Warr & Fiesley, Melbourne + Hobbs Co London

momma

I have a brass cabinet lock which has a crown logo with “V.R Patent Lever” stamped into the brass. The original key has “WARR & FIESLEY MELBOURNE”
I am assuming Melbourne Australia, I cannot find any info on locksmiths or lock manufactures in Australia except for Jacksons of Launceston.
Does anyone have any ideas on where to search or where to ask. There isn’t one Google reference to WARR & FIESLEY
Thanks momma

PS Another brass cabinet lock that was with the above is stamped “Hobbs & Co London” Lever Machine Made.
In the Gazetteer of Lock & key makers by Jim Evans, it states “The company started in 1851 and was formally registered as Hobbs and Co. in 1852. But by 1855 it had become Hobbs, Ashley and Co.”
Does this infer that the Hobbs & Co on my lock means it is pre 1855????…….momma

Paul Prescott

WARR & FIESLEY MELBOURNE - could have simply been an ironmongers who sold the lock and had the keys stamped with their name.

Hobbs & Co, is by far the most common marking the company used, no it does not mean your lock is pre 1855, it’s far more likely to be later as they marked all their locks up until the company was taken over that way.