D. La Porte 'Patent Darmen'? Please help I am clueless.

benecya

If you haven’t already noticed, I know nothing about locks. I came into possession of an old wardrobe (amoire, coat closet, whatever). I started with the lock which appears to be a warded lock. I am vaguely familiar with who Dietrich La Porte is and just that his business began in 1860 in Voerde but that doesn’t tell me much about the lock itself, therefor it doesn’t give me any clues into the wardrobe. If anyone can give me some background info and if possible any value attributed to the lock… Thank you for your patience & answers!

Brian Morland MLA Hon

Hi Benecya

The dating of furniture from their locks and fittings is a very specialized skill, all I can say is that from its construction my opinion would be that is pre WWII, the lock is not of the warded type but uses levers. A picture of the piece of furniture might also give some context but we might have to wait for an experts opinion who is a specialist in mainland European items.

mhmh

Barmen today is a part of the city of Wuppertal, in the area called “Bergisches Land”, where also Velbert and other cities famous for the German lock industry are located.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Wartburgstra%C3%9Fe,+Wuppertal,+Deutschland&hl=de&ie=UTF8&ll=51.265621,7.182055&spn=0.037379,0.075788&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.106236,77.607422&oq=wartburgstra%C3%9Fe,+wupp&t=h&hnear=Wartburgstra%C3%9Fe,+Barmen+Wuppertal,+Deutschland&z=14

The company website has a history part, although German language only:
http://www.dlp-laporte.de/de/Geschichte

mhmh

It says the company was founded 1860 and soon afterwards started producing locks.

Cheers,
mh

Adrian Weber

This time your translation is quite accurate 🙂-:

If you would post a picture of the actual furniture I could probably help you. I have a friend who is a very talented carpenter, especially when it comes to the old stuff. He can tell you how old the furniture is by just looking at it.

Adrian

mhmh

Adrian Weber wrote
This time your translation is quite accurate 🙂-:

Why, thank you, kind sir!

[unknown]

benecya

To EVERYONE who provided me with background information, viewed, discussed etc…thank you so much.[/B . I’m so sorry…gmail ate my notifications & even after I had stumbled across one, I thought maybe someone was pulling my leg. Idk like I was being hazed or something haha. Even if I was I still owe it to you to respond as you took the time to read my post at all, you deserve more recognition. I’ll be re-reading your replies in the minutes after publishing this one, I’ll also edit my settings so if you guys are still remotely interested in this thread I won’t take 6 months to see and respond to it 🙁 sorry & thanks again you’re all brilliant.

benecya

Here’s a photo (albeit an incomplete one) of the armoire the lock was found in.it wouldn’t fit in the picture without you seeing the Medan that is my room haha. Anyway I think its pretty unique; for the most part the legs are symmetrical to the toptop save for an understated disc shaped foot only about 1/8in tall creating a small gap between the ground and the wood. Dovetail joints, columns and sunburst rosettes. The top had writing on it that I couldn’t make out and doesn’t photograph well but I’ll see if a few swirls can’t be captured. Its got a brass rod on the inside with o hooks (closet), a brass pull not ornamental really. Also in the top are holes burrowed I thought maybe for an attatched crown or pegs that connect the pieces idk but its only on the door’s side facing the ceiling. Sorry if my description is cringe worthy , if I knew the correct way to assess and annotate I probably wouldn’t need help with its identity 😉 thanks

benecya

Brian Morland wrote
we might have to wait for an experts opinion who is a specialist in mainland European items.

Do you know any by chance?

[unknown]