USPS padlock with audit counter

[GWiens2001]

Saw this at the local post office. The clerk very nicely let me photograph it.











Gordon

[Squelchtone]

excellent photos, this has always been a favorite design of mine.

Here are some more photos: http://www.antique-padlocks.com/postal_ ... ry_a-z.htm

[ARF-GEF]

Ok so I'm not sure if it's good manners to post the same questions on both of the threads but I'm curious so here we go:

Are they willing to sell one ?
Or who makes them? Are they willing to sell some?

Does anyone know anything about the internal working?

[Squelchtone]

Ok so I'm not sure if it's good manners to post the same questions on both of the threads but I'm curious so here we go:

Are they willing to sell one ?
Or who makes them? Are they willing to sell some?

Does anyone know anything about the internal working?

The USPS doesn't sell padlocks, they use them

They end up on ebay and sell for a quite a lot of money compared to other padlocks.

They are made by Mail Equipment Shops, some were made by Sargent & Greenleaf, look at the link I posted above for other manufacturers who had contracts to make them.

Squelchtone

[Squelchtone]

Does anyone know anything about the internal working?

Here's an 1893 patent with what I believe most of these look like on the inside:
http://www.google.com/patents/US499500? ... ck&f=false

You can do a patent search for Indicator Lock and here's a Smith & Egge version of that mechanism: http://www.google.com/patents/US536195? ... ck&f=false

Google Patent search also allows for Search Tools > Filing Date > Anytime > Filing Date > Custom Range > pick x to y (as in 1850 to 1900)

Squelchtone

[phrygianradar]

Nice lock safari find, Gordon! Thanks for sharing. I have been looking for cool locks around where I live, but so far I haven't found anything real interesting. You sparked that idea though, so for that, I thank you!