Two Prison Locks

gmanphotog

I recently purchased two locks on ebay, advertised as being prison locks. Both looked to be quite old- possibly from the 18th century (note: neither seller of these two locks made any claims about their age).

The first lock has a keyhole shaped like the number “3” and did not come with a key (I did however buy a 7″ brass key shaped like the letter “S” from the same seller). It however does not seem substantial enough to be a jail lock: the bolt doesn’t seem heavy enough, and the locking mechanism seems too simplistic:

However I did see an auction for a lock from the old Shelby County Jail in Kentucky that had a similar locking mechanism- the big difference being the spring above the deadbolt that mine doesn’t have:

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/326-Kentucky-Jail-Keepers-Lock-and-Key_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1418Q7c39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a4Q7c65Q3a12Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem150299334808QQitemZ150299334808#la-image-1

My question is whether this is actually a jail lock and if not what was it used for, and when does it date to?

The 2nd lock is more substantial and definitely seems like more of a prison lock. It is a working lock with a 2 ¼″ deadbolt and a 9 inch iron key. I bought it from a seller in Australia, who says she bought it 20 years ago, and says she believes it may have been French or German made. From the bite marks in the key it appears to be a lever lock, however the interior is sealed with rivets and I can’t have a look inside.

Any insights you can give about this lock would be also helpful. Thank you for help.

More pictures of these locks and the rest of my lock collection can be found at : http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/568043769OkdadO
It shows my collection of Prison Locks and my motley group of East Indian Figural Locks and statues. I just started collecting so it’s still small.

Paul Prescott

The lock with the ‘ 3 ’ shaped bit is probably French in origin. Almost certainly a chest or furniture lock of some kind.

The other lock I would say is Italian or German and I doubt very much that the key is original to the lock. I also doubt it’s from a prison.

It’s a common misconception that any lock with an old warded or lever lock key is a prison lock, simply because in the public eye such keys are associated with prisons, people forget that warded locks have been around for centuries and lever locks for just over 200 years and the mechanisms used to lock everything from the tiniest wooden box to the largest vault door + everything in between !

gmanphotog

Why do you say the key for the Aussie lock is probably not the original?

Also what do you think this lock was used for and how old are both locks?

Also there is an inscription on the bow of the Key of the Australian lock, but it’s barely legible. It looks like it might A. I. J. A. but it’s too faint to be sure what it says and it shows up even worse in pictures:

Paul Prescott

Just look at the shape of the keyhole in the lock, the key would have been shaped to match it. Also a lock of the type you have there would not have included levers, being european it would have been warded internally and relied the on the shape of the key bit for its ‘ security ’

As to it’s purpose, it’s simply a single sided lock, could have been for a storeroom or cellar etc.

Age is next to impossible to determine as locks of this type were still being made just prior to WWII

gmanphotog

Also here is a picture of the lock with the deadbolt fully extended:

gmanphotog

You’re right Oldlocks, it is a cellar lock. One, very similiiar to mine was advertised on Ebay in August:

Very old monumantal cellar lock

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170254036193&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D170254036193%26_fvi%3D1

Thank you