Bode Panzer was on ebay

[greyman]

Folks, did anyone here see the 1930s Bode Panzer Tangential lock that was on ebay last Saturday (item number 280089598812). It was sold for US$1025 But what an amazing lock! The Germans really took the lever lock concept to new heights...

[n2oah]

Yes, I was going to go up to $750, but I decided I wanted a new drum set. I felt better after it sold for 1k. Let me guess, you took the high bid?

[What]

got a link?

[n2oah]

t3eh panzur

[lockedin]

A cruciform lever lock? Incredible.

[JackNco]

Does anyone know if its JUST that lock or any of these brand that are that collectible.

[greyman]

Yes, I was going to go up to $750, but I decided I wanted a new drum set. I felt better after it sold for 1k. Let me guess, you took the high bid?

N2oah - you are joking, right My wife would kill me if I spent that kind of money on a lock! Besides, I live in the UK - for that money I could travel to Germany and pick one up for a lot less than that. Apparently though, $1000 is about right for a Bode Panzer (Tangential) lock on ebay, I have it on good authority.

There are a number of odd-looking Bode locks, some with 3- and some with 4-bitted keys. All work on lever or balance lever principle. Check out the tresor offnung site (sorry I don't have the link to hand). The idea was that the key was so complicated it simply could not be copied. The Bode Panzer locks were used by the German diplomatic and government services prior to World War 2 (and probably during it).

[greyman]

I said the Bode Panzer was a lever lock - that's not quite right, it's more like a cylindrical lever lock - like Chubb Ava, having sliding rather than pivoting levers. Naturally it's much older than the Ava, which is more like a poor man's Bode Panzer.

[lunchb0x]

i would live to own one of these locks, maybe one day

[Shrub]

Wow, i would like to know what a lock without all that wear on it would go for, either that the winning bidder has just paid over the top for it,

[JackNco]

I dunno, they were used in German diplomatic buildings before and in WW2. how many can there be left in good condition. from what ive herd they were not produced after ww2... although I could be wrong there?

[Shrub]

Personal experiance of goverment buildings (i have a lot) is that the locks are nearly new on most doors as they are mostly never locked due to security being present all the time,

That said your correct in what you say and was somthing i hadnt considered so i assume you are right,

[greyman]

I think the Bode Panzer Tangential locks were only used on safes and vaults, not as general building hardware. That's why they typically have very long keys or folding keys. If it has a short key then it was probably for use with a lafette - i.e. a loading tube that you pull out of the safe door, put the key in and shove it back in till it reaches the lock.

Bode-Panzer stopped making the quadruple bitted locks after the war, so any that turn up are at least 60 years old. There is a bit of info on this in the "Lock Collector" (Oct/Dec 2006 issue).

[mercurial]

i would live to own one of these locks, maybe one day

You and me both, it is amazing.

I am sure almost everyone on site is aware of Barry Wels' blog(http://www.toool.nl/blackbag/)

Recently it featured an entry and some video of these locks. http://www.toool.nl/blackbag/?p=104

It seems even a key for these locks can go for a few hundred dollars on e-bay - certainly these locks and keys seem to be a rarity. Wish I knew how to find one (let alone pick one up cheaper) in Germany, my sister lives there..

...Mark

[greyman]

Thanks for that link to Barry Wels' site. I am impressed, not just with the Bode-Panzer lock itself, but that there are guys who are brave enough to make keys for these beasties. Hats off