Chatwood 4 Lever Lock - Beakdown and Photos

[illusion]

Ok, this isn't exactly a hard lock to take apart but I thought I'd post something that hopefully people find interesting ( For once! )

Ok well it's a lever lock that uses a barrel key and was made by an English company named Chatwood & Milner. The lock uses 4 levers and doesn't have much mech wise different to any other lever lock, except for the way the lever springs are integral to the levers, makes it fun to pick although it doesn't have any anti-pick notches.

Assuming you've read the lever guide sticky it should be pretty obvious, if not take a look - I may add to that sometime in the future too

Photos:

Lock front:



Lock top view:



Cover off:



Levers out:



Locked:



Being unlocked:



Unlocked:



Hope you enjoyed.

[Oaklandishh]

Thanks! I didn't understand lever lock picking until now. It makes sense once you see the mechanisms.

[illusion]

Yay one reply!

Glad you liked it, there's a guide about lever locks stickied somewhere on this site is more detailed, if you are interested.

[RangerF150]

Very nice lock, some great picks.
Looks like an easy lock to pick? No false notches and a nice bevel on the cam look
like it all conspires to make a doable challenge!
Nothing like the big clang you get when you pick a level lock !
Thanks for posting

[Keyring]

Illusion: Nice work - nice to see that you haven't lost your enthusiasm. Hope things are going well for you.

BTW Thanks for your recent kind comments (now removed) - it was appreciated.

[illusion]

Hey thanks for that I appreciate it.

Things definitely going well although sort of hectic these days

Hope things are well with you too!

[Rickthepick]

looks like an old safe lock, they are an awkward pick as there is a lot of tension on those levers due to the spring design.
Never seen a 4 lever one they usually have 7

[illusion]

looks like an old safe lock, they are an awkward pick as there is a lot of tension on those levers due to the spring design.
Never seen a 4 lever one they usually have 7

The lock itself is quite small and the bolt only protrudes about a centimetre from the lock body at most, which led me to believe it was probably designed for a deposit box or something similar.

The levers do have a lot of tension of them as a result of the springs yes - I didn't find this one too difficult to pick however the 7 lever ones would likely be harder.

[rphillips52]

Not quite fair to call this a 'safe' lock. It is a lock by the Chatwood Patent Safe and Lock Company; serial numbers are datable, but I don't have a date list.
This is a drawer lock for a safe drawer. As most safes were made to order, customers could choose what interior fittings were desired. Essentially the same lock, and its mirror reflection, was also used as a cupboard lock, though drawers were more common.
The nozzle is usual on locks made for fitting to metal rather than wood.
The integral spring was used because for many years, good spring steel was scarce and expensive. Some makers took the view that brass springs were better than the steel comb spring. Later in the 19C, the plentiful and cheap supply of steel flat wire spring made individual lever springs of steel easy and cheap.

Chatwood and Milner safe companies were merged by their parent Hall Engineering (Holdings) Ltd in 1956. In 1964 Chatwood-Milner joined the Chubb Group, and ceased to operate as a separate entity in 1971.

[atticRR]

thanks illusion, somehow this thread really clarified for me exactly what happens in a lever lock. Ive looked at all the other info of course, but this short guide gave me the 'ah ha!' ive lacked.

rphillips52: good info as well, thank you sir!