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Other Things
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Here is an older dual control padlock. The military lock above requires the use of both keys in order to free the shackle but the Yale Bicentric lock below can be operated by either key or could be ordered to require both keys to operate. Typically this lock was used for end users who had very large key systems and didn't want the security compromise created by master pinning. One plug was usually KA in all locks and called the Master Key while the other plug was keyed to individual keys. The same mechanism was available in mortise cylinders and knobsets and almost always used different keyways in each plug.
| The US Post Office rents boxes located in the Post Office to the public so they can receive mail there instead of having it delivered to their home or business address. When someone failed to pay the rent for their box this two piece key could be inserted into the keyway from the inside of the box. That would prevent the user from inserting his box key from the outside until he paid the rent. The two piece key here would pivot so that the hook on the end of the handle would fall into a hole in the bottom of the cylinder preventing anyone from pushing it out from the front. |
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Fantasy Locks Starting around 2010 it became common to see padlocks at flea markets and on online auction sites that were actually fantasy locks, i.e.; locks that were appealing but had never really been produced by genuine lock manufacturers and offered for sale to the public. One such lock is shown at the left. This particular lock can be found on an Ebay Store where they are asking a price of $46.50. Shown as our item OT2D, it is intended for balloonists. To the right is item OT2E which can also be found on Ebay at a price around $34.88. |
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Counting (Counter) Locks The Smith & Egge Mfg. Co. (1874-1920) manufactured many items from sewing machines to counting locks. The counting lock was patented in 1877 and versions were made for the US Post Office, Customs and others. At the close of business in 1920 the tooling was transferred to the newly formed Post Office Lock Shop in Washington, DC. In 2008 they were producing around 25,000 per year but only for the USPO. Typically rather hard to find before Ebay, prices ran around $50-75 without a key. In March 2018 a set of 5 sold for $46.01 on Ebay. The PO Lock Shop was closed around 2014 and production moved to CompX. |
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