Meter Lock M.O.W. by Lowe & Fletcher

[femurat]

I just got this strange padlock, I liked the unusual keyhole so I bought it.
Here is an abstract from seller description:

Vintage Ministry of Works Meter Lock, in solid Brass, made by one of the UK's leading Lock Manufacturers ,Lowe & Fletcher from the West Midlands. It dates from the early 50's.

I'll bend a wire and look for something inside its narrow and deep hole.

Cheers

[Solomon]

Nice find femurat! The keys for those are extremely rare, you can open them with a very stiff wire down the side of the shackle though. I'm assuming it's cool to discuss that since these aren't in use anymore.

[MacGnG1]

funky funky! i'd like to even see what the key looks like.

[femurat]

I saw (past of see, I didn't cut the lock) a slot towards the end of the keyhole. It's about 2mm wide and runs around almost all the cylinder. There's just a solid part on the left.
I bent a wire in a L shape and shoved it in the keyhole... I tried turning right and left but nothing happened. I also made a Z tip wire to overcome a ward (in case it exists) but I couldn't feel anything. Looks like the key tip should be longer than the hole diameter. Is this possible???

Thanks for your suggestion Solomon, I'll try that and let you know.

Hey MacGnG1, I'd like to see the key too. The patent of the lock would be even better. The number 515501 is stamped on the lock body, but unfortunately I wasn't able to find UK patents online. Anybody has a link?

Cheers

[MacGyver101]

The number 515501 is stamped on the lock body, but unfortunately I wasn't able to find UK patents online. Anybody has a link?

Took me a minute... the stamping on the case is a bit unclear: the patent number is actually 515561. The patent was submitted in 1938; you can view/download the patent here: UK515561

The key's an interesting design... and you're absolutely right: the key tip does need to be longer than the hole diameter. The key shaft is actually a hollow tube; the key "nib" is initially inside the tube while the key is inserted:

When the key is pushed into the lock, it causes the nib to extend out through the slot in the bottom of the key:

And, from there, rotating the key will cause the nib to push against and retract a simple lever-latch mechanism that's holding the shackle in place (the shaded #14 in the diagram):

From a quick read of the patent, it seems to only talk about a single locking lever, so I don't think it's a complicated key. It also looks like the locking latch could also be shimmed fairly easily.

Nice find!

[MacGyver101]

It also looks like the locking latch could also be shimmed fairly easily.

Actually, I take that back. Looking at the drawings again, it looks like the locking lever needs to be pulled back a fair distance, otherwise it will block the right-hand side of the shackle from pivoting inwards and opening... so you probably can't effectively shim the latch open.

[Solomon]

You can definitely do it MacGuyver, I've seen a couple of people bypass them on youtube before. From what I'm told it's not exactly easy but it can be done ok

[MacGnG1]

you stick it in and the thingy pops up! LOL ..... thats a pretty interesting key design.

[femurat]

Thanks a lot MacGyver101, the patent you found is very interesting. Looks like I made a good deal by getting this padlock
Now I can try picking it again...

Cheers

[Rickthepick]

interesting lock never seen one of those.

A friend of mine works at lowe and fletcher but i doubt they have anything like that laying about nowadays

[femurat]

I bent a wire and managed to lift the lever. Not enough to open it. I made another try with a slightly bigger bent. Unfortunately the bent wire is not long enough. The more I observe this lock, the more I appreciate its clever design.

Cheers

[femurat]

I collected some thin washers, an old antenna, the metal parts of an old electric plug and a piece of wire. Let's see if I can make a working key.

Cheers

[femurat]

Heck, my prototype key doesn't work. It enter the lock and goes till the end, but the tip remains straight. Looks like I do need an external tube, with a ramp on the end to guide the key blade out if pushed.
Now I have to thin down my rods, add a 45 degree ramp to the end and a slot on the side of the antenna, and try to assemble all together.

Cheers

[MacGyver101]

Wow... mine just arrived in the mail today. I didn't realize how small these are!