Odd lock - sorry no pictures

[BorisTheSpider]

I came across a lock the other day that was very odd to me. I have been unable to find it online anywhere, and haven't found any reference here. It's not so much that the lock was odd. It was all one assembly.
It was an exterior (front) door. There was no knob or button of any kind on the outside, just a handle to pull the door shut (it swung inside to open) and the key slot. On the interior, there was a turning "handle" that you turned to lock, and I believe that was hinged as well (like you're supposed to pull it away from the door, then turn to unlock). Finally, it had a three-pronged deadbolt design, with a small, white plastic wheel on a spring which held the door shut without deadbolting.
I'm so sorry I don't have pictures at all. I do have some on my phone, but no way to upload them (and they're small and kinda blurry anyhow). The only other thing I can tell you was that it had "USA Lock" printed on the exterior, and it was at an apartment complex. The lessee didn't have a key, and apparently neither did the management. If anyone knows anything you can tell me, I'd love to learn more about it, since it's a fairly big apartment complex and I may end up with a lot of work there.
Thanks.

[dougfarre]

What city do you live in? How old was the building?

[BorisTheSpider]

I live in Orlando, Florida. I can't say how old the building was. The complex is older than most in that area, but all the architecture and even roadways around here are designed to make it difficult to determine age. The area is actually called Longwood - just north and east of Orlando proper. The apartment is in a fairy well-to-do area of that town. I wish I had more info. Maybe I'll try to go back over there sometime and take some pictures.

[MacGyver101]

I think I may know the lockset you're talking about, but I'm not sure of the manufacturer.

The example I've seen had an antique bronze fixed handle (no knob or lever) on the outside and a standard rim cylinder. A spring-loaded roller, in lieu of a latch, pressed into a divot in the door frame and held the door closed when it wasn't locked. The inside of the door had a jimmy-proof deadbolt:



In place of the thumb-turn, however, it had an over-sized handle.

Other than possibly confirming that you weren't hallucinating, I'm not sure that provides you with much help, though.

[BorisTheSpider]

I think I may know the lockset you're talking about, but I'm not sure of the manufacturer.

The example I've seen had an antique bronze fixed handle (no knob or lever) on the outside and a standard rim cylinder. A spring-loaded roller, in lieu of a latch, pressed into a divot in the door frame and held the door closed when it wasn't locked. The inside of the door had a jimmy-proof deadbolt:



In place of the thumb-turn, however, it had an over-sized handle.

Other than possibly confirming that you weren't hallucinating, I'm not sure that provides you with much help, though.

Yes! That is exactly it Not the picture, but the one you're describing. And the oversized handle on the inside could be locked in place with a small sliding mechanism - I think.
At least I know someone else has seen one. I really liked it and want to try to find one. I'd love to own it, if for no other reason than to pick it. Where did you see it? Do you remember if it had "USA Lock" printed on the outside? Actually, now that I'm thinking of it, it may have simply said "USA."
By the by, it was a pain in the asterisk to pick. But then, to be fair, it was very early on in my picking career (not that I've been at it thirty years now or anything).

[Raymond]

I think the lock you are referring to is (was) made by Ideal but I am not really certain of the name. I has any rim cylinder you want on the outside (the one I see is Weiser, WR5). The inside is a jimmy-proof body (drop bolt) with a lever handle where the common thumb turn is. When opened, the bolts stayed up until closed again. In closing, a small button hits the strike and released the bolts. There is a slide button that freezes the bolts in unlocked condition or can deadlock the bolts in locked condition so even the key will not open them. A roller is supplied to keep the door shut when left unlocked.

They are strictly residential quality. I do not think I would trust a roller to keep my door closed on gusty/windy days.

My neighbor is still using one of these on his front door. I have repaired it so many times and if it breaks again, it is gone. If there is interest, I can get a picture of the handle and drop bolts.

These have not been available for many, many years.

[BorisTheSpider]

I would personally love some pictures. It's not entirely neccessary, though, as it sounds like you're talking about the same thing. I just wanted some more info on it. Can I ask what keeps breaking on it that needs repaired?

[Raymond]

I sure hope these images come through, or at least the correct link.
There are a lot of moving parts inside relating to the trigger button and the parts holding up the drop bolts. Remember that the bolts move every time it is opened. The inside lever is wearing out at the pivot points. I have had to add spacer washers and rebuild the lever retainer with JB Weld.

[BorisTheSpider]

Yes indeedy. That's it. It does, though, look a little different. It's got slightly different "features" - slightly differently-shaped exterior handle, octagonal bit above the exterior handle in lieu of rectangular, exaggerated slide-button, etc.
Also, the one I was working on looked a lot newer (read "shiny").
But that's definitely the very distinct design.
I'm guessing all those issues you've had are exactly the reason the tenants never got a key. They were instructed to only use the deadbolt mounted above it. It somehow worked itself locked (probably one of the kids).
I fought with it for a while and decided to go with another entry option.

[SaintQuinn]

This was the "Superlock" by Ideal Security...
I haven't seen one of these in over 20 years but they were definitely
a challenge to service...
Rather than repair them I just started replacing them...
I do remember noticing them frequently back in the late 70's and 80's prior to becomming a locksmith.
They were actually a great, amazing design.
I remember another locksmith I worked with "accidentally carried"
a case of these out of our supplier (along with our order)...

On another note:
I wound up here today actually looking for a replacement thumbturn
for the "Medeco Steelguard DropBolt" which is the brass colored lock pictured in this thread....
Locksmiths may remember this Medeco Steelguard was very popular in the late 80s and early 90's. It was a GREAT jimmyproof but the design defect
was the 2 rounded prongs inside the thumbturn were always snapping off and the thumbturns always had to be replaced (and the replacements were widely available at the suppliers).
I think I recall that Medeco did eventially correct this poor design
by replacing those 2 cheap cast pounded prongs inside the thumbturn with a solid piece.
I just encountered this defect yesterday (for the first time in over 15 years) and I'm here searching the internet for a replacement.
None of the suppliers seem to have this once widely available replacement thumbturn....
Does anyone know where I could get one of those "Medeco Steelguard DropBolt" replacement thumbturns?

Has anyone else (who is a locksmith) noticed that the once wide availability of many locksmith niche products are now GONE?
I've been in this industry since 1987 and I can't believe how incredibly this industry has reverted "backwards" as far as entrepreneurial locksmiths
machining their own products and distributing them themselves...
These small locksmith machinist entrepreneurs are now gone...
A few examples are:
Omega security products
Valentine Products
KerrLock

[Evan]

This was the "Superlock" by Ideal Security...
I haven't seen one of these in over 20 years but they were definitely
a challenge to service...
Rather than repair them I just started replacing them...
I do remember noticing them frequently back in the late 70's and 80's prior to becomming a locksmith.
They were actually a great, amazing design.
I remember another locksmith I worked with "accidentally carried"
a case of these out of our supplier (along with our order)...

On another note:
I wound up here today actually looking for a replacement thumbturn
for the "Medeco Steelguard DropBolt" which is the brass colored lock pictured in this thread....
Locksmiths may remember this Medeco Steelguard was very popular in the late 80s and early 90's. It was a GREAT jimmyproof but the design defect
was the 2 rounded prongs inside the thumbturn were always snapping off and the thumbturns always had to be replaced (and the replacements were widely available at the suppliers).
I think I recall that Medeco did eventially correct this poor design
by replacing those 2 cheap cast pounded prongs inside the thumbturn with a solid piece.
I just encountered this defect yesterday (for the first time in over 15 years) and I'm here searching the internet for a replacement.
None of the suppliers seem to have this once widely available replacement thumbturn....
Does anyone know where I could get one of those "Medeco Steelguard DropBolt" replacement thumbturns?

Has anyone else (who is a locksmith) noticed that the once wide availability of many locksmith niche products are now GONE?
I've been in this industry since 1987 and I can't believe how incredibly this industry has reverted "backwards" as far as entrepreneurial locksmiths
machining their own products and distributing them themselves...
These small locksmith machinist entrepreneurs are now gone...
A few examples are:
Omega security products
Valentine Products
KerrLock

Just can't compete with the millions of cheap locks coming out of China...

Time alone to build a lock from machining by hand would make it cost more than those without factoring in the cost of the materials...

~~ Evan

[rwaldo]

This is the same lock that was on the front door of the church that I went to as a teenager. It was always a pain to operate. You had to lock it just right for it to actually be locked. I too would love to own one of these locks only for the reason to pick it. I seems like it would be a fun pick. The church that had this lock was in Riceboro, GA on Hwy 17. I know that the church is still there, but I am not sure whether the lock is still the same. I would be interesting to check out some time.

[I Pik U]

I have worked on a few of these Super Guard Locks (ver 1, 2 & 3) over the years, and we had a few new ones in stock, oh about 10 years ago.
They were a replacement for a key in knob, fitting the same hole.
The inside lever handle often broke off on the models so equiped.
The Ideal rim cylinder would not be difficult to pick.
Hopefully have seen my last. lol