Looking for info on a strange old mortise lock cylinder

[StriderTB]

My Great Grandfather was a locksmith, and I have many of his old supplies and tools. I found this old mortise lock cylinder and key, and was hoping someone here could shed some light on the mechanism.

It's from the Deutsch Lock Company of Hammond, Indiana. The key is round, and has 8 pins of varying depths that engage the pins inside of the cylinder. The face of the key slot is spring loaded. The key I found it with works and it seems to turn smoothly.

Here are some pictures. Thanks for any light you may shed on it.

[Squelchtone]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing photos of your very unique lock. It was designed by Leo E. Deutsch.

Here are some patents from this company from the 1930's and 1940's
http://www.google.com/patents?id=50BvAA ... &q&f=false

http://www.google.com/patents?id=201hAA ... &q&f=false

It reminds me of the Bramah lock mechanism. http://codesmiths.com/shed/locks/photos/bramah_2.jpg

Have a good one,
Squelchtone

[MrScruff]

Am I correct in assuming this is some kind of tubular lock?

Also, I want that key for Christmas.

[MacGnG1]

Yeah it's sorta like a tubular. There is an "arcade lock" on eBay that has a very similar in design. However that one is a cam lock. thanks for sharing a very cool old lock!

[EmCee]

Hmm..the key has numbered positions and looks as though the pins can slide in and out - like a tubular pick. Is that just the normal key for that lock; or some sort of locksmith tool/pick (since it came from the collection of a locksmith); or a make-up key?

Cheers...

[Rickthepick]

looks very bramah-ish.
Looks like it could be re-changable, maybe by rotating the outer warding somehow.
I know you can do this with some of the tubular locks

[rphillips52]

This looks like a Bramah lock because it is a derivative of the Bramah lock.
It is the NIX-PIX, made by the Deutsch Lock Company of Hammond, Indiana. This is one of several derivatives of the original Bramah lock.
In the original Bramah design the sliders can only be fitted in one way. The NIX-PIX has 8 sliders which can each be inserted in any of four positions, making it easy to change the combination without any extra parts being needed. Each slider may be turned end-for-end, and also side-to-side. In each active position there is one gate, each of the four is in a different position.
If the combination of the lock is changed, a new key with different depth notches would ordinarily need to be cut. However, the key supplied with these locks is also changeable, and can be re-set to any required combination. Thus combination changes do not require any extra parts or machines. Combinations can be changed as often as desired, and the user has patience. Generally, combination would more usually be done by a locksmith than the end-user, although instructions were supplied to buyers.
However, this lock is not a type which would be called key-change. Such locks when open adjust themselves to a new key which is used to lock the lock; thereafter, the lock only next unlocks to the same key combination which last closed it. The NIX-PIX lock has to be changed by hand, then the key changed by hand to match the new combination — although the procedures could be done in the opposite order. However, the lock does not adjust itself to a new combination, it has to be dismantled by hand to do this. Any combination will remain until the lock is next dismantled.
These locks were not a great success in the market place, but in the
50’s-60’s camlocks were used on many vending machines and arcade game machines in the USA. The lock was also made as a padlock, and as a mortice cylinder, interchangeable with screw-in pin tumbler cylinders.
Details of how to service them are in:
Keys to Understanding Tubular Locks
Donald B. McLean Desert Pubs ISBN: 9780879471040
Covers Ace, Van, and NIX-PIX