I think I’ve got to the bottom of the matter at last. Thank you Magpie for the picture of the key. Pretty good quality and assume the ‘L’ shaped cut is to accommodate a ward and does not imply a Tann type guarded lever.
I have now established that Walker who was making safes in Birmingham under his own name eventually became part of the better known safe making company Walker & Worsey.
There is a patent No.1043 registered in 1865 for Walker.J. under the heading of latches, locks, and keys which may well apply to his pick-proof Triumph lock. I also came across the attached advert for Walker & Worsey which includes an illustration of his ‘Compound action Triumph unpickable mortice lock.’
I can now inform my correspondent in South Africa that his Grandfather’s Samuel Withers safe is fitted with the above patented lock although, from the illustration of the key which he sent me, only appears to have half the number of levers which Magpie’s picture shows.
Another satisfied customer - i hope.
