french key collection info

icemandan

these keys are part of the collection i have, they were in a bag marked “french” the sizes range from approx. 3 - 4 ⅛ inch’s

Brian Denyer

They do have that French flavor with the ‘shoulder stop’ way up at the keyhead end of the shaft. But I have seen British key catalogs with similar designs during the mid to late Victorian period. Thes are mass produced caste keys, which are becoming harder to find these days. At least your keys are clean. They are simple Warded mechanisms but effective for their use in those days.

Brian ……………………………………….

Tom Gordon

The decoration on the shaft is entirely decorative. The key was stopped by the rear of the lockcase acting apon the crank and shaping of the bit. These are all or mainly french keys

Brian Denyer

From a design viewpoint they are stylisticaly French.
However the design was also produced by the Brit’s,
based on their lock/key catalogs of the Victrian period.
I don’t believe ‘ipso facto’ based soley upon visual examination
they can, nor should be, absolutely declared as French keys.

There are some early Canadian government Fort keys I worked on
for restoration. They are based on early French and British key designs
of the same era. As we know, Canada was settled/colonized by both the
French and British Empires.
I couldn’t brand the Keys as being either French or British
because they were made in Canada, based on the original
printed records.

So from a viewpoint of lacking direct factual evidence I submit
a generalization and strong probability that the keys in the photo’s
may be Bi-lingual or of a mixed-heritage.
At least they have both Dual-Nationality and additioanly
have Landed Immigrant Status by residing in our great nation of Canada LOL

Brian……………………………………………….

Tom Gordon

There is always going to be a merging in style, of French and English in Canadian artifacts. I am not sure whether the victorian cataloques that you have seen were printed for the canadian market but I am afraid that my experience of English keys and locks and literature is that almost all of these “french” keys are fairly clearly not British. I happen to own the original, lead, pattern makers patterns for a number of british cast keys (from a long shut down company). Both the exact style of the bows and the bits scream French to me (although I obviously never utter the F work in England :-)
Cheers
Tom

Gerry

this keys also could be german, early 20th century,
its all the same, german, french, austria a.s.o….
they were used for doors and furnitures, very simple
locks.