Doug MacQueen This drawing shows the mechanism of the “Fancy Diebold Lock” posting with the sculptured plate removed. See also the posting in this section on the “Peerless” Diebold lock which followed closely on the heels of this one. Both show the anti manipulation bracket that holds the fence up. This lock is sometimes known as the "Packman "lock.
wylk I was able to answer my own question, this is US patent 115,231 (1871). The “Pac-Man” arrangement appears to be a way to thwart the “micrometer” attacks of the era, is this a correct assumption?
Doug MacQueen The answer is both yes and no. In this patent the anti-manipulation feature is the bracket which pivots below the wheel and controls the fence/ lever from contact with the wheel pack. Sargent’s roller or revolving bolt, patented in 1866, was a method of preventing straight end pressure transferring back to the fence against the wheelpack, this also being an anti-manipulation feature. Another Rochester lock designer, Charles Fletch patents in 1867 a double roller bolt lock (first pac man design) and then a revised version later in 67 or 68. The Fletch patents dates have been found on early Diebold Kienzle locks so there is no doubt where Diebold got the idea. What is not known is whether Fletch was connected with Sargent.
Doug MacQueen Sorry it was Flesch not Fletch. Here are the two patented locks, 62,181 Feb 19, 1867 and 71,373 Nov, 26, 1867. I found these dates on a Diebold Kienzle safe dial several years ago. No examples of these locks are known to exist, unfortunately. Doug
Doug MacQueen This is the next lock in the evolution of what was to become known as the Diebold Peerless. Julius Hintz’s improved version, pat.no. 103,183 May 17, 1870, of Flesch’s second patent lock. It was found that tipping the earlier lock on it side would overcome the anti-manipulation lever allowing the fence to drop onto the wheels. This is another very rare lock as another version came right on its heels. If I remember correctly this patent date was also seen on a Diebold Kienzle safe.
wylk Doug MacQueen wroteHere are the two patented locks, 62,181 Feb 19, 1867… Minor correction, that should be 62,191. [unknown]
Doug MacQueen Thanks. This next patent by Diebold and Obernesser has changed the pac man bolt mechanism. Strangely the anti-manipulation mechanism is missing. In this patent a second lock for fire safes is shown. At some point the names “Peerless” and ’Eagle" will be used for the better bronze and simpler cast iron versions. Doug
Doug MacQueen Here are two early D&K “Peerless” locks found in the Harry Miller Collection. As you can see someone put the one back in the showcase upside down. The locks are almost identical but I think the one with the missing parts to be the earlier. Both of these would be before the Obernesser May 23 1871 patent at the start of this thread. During that period patents typically would take a few months to approve not years like today. I did find evidence that the “Peerless” lock was introduced by D&K in 1870 so that would make these two the earliest “Peerless” locks known to exist.
Doug MacQueen Here are two early D&K “Peerless” locks found in the Harry Miller Collection. As you can see someone put the one back in the showcase upside down. The locks are almost identical but I think the one with the missing parts to be the earlier. Both of these would be before the Obernesser May 23 1871 patent at the start of this thread. During that period patents typically would take a few months to approve not years like today. I did find evidence that the “Peerless” lock was introduced by D&K in 1870 so that would make these two the earliest “Peerless” locks known to exist.
Doug MacQueen Here are two “Eagle” cast iron model locks, one is from the HMC, the other found on a D&K safe many years ago. Note they are not the same as the one in Harry’s does not have the ‘0’ change feature, making it the older of the two.
