cannondale combo lock

by **cheesehead** » 14 May 2006 0:50

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/ ... ure030.jpg

has anyone ever seen or heard of these locks before? I found this lock about 4/5 years ago, and tried off and on to crack the combo. after having no luck with traditional methods, I determined that something else must be going on with the lock. curiosity got the best of me, and I drilled one of the rivits on the back, which allowed me a peek inside the lock. I was suprised with what I found. - the dial controls a small stylus that moves through a "maze" of wards, when the correct sequence of numbers is used. the right combo allows the stylus to move upward and eventually disengage the shakle. very clever Idea. I have never seen another lock like it, and thus far, neither has anyone else I've shown it to.

by **unbreakable** » 14 May 2006 8:21

Awesome! Is that ever a cool lock.......

I've never heard of a lock working like that before. Any idea when it was made around :?:

Unbreakable

by **Shrub** » 14 May 2006 9:54

Any chance of some internal pics?

I wonder if they are related to the bike people.

by **cheesehead** » 14 May 2006 11:11

if I were to take a guess, I'd say the lock is circa 1940's to 60's. unfortunately i have no way to say for sure. the only markings on the lock are the words "cannondale USA" and a number that I assume to be the serial #. I did mis-state something earlier. the "maze" of wards is actually on the back side of the dial. the maze moves to "catch" and guide the stylus up to the shackle. as far as an internal pic goes, I'll have to see if it is possible without completely destroying the lock. I'm a little nervous to drill the other 2 rivits from the back, since I have no experience repairing such damage.

by **Shrub** » 14 May 2006 11:20

So youve looked through the hole you drilled before then? i thought you had removed the cover completley, dont damage it on my/our account.

by **cheesehead** » 14 May 2006 12:46

there are 3 rivits on the back - one at the top, 2 near the bottom. i drilled out the top rivit, which allowed me to slightly pry the top open a bit. so, I had a gap of about 1/8th of an inch that gave me enough room to see it work, and figure out the combo. I'd love to take it apart for more photos if I could be assured it was repairable. unfortunately I've probably severely decreased any potential value of the lock by drilling the rivit in the first place...
anyway, here is a pic. of the back of the lock.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/ ... ure033.jpg

by **Shrub** » 14 May 2006 13:45

It would be repairable but only if your a confident, competant engineer otherwise leave it alone then.

by **Omikron** » 14 May 2006 14:22

Interesting.

VERY interesting.

I'm intrigued not only by the design of the lock, but also by the fact that it was made by Cannondale. I do not know of any other locks that Cannondale has manufactured in the past or manufactures today. All they really do these days is cycling equipment.

I'm going to be visiting a fellow LP101 member in Ohmaha within the next few weeks to help him upgrade his locks on his house. I'd be more than happy to help you with it while I'm there. This seems like a prime candidate for a acrylic backplate. ;-)

by **Shrub** » 14 May 2006 15:00

Im sure omi will sort you out then but a drilled hole in the middle of the rivets then threaded will take small countersunk bolts and hold the original or a clear plate on afterwards.

by **p1ckf1sh** » 14 May 2006 15:27

Omikron wrote:I'm intrigued not only by the design of the lock, but also by the fact that it was made by Cannondale. I do not know of any other locks that Cannondale has manufactured in the past or manufactures today. All they really do these days is cycling equipment.

I am not sure that Cannondale (the cycle manufacturer) is the same as the maufacturer of this lock. The cycling company was founded in 1971 by J. (i believe it was John, but I may be wrong on this) Montgomery. I think the lock is older.

Proud owner and rider of an american-made 93 Klein Attitude MTB - rigid diamond-frames rule.

by **cheesehead** » 14 May 2006 19:13

yeah, since I am a far cry from a compitant engeneer, I think I personally am going to leave it alone. and Omikron, if you want to check it out when you are in town, let me know. we can work something out.
as far as being associated with the cannondale bike co. - I don't think it is or ever was. I'm kind of getting the impression that cannondale USA was a small company that went belly up many years ago. I'd be totally stoked to learn the history of the company, even if it's a short history..

cannondale combo lock

cannondale combo lock

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