster, PA.

[Raymond]

That S&G ought to be a breeze to open. There are only 15,625 maximum possible combinations to test. Start with birthdays, his and the wife and kids, then move to anniversity and graduation dates, phone numbers, street numbers, ID numbers and SS numbers. Run the numbers forward and backward. Maybe you will get lucky.

The brass padlock definitely looks like a Reese as cledry suggested. From the partial photo on the right, the logo design is pretty significant. Reese also used the name Waterbury but I do not know the significance of the change. Maybe some other historian can enlighten us. Seeing the very small keyway would be another final clue. Military Reese padlocks had 6 pins of smaller than normal diameter and the spacing is very close. Reese used a lot of significantly high/low combinations and are not easy to pick normally. The padlocks can be shimmed from the front as there is no flange on the plug face. The plug is inserted from the inside and coming out. The large blemish above the U is very near one of the two brass pins that hold the lock together and could be hiding an attempt to take it apart. The other is symetrically to the right above the N. The blemish could mean nothing and be only a work dent.

[cledry]

I think the blemish is where the chain was attached so that the padlock wouldn't walk away. Such as on this example from another manufacturer.