Old 1938 U.S Mailbox - Carlisle Foundry CO

[Divinorum]

Today my uncle came to me with this old 1938 U.S. Mailbox he bought at a garage sale. He didn't really know how old it was till I turned it over. It seems to have been made by the Carlisle Foundry Company. This thing is a really cool piece of history. He would like to get it open and re purpose it for his cabin, only problem is I'm not really sure how to go about getting it open.









The lock on the front is strange. When my uncle gave it to be the lock was vertical up and down and with a flashlight all I could see in the key way was two bars on the right and left side spanning the key way to the back of the lock. Using a screwdriver I gently turned the lock clockwise and it budged a quarter turn but no more (seen in last picture). At this position I can see what seems to be wafers on the right and left side (the bars moved when I turned the lock). Not positive but I counted 3 on each side. I tried to pick/rake the wafer but it did not give at all not even a false set. The wafer are springy so it doesn't seem to be warded. Is it possible there is a secondary locking mechanism, maybe in the way back of the lock? Please help me! lol

[GWiens2001]

Those are lever locks, if I recall correctly. You can impression a key for it.

That is a great find, very glad you showed it to us. Did not know that the year was on the back of them, so glad you shared.

Gordon

[1mrchristopher]

That's a thing of beauty. I'd have it sand blasted to remove all of the coats of paint, and then repaint it and use it for my mailbox! Lucky find for your uncle. I haven't impressioned a lever lock yet, something I'm looking forward to trying.

[KPick]

1938? Whoa! That's an antique. I would put it in my man cave and make it cool somehow. Maybe paint it and give it some character.

[1mrchristopher]

Don't do this while having a drink, because spraying your beverage of choice all over your computer screen is no fun. Go type "Carlisle Foundry" into a search on ebay. Yowza!

[KPick]

Looks like Divinorium found himself a valuable! Way to go!

[MacGyver101]

That looks to me like a USPS "Arrow Key". If I recall correctly, there are some US laws around producing keys for those locks -- so, just to be safe, check on that before posting any pictures on-line (should you happen to find a key). Either way, doing a Google image search for "USPS arrow key" has a couple of results that are typical of the style of key that would fit that lock.

[Legion303]

USPS uses lever locks now, and apparently in 1938 as well. It's not going to be easy to pick open, but as someone mentioned, you can impression a key.

[Divinorum]

Thank you all for the replies . I have never seen a double sided lever lock before. I have never picked a lever lock either so chances I'm going to pick a 76 year old double sided one are slim lol. I'll have to look into my other options. Will keep everyone updated. Thank you again.

[Sinifar]

That should be a "Dudley", which is USPS property. I don't know how that got out of their hands, normally they pull those when they sell old boxes. Like the box section keys, they are not available to the public.

Impressioning that lock is going to be fun, as it has six levers on each side, and each side is different. There are no key blanks available for this lock. It is unique. As a post office vendor let me tell you, if you do ever find an "ARROW" key keep it to yourself, and never post it, possession is against postal code. You will get a visit from the postal inspectors.

IF the door is open, take the lock out, and drop it to the nearest postmaster and don't tell him how you came by it. Just tell him you "found" this at an antique shop and are turning it in. They will take it from there.

Not to be a downer, but advising you in advance of what may happen. Take it for what it is worth.

You might try a S & G single horn safe deposit lock, and retro fit this to the door. It will work if you play around with the mounting. OR if it is "offset" as some are, just cut the guard horn off and then remove the guard levers and use that as it. It will work.

IF you get your hands on an old box section door, there are locks which can be substituted for the government lock. If you get one with a combination you are free to do with it as you wish. Most which are sold are the combination type. I have several in all sizes from old box sections which got 'junked" when they put in the new section.

Sinifar

[Divinorum]

As you have said Sinfar, getting the real blank is next to impossible and possession is problematic. Are there any other blanks that are close enough in size that would work? I'm assuming it's a flat steel key? Thanks for the Info, I guess there's twice the amount of tumblers then I can visibly see.

[Sinifar]

Like everything for the "G", it is unique to their application. I have never seen one in 45 years in the biz. Security for the mail is is very high and they do take the job seriously, including going after anyone who tampers with any of their locks. The last thing you want is a postal inspector looking for you. These are federal "cops" who carry Glocks and have no problem using them. When I work in the post office especially on the "cages" for Registered Mail, I have one standing right next to me all the time making sure I don't do something which could compromise the installation.

Sinifar

[GWiens2001]

Like everything for the "G", it is unique to their application. I have never seen one in 45 years in the biz. Security for the mail is is very high and they do take the job seriously, including going after anyone who tampers with any of their locks. The last thing you want is a postal inspector looking for you. These are federal "cops" who carry Glocks and have no problem using them. When I work in the post office especially on the "cages" for Registered Mail, I have one standing right next to me all the time making sure I don't do something which could compromise the installation.

Sinifar

Have to say that it is reassuring that they take the security of the mail seriously.

Gordon

[bitbuster]

having worked at the minneapolis post office for 30 years i was always aware that as an employee i was being watched by the "man" in the 1-way mirrored catwalks.

[asgardschosen]

There are no key blanks available for this lock. It is unique. As a post office vendor let me tell you, if you do ever find an "ARROW" key keep it to yourself, and never post it, possession is against postal code. You will get a visit from the postal inspectors.

Does that mean that there are no commercially produced locks/keys like this? I recently saw not 1 but 3 of these locks in my apartment building. I'm curious as to their function, though now it seems like they're probably to let our mail-lady into the building & into the mailboxes. If they have commercially available locks similar to this, I'd love to pick one up and fiddle with it.

Just to be clear, I have no intention of picking/trying to bypass the locks in my apartment building, I was simply intrigued by the strange keyway.