Prison Cell Locks

[zorro]

I have been working with locks since the mid-60s & have open many of them, I did not think Medeco would be as easy and would have to put in the time I just did not have at the time. Besides, I couldn't afford it back then. Then Mrak Tobias showed us all how it was indeed possible which led Medeco to change it around to make it more complicaated. So to date the Medeco & the Mul-T-Lock appear to be the main ones up there. Which led me to think about prison locks that use an enormous key, with each one set to only open certain areas of any prison.

My question -- obviously, is whether anyone has ever been able to get a hold of one of these locks to practice with -- for the challenge -- you know ? And have you been successful, if so please let us know I have had this in my head for some time and wish I could find an old one in a junk yard to practice with. I'm sure they must be a challenege otherwise the would not use them in the prisons.

I have only seen the lock used by the city and state but have not seen the ones used by the feds, if they are different, the question is still the same.

Look forward to hearing from anyone in the community.

Zorro

[MacGyver101]

Just to check: are you thinking of the larger mogul cylinders (the oversized pin-tumbler locks), or the large lever locks?

The two mogul cylinders I have are a Corbin master-ring, and a Folger Adam Maxi-Mogul. I can't recall if the FA has them, but the Corbin cylinder has ball bearings under each of the key pins (to reduce wear), which personally I find a bit of an extra challenge (it just changes the feedback a bit, and I find my pick slipping off the pins periodically), but I have picked it.

On the lever-lock side, I have a Folger Adam that was decommissioned from a prison in Salem, a Yale that came out of the old British Columbia penitentiary, and an S&G from Leavenworth. My only time spent with them has been restoration and preservation work (given their years or service, two of the three arrived very rusty)... I haven't yet tried to make a set of wires for picking.

Let me know which one(s) you're interested in, and I'd be happy to post some photos in a couple of days.

[fgarci03]

The two mogul cylinders I have are a Corbin master-ring, and a Folger Adam Maxi-Mogul.

The Corbin master-ring is considered a Mogul? Or there is a mogul version of it?

I have one corbin (no ball bearing though), and although it has a big size (because of the master ring), the key and plug are standart sized...

[GWiens2001]

Let me know which one(s) you're interested in, and I'd be happy to post some photos in a couple of days.

All the lever locks! Let's see them!

Gordon

[MacGyver101]

The Corbin master-ring is considered a Mogul? Or there is a mogul version of it?

Hrm, well now I'll have to go check.

Not all mogul cylinders have oversized keys (e.g., you can get a mogul cylinder with a standard-size ASSA Twin plug). In this case, though, I may be misremembering; I'll see if I have an old Corbin catalog that would help answer that.

All the lever locks! Let's see them!

No problem at all... will just need a few days. In the meantime, you can see a few pictures of my Folger Adam in this thread.

[fgarci03]

Thanks,

Now I'm eagering to know if I indeed own a Mogul

[GWiens2001]

MacGyver,

Forgot about your old topic on your Folger. Beautiful job with the restoration. What kind of lock do you use to secure your locks?

Thank you for sharing pictures of locks most of us will never have the privilege of seeing in person. (That goes for all the rest of you who post pictures, too!)

Gordon

[fgarci03]

What kind of lock do you use to secure your locks?

Is that a trick question Gordon?

Beautifull lock Mac! Do I see anti pick levers there?

[Evan]

The Corbin master-ring is considered a Mogul? Or there is a mogul version of it?

Hrm, well now I'll have to go check.

Not all mogul cylinders have oversized keys (e.g., you can get a mogul cylinder with a standard-size ASSA Twin plug). In this case, though, I may be misremembering; I'll see if I have an old Corbin catalog that would help answer that.

Hey there everyone:

There are four standardized diameters for threaded mortise/rim cylinders:

• Peanut cylinders are 3/4" in diameter
• Standard mortise are 1-5/32" in diameter
• Jumbo mortise are 1-1/2" in diameter
• Mogul mortise are 2" in diameter

Corbin Russwin master ting cylinders are "Jumbo" sized...

As MacGyver101 mentioned:
Assa cylinders are available in Mogul size as well as Jumbo...
There are also Medeco Cylinders made in Mogul size...
BEST makes the "3E" housing for Jumbo sized mortise lock sets...

~~ Evan

[MacGyver101]

Corbin Russwin master ting cylinders are "Jumbo" sized...

Well, you learn something new every day! I hadn't heard that size designation before: thanks!

[Squelchtone]

Where's the OP? I hate when we take our time to reply and reply and the OP just vanishes.. you out there zorro?

I also want to know if he meant the old Folger Adam lever locks or the Folger Adam/Adam pin tumbler mogul format cylinders. Both had large keys.

I'm not sure what zorro means about "So to date the Medeco & the Mul-T-Lock appear to be the main ones up there" up there to what? be hard to pick? I'm confused by what you mean.

Thanks for any updates or replies you can provide,
Squelchtone

[Evan]

I have a question for the Mogul cylinder admirers here that actually have one of their own to play with...

Have you considered making lock picks for them that are twice the size (scaled up) of normal ones or do the standard size picks work well enough on the bigger cylinders ?

~~ Evan

[averagejoe]

From what I have heard most people get by fine with longer picks without having to make special ones.

[Squelchtone]

Regular Bogotas work well.

[Luissen]

Regular Bogotas work well.

WOW. that's a lot bigger than I expected. That keyway looks roomy, other than those wards