Beard & Brother Type 3 Time Lock

Jack Sullivan · 2011-11-13T21:18:14+00:00

Needless to say I was thrilled to read John Erroll’s comments (posted in the ‘Unknown Type’ thread) about my lock this AM. I also now have a reason to get back into contact with the Miller collection with my closeup, in-focus pix for comparison with their lock. Hopefully I can get comparison pix from them for authentication purposes. I have two questions relating to my present situation: How does a collector go about establishing a value on an item when only one other is known to exist & that one is locked up in a collection? The reasons for this are both establishing a value for insurance purposes & as a basis for negotiating a selling price. As I have no real affection for inanimate objects, how do I go about finding & contacting collectors who would be interested in purchasing this lock? I suppose the answer to question one is ‘whatever another collector is willing to pay for it.’ Without some kind of benchmark reference figure, though, I would be hesitant to list it on eBay even with a substantial reserve figure. Any inputs on this would be appreciated. Thanks! Jack

Doug MacQueen

Of course you can use the pictures. They are recent and that was the only Beard or Mosler/Beard timelock that I could find in the collection. Doug

Jack Sullivan

Doug MacQueen wrote
Of course you can use the pictures. They are recent and that was the only Beard or Mosler/Beard timelock that I could find in the collection. Doug

I may not use them to avoid confusing potential bidders. But fill me in on some details: you were actually at the Miller Collection & took pix of these there? When I asked Ms. Craycraft for info & pix of a Beard lock she sent me pix of an 1887 Mosler.

[unknown]

Doug MacQueen

Yes, I took the pictures there very recently. Ever since I first took a timelock servicing course at Lockmasters back in the 80’s, I have taken pictures of the collection when I get the chance. Unfortunately taking them through the glass case makes it difficult. Doug

Jack Sullivan

Doug MacQueen wrote
Yes, I took the pictures there very recently. Ever since I first took a timelock servicing course at Lockmasters back in the 80’s, I have taken pictures of the collection when I get the chance. Unfortunately taking them through the glass case makes it difficult. Doug

Neat. Was it labeled as a Type 3? I don’t see a key in the keyway but I assume they have one. I’m hoping that they can do the same type of outside-the-glass closeup photography that they did with these pix they sent me of their Mosler 1887. These were done by their in-house media person. Nice shiots!

[unknown]

Doug MacQueen

No it wasn’t labeled at all. Nor are most the locks in the collection, unfortunately. There are about 25 glass gondola cases with a very rough ballpark estimate of 800 locks. Doug

Jack Sullivan

Doug MacQueen wrote
No it wasn’t labeled at all. Nor are most the locks in the collection, unfortunately. There are about 25 glass gondola cases with a very rough ballpark estimate of 800 locks. Doug

That’s too bad. I wish I had known about your pix before I listed my Type 3 on eBay. I’m also disapointed that my inquiry to them about their Type 3 only got me pix of the similar Mosler 1887 & no info on their Type 3. It’s not hard to imagine a corporate collection like this one being sadly disorganized, such as the lack of labeling & what I would assume is a lack of a central inventory list or catalog. Such a valuable collection deserves to be better organized & presented but, like most corporartions, historical collections probably have a very low priority in their scheme of things.

[unknown]

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