MacGyver101's Lock Collection (Picture-Heavy)

[MacGyver101]

A number of folks have been diligently photographing and sharing their new finds, and I realized that it had been a couple of years since I’d sat down with my camera and documented some of the more interesting locks I’ve come across. My collection spans from ancient times (around 100AD) to modern electronic locks, and everything in between. My apologies for the rather picture-heavy post, but hopefully there’s something of interest.

I’m not going to try to document everything in the collection; I’ll just pick out some highlights...

• Cut-aways: basic pin-tumbler, Sargent mortise, ASSA Flexcore, wafer cam-lock, 7-pin tubular
• Schlage SecureKey
• Schlage Everest: KIK, LFIC, padlock and rim-cylinder cut-away
• Schlage Primus: mortise, LFIC
• Schlage Everest Primus: KIK, rim-cylinder cut-away
• Duo mortise cylinder
• Ace II
• TuBAR
• Chicago cam-lock

Schlage Everest Primus: Factory Cut-Away
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• Folger Adam Model 110 Mogul
• Corbin Emhart KIK cut-away
• Medeco Original: KIK and mortise (incl. military keyway)
• Medeco Camlock
• Medeco Payphone lock
• Medeco Biaxial: KIK, progressively-pinned mortise locks, S&G 831B cylinder, factory cut-away rim cylinder
• Medeco Biaxial sales demo pin (oversized pin, used to demonstrate pins)
• Medeco M3: 5- and 6-pin mortise, half-euro cut-away
• Medeco Logic: mortise cylinder and G8R padlock
• Medeco Tufloc
• Medeco Duracam in Cobra 8500 padlock body
• Medeco removable-plug cylinder
• ScanLock SLX-5
• GMS MX
• Arrone Plus

Folger Adam Mogul Mortise Cylinder


Medeco Logic Factory Demo Kit: Mortise Cylinder and G8R Padlock


Medeco M3 Euro-Profile Cylinder (Snowyboy Cut-Away)
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• ABUS Plus: 20/70 Diskus, 88/40 padlock
• ABUS 25/70 Diskus (lever)
• Ingersoll CS712
• Abloy Classic: various padlocks
• Abloy Disklock Pro: KIK
• Abloy Protec: factory cut-away padlock
• Mul-T-Lock Classic: rim cylinder, half-euro cut-away
• Mul-T-Lock Interactive: mortise, hockey-puck padlock
• Mul-T-Lock Integrator
• Mul-T-Lock Garrison
• Mul-T-Lock MT5 padlock core
• Mul-T-Lock MT5+ half-euro cut-away
• Dom iX
• Kaba Gemini
• Kaba Penta

Abloy Protec 330 Padlock: Factory Cut-Away


Mul-T-Lock Classic and MT5+ (Snowyboy Cut-Away)
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• Ikon TK5 Super-Nocke
• Dom D
• Mila Evo Anti-Bump (with trap pins)
• LOB TOR1
• EVVA MCS
• MagLock ML-10
• Greenwald Sentinel
• MIWA EC

LOB 12-pin Euro-Profile Cylinder


EVVA MCS Euro-Profile Cylinder


MIWA EC (Magnetic) Rim Cylinder


DOM D Euro-Profile Cylinder


Ikon TK5 Super-Nocke Euro-Profile Cylinder
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• Abloy PL342 High Profile (x2)
• Brinks Shrouded
• Abloy PL340 Protec (Ruby)
• Abloy PL655 Government
• S&G 826C
• Kaba 20
• Guri Push-Key
• Burg-Watcher Lock Blocker
• Zeiss Ikon Telephone Lock

• S&G 8077
• Master Speed-Dial
• S&W M-100 handcuffs

• Best SFIC: mortise housing, cut-away
• Misc automotive locks: 1963 Ford Mustang, 2010 Grand Prix, Honda, cut-away, etc..
• Western Electric 30C payphone locks
• BiLock first-generation
• ASSA Twin V-10
• Fichet 484
• EVVA 3KS
• DOM Diamant
• Bramah BP-17
• Concept Plus
• Weiser Smartkey
• U-Change (with keys)

Papaiz Cruciform 18-pin Mortise Cylinder


Concept Plus Mortise Cylinder


EVVA 3KS Rim and Euro-Profile Cylinders


DOM Diamant Euro-Profile Cylinders


Western Electric 30E Payphone Locks


Bramah BP-17 Padlock
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• American 700: one "factory" and one "tricked" for use by escape artists
• ERA 975 5-lever cut-away
• Van Lock in a Cobra 8500 padlock body
• Mosler 5700 safe deposit cut-away
• S&G 4440 safe deposit
• PPI Model 40-LH safe deposit cut-away

Van Lock Camlock (mounted in a Cobra 8500 padlock body)


American 700 Padlocks: factory original (L) and “tricked” for escape artists (R)
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• S&G 833C Military
• Hi-Shear LK-1200 Military
• S&G 831B-M-1 Military
• Abloy PL350 Protec
• S&G Environmental
• Abloy PL362 Protec
• S&G 831B

Abloy PL363 and PL350: Protec (Ruby) cores


US Military Padlocks: S&G 831B-M-1, S&G 833, Hi-Shear LK-1200
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• Austral 904 TF-N
• Medeco 52 (M3)
• S&G Environmental
• CyberLock Dealer Kit
• S&G 8077-AD
• S&G 826C Thin-Shackle

Austral 904 TF-N “Chain Key” Padlock


CyberLock Factory Demo Kit
______________________________________________________________________

• MAXiS 225 Padlock
• LOK Alarmed Padlock
• Barclays Bank Night Deposit Bag (Chubb Lock)
• Gougler Padlock
• Rielda Rekeyable KIK
• Taiwanese Motorcycle Disk-Brake Lock with geared keys
• Kaba Peaks KIK

Rielda Rekeyable KIK Cylinder


MAXiS 225 Padlock


Taiwanese Motorcycle Disc-Brake Lock with geared keys


Barclays’ Bank Night Deposit Bag with Chubb Lock
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• Yale & Towne 805F
• Yale No.324
• Master No.66 Factory Cut-Away
• Master No.88
• American Lock barrel padlock (Government)
• DanLock Model B padlock puzzle
• Yale No.8454
• Corbin Master Ring
• Banbury Lock

DanLock Model B: Puzzle Lock


Banbury Lock (circa 17th-century, Canterbury, UK)


Banbury Lock (circa 17th-century, Canterbury, UK)
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• Yale Bicentric Padlock
• Sargent 6-Lever Padlock
• USPS Rotary Padlocks
• Yale Safe Deposit (pin-tumber)
• WLN Detector cabinet lock
• Odell Latch Key
• USPS Mail Bag Locks
• Hand-forged Spring-Barb Padlock
• LuH Padlock (German)

LuH Padlock with cruciform key (Germany)


Hand-Forged Spring-Barb Padlock (circa 19th-century, India)
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• Yale Padlock
• Slaight / Slaymaker Paper Seal Padlock
• SEZAM Rim Cylinder (with complete deadbolt assembly)
• French Screw-key Padlock (c.1859)
• Dudley Combination Lock (c.1920)
• Miller “999” Scandinavian
• Lowe & Fletcher Ministry of Works Padlock (UK)
• American Keyless No-Key Padlock
• Dudley Split-Wafer Padlock (c.1936)
• Yale & Towne 805F
• 3-wheel Padlock (c.19C)
• Roman-era bronze latch, lock bolt and keys (circa 200AD)

Thomas Slaight Paper Seal Padlock (19th-century, US Internal Revenue Service)


Paper Seals for Thomas Slaight Seal Padlock (US Internal Revenue Service)


6-Lever Push-Key Padlock cut-away


SEZAM Rim Cylinder for surface-mount deadbolt (Poland)


American Keyless Lock Company No-Key Padlock


Dudley Split-Wafer Padlock (1936)


Roman-Era Bronze Lock Latch, Bolt and Keys (circa 200AD)
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• Ratcliff & Horner Safe Lock: Factory Cut-Away (c.1893)
• S&G Prison Lock from Leavenworth
• Folger Adam Model 80-M
• Roman-era iron lift-key (circa 100AD)
• NATO Mersey Lock

Roman-Era Iron Lift-Key (circa 100AD)


Folger Adam Model 80-M


PSA NATO Mersey Lock (1991, UK Department of Defense)


Ratcliff & Horner Safe Lock (1893, factory cut-away)


S&G Prison Lock removed from service in Leavenworth (USA)
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• Yale Detention Lock removed from service in BC Penitentary (Canada)
• Folger Adam Model 82 removed from service in Salem, MA (USA)
• S&G 8430
• Mas-Hamilton X-07
• Kromer Euronovum 14-Lever
• Diebold 17423A

Yale Prison Lock (removed from service in BC Penitentary, Canada)


Folger Adam Model 82 Prison Lock (removed from service in Salem, MA, USA)


MAS-Hamilton X-07 electronic safe lock


S&G 8430 Group 1 safe lock


Kromer Euronovum 14-lever safe lock (cut-away)
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• LaGard 33E
• Chubb Detector Safe-Deposit
• LeFebure S&G R6700
• ERA Invincible
• LaGard 2200
• Yale & Towne Model 3-L Time Lock
• Peerless 710 handcuffs

Peerless Model 710 handcuffs with Medeco cylinders


Yale & Towne Model 3-L time lock
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• S&G 6535-007
• Diebold Anti-Dynamite 4-wheel vault locks (matched set)
• Chubb Manifoil Mk.IV (UK Government)

S&G Model 6535-007: 4-wheel vault lock with indirect drive


Chubb Manifoil Mk.IV (1987, UK Government)


Diebold Anti-Dynamite 4-wheel vault lock (circa 1885, matched set)


Diebold Anti-Dynamite 4-wheel vault lock (circa 1885, matched set)


Diebold Anti-Dynamite 4-wheel vault lock (circa 1885, matched set)
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Forever Lock: Taiwanese bicycle U-Lock with sabot key carrier

In addition, I have a similarly-large collection of picks, tools and books that I haven’t had time to photograph, but I’ll add to the thread when I get another free afternoon.

I’m happy to answer any questions that anyone might have about the locks, their history, patent drawings, etc… or if anyone else has some info they’d like to pass along, I’d be really grateful!

Thanks for looking!

[GWiens2001]

:drool:

What more can be said?

Gordon

[xylac]

That's incredible! What's the story behind the Roman Era locks? How did you manage to get those?

[MacGyver101]

Thanks for the kind words! Collecting and restoring locks in definitely a passion of mine.

That's incredible! What's the story behind the Roman Era locks? How did you manage to get those?

Those have been acquired over a few years, from a few different sources. I find it fascinating to look back 1800-1900 years, to see some of the early origins of where our modern locks come from.



The latch (on the left) is actually the most impressive piece; it would have held closed a box or small chest. (The top would have been attached to the lid, and the bottom would have fit into the lock... very similar to the latch you'd find today on a briefcase.) It's less common to find them completely intact, like this one: they were often broken off over the years -- either through use, or by people breaking into the chest (or the phallus was often broken off if it survived into more conservative times). This one's also quite decorative; the figure represents the Roman god Mercury (this particular type of small "statue" figure is called a "herm").

The bolt (on the bottom-right) has a number of holes in it; you can see where the pins would have dropped down into it, preventing the lock from opening. (The body of the lock and the pins were wooden, so there are very few examples that have survived, aside from some artifacts from Pompeii.)

The keys at the time came in a few different forms. Pockets weren't a thing then, so keys were either worn around the neck from a leather strap (the larger key), or keys were made into rings that could be worn on a finger. The size of the key was directly proportional to the size of the lock: the larger the lock, the larger the key was needed. (This was one of the huge contributions that Linus Yale made; in early times, larger keys were a status symbol, because it meant that you had something large and valuable that needed locking!)

The keys would be inserted through a hole in the face of the lock and rotated up, until they pushed into the bolt and pushed the pins up and out of the way. (In this sense, they were partly pin-tumbler locks and partly warded locks.) You'd then slide the key to the side, and it would pull the bolt open (releasing the latch), similar to a briefcase lock.

That was a really quick description; not sure if that makes sense, but happy to provide more background or photos, if there's interest.

[xylac]

A briefcase latch like this?
I remember reading that the Egyptians had something similar. Did they get it from the Romans, vice versa, or neither?
That really is a fascinating collection. I find it incredible that the basic design of locks hasn't really changed over so many centuries. Up until about 40 years ago (correct me if i'm wrong), lock design hadn't advanced all that much.

I would very much look forward to seeing a post like this of picking tools and books!

[roadmaster]

Well I liked it very much!
Especially the more older (antique) locks.

You must have collected for several years , thanks for showing!

greets from roadmaster

[MacGyver101]

Sigh... my iPhone's managed to eat this reply twice: third time's a charm.

A briefcase latch like this?

I was actually thinking of something more like this: image. The latch is attached to the "lid", and swings down into the lock. A locking bolt then slides in from the side, the secure the latch.

I remember reading that the Egyptians had something similar. Did they get it from the Romans, vice versa, or neither?

There's actually a surprising amount of controversy around that: in particular, whether the wooden pin-tumbler lock that's frequently attributed to the Egyptians actually existed as early as is claimed. (The models we've all seen pictures of were all made in the last 150 years or so, based on brief descriptions in ancient texts and temple carvings... and there are several competing views on how they might have been constructed, if they did exist.) Scott Klem is an American historian who has spent years researching this, and wrote an excellent book on the topic that I'd highly recommend to anyone who's interested in learning more about ancient lock design.

I find it incredible that the basic design of locks hasn't really changed over so many centuries. Up until about 40 years ago (correct me if i'm wrong), lock design hadn't advanced all that much.

If I were forced to pick a "turning point" for modern lock design, I think I'd put that date closer to about 1750: designs really started evolving then, beyond basic warded locks, and have continued to change a lot over the last 250 years. Bramah's design (1784) was a tremendous revolution in lock construction; his locks are still in production today, essentially unchanged. The Industrial Revolution saw huge changes in locks in the 1800's: lever lock improvements (Chubb's Detector, etc.), the standardization of combination locks for safes and vaults (and, soon after, time locks), disc-tumbler locks (Abloy), and modern pin-tumbler locks (Yale), just to name a few. The early 1900's saw a slew of wafer lock designs, keyway warding, etc..

I find it fascinating to look back on a design problem that hasn't really changed in thousands of years, and see how 100 generations of our ancestors have approached the problem.

[SnowyBoy]

Oooooh I thought I recognised some of those looks.... particularly the ASSA Flexcore double sided cutaway

Really nice collection there mate... if you want to add to the cutaway side I've not successfully cut EVVA's Dual, 3KS, and MCS. Also done a DOM Diamant too

[GWiens2001]

Oooooh I thought I recognised some of those looks.... particularly the ASSA Flexcore double sided cutaway

Really nice collection there mate... if you want to add to the cutaway side I've not successfully cut EVVA's Dual, 3KS, and MCS. Also done a DOM Diamant too

Slight correction for Snowyboy's post - small correction. From a 't' to a 'w'. He has now successfully cut an EVVA Dual, 3KS(+), MCS and a DOM Diamont.



Gordon

[SnowyBoy]

Oooooh I thought I recognised some of those looks.... particularly the ASSA Flexcore double sided cutaway

Really nice collection there mate... if you want to add to the cutaway side I've not successfully cut EVVA's Dual, 3KS, and MCS. Also done a DOM Diamant too

Slight correction for Snowyboy's post - small correction. From a 't' to a 'w'. He has now successfully cut an EVVA Dual, 3KS(+), MCS and a DOM Diamont.



Gordon

Haha sorry yeah, have NOW cut those successfully

[MacGyver101]

This has been happening more and more frequently lately: I'm browsing eBay and see someone who's decided to take one of my pictures...



and use it to make money for themselves on eBay:



(Hopefully bigrob.915 isn't a member here.) This seems to happen once every few months. I've invested a lot of time and money in photography over the years, and it really upsets me when someone thinks they can take that work for free and use it to sell things.

Apologies... just had to vent a bit on that.

[Squelchtone]

I had that happen to my ebay sales as well. I had some 833 padlock photos up on the interwebs and sure enough I'd start seeing them end up on ebay and even on other places. I ended up emailing a seller on ebay to let him know that wasn't cool and to take his own photos instead of using stock ones.

I gotta tell you man, your collection is incredible. I'm just scrolling around going,"have it..", "had it.." , "hey, that was once mine I think.." , "wow" and "omg, I want that!", so much lock porn in one thread..

I've especially always wanted a Joseph Bramah lock mechanism with those Victorian looking keys.

Thank you for keeping it updated for all of us to enjoy,
Squelchtone

[asgardschosen]

Truly incredible collection you got there. For that roman lock, the big key doesn't go to the latch right? It's just an example of what the key could look like.

[Robotnik]

This has been happening more and more frequently lately: I'm browsing eBay and see someone who's decided to take one of my pictures...

and use it to make money for themselves on eBay:

(Hopefully bigrob.915 isn't a member here.) This seems to happen once every few months. I've invested a lot of time and money in photography over the years, and it really upsets me when someone thinks they can take that work for free and use it to sell things.

Apologies... just had to vent a bit on that.

Condolences. While I've never had it happen with lock photos, I do fund my lock and tool purchases with proceeds from reconditioning and selling vintage sports gear, and have definitely had a few of my baseball glove and football photos show up in random peoples' eBay auctions. Aggravating to say the least.

[TRUST]

MacGyver101,
Thank you for sharing; you have a fantastic collection. Your photography is awesome too!