Obsolete Norwalk key (Ilco 1018, Keil 128), how old is it?

YALE7750

Have a very old Norwalk mortise lock with pin tumbler cylinders that takes an unusual shaped key–it has two 90 degree bends in the middle–like an H with the opposite top and bottom legs removed. From what I can determine, this is equivalent to the Keil 128, Ilco 1018 blank, which are long obsolete. Does anyone have an approximate date when Norwalk was using this keyway?

Thanks,
YALE7750

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

My guess from your description is Norwalk patent 428,174 from 1890.
BBE.

Pschiffe

BBE wrote
My guess from your description is Norwalk patent 428,174 from 1890.
BBE.

See thumbnail of Old Ilco 1018 key blank. The Norwalk Lock Co. of South Norwalk, CT is said to have been in business from 1856-1955.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

YALE7750

BBE wrote
My guess from your description is Norwalk patent 428,174 from 1890.
BBE.

I figured around turn of the century or so—I forgot to add that the cylinders are non-standard diameter— bigger than the standard cylinder but smaller than a master ring cylinder.

[unknown]

Timothy

If be more help if you can post a picture of it. Just remember there are lot of lock that can be change to differ cylinder than using the Norwalk cylinder…..Timothy……

Pschiffe

Timothy wrote
If be more help if you can post a picture of it. Just remember there are lot of lock that can be change to differ cylinder than using the Norwalk cylinder…..Timothy……

BBE posted the various diameters of mortise lock cylinders on another forum a while back:
1. Peanut .750″

Reading Knob Works (stop sign logo) 1.131″
The standard 1.145″
Norwalk 1.250″
Chicago Hardware (NOT Chicago Lock) 1.365″
Corbin Russwin Jumbo 1.510″
Mogul 2.0″[/I]
I am unaware of any extant replacement for the old 1.25″ diameter Norwalk mortise cylinder. As far as I know, only the standard 1.145″, Corbin Russwin 1.510″ and Mogul 2.0″ are currently in production.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

Pschiffe wrote
BBE posted the various diameters of mortise lock cylinders on another forum a while back:
1. Peanut .750″

Reading Knob Works (stop sign logo) 1.131″

The standard 1.145″

Norwalk 1.250″

Chicago Hardware (NOT Chicago Lock) 1.365″

Corbin Russwin Jumbo 1.510″

Mogul 2.0″[/I]
I am unaware of any extant replacement for the old 1.25″ diameter Norwalk mortise cylinder. As far as I know, only the standard 1.145″, Corbin Russwin 1.510″ and Mogul 2.0″ are currently in production.

Pete Schifferli

Medeco did make a Norwalk replacement at one time. I don’t know if it is still in production.
BBE.

[unknown]

Timothy

BBE
That something new about using Medeco cylinder. Only thing was think about trying to find out of what he mean the cylinders are non-standard diameter— bigger than the standard cylinder but smaller than a master ring cylinder. I was think as he talking about Corbin cylinder but Pete gave information about it…..Timothy….

Pschiffe

BBE wrote
Medeco did make a Norwalk replacement at one time. I don’t know if it is still in production.
BBE.

Current Medeco catalog shows only standard, jumbo and mogul mortise cylinders if that means anything.

Pete

[unknown]

YALE7750

Here is the mortise lock, cylinders, and closeup of the maker’s imprint on the deadbolt. This is a double cylinder lock with no stop buttons on the edge, and a latch bolt that is not reversible. I’ve never seen one like this before now. The keyway looks like it would be double-sided, but I cannot be sure since I’ve never seen a cut key for this lock. Compared to the typical Norwalk locks I know about, this is truly an oddball.

Pschiffe

YALE7750 wrote
Here is the mortise lock, cylinders, and closeup of the maker’s imprint on the deadbolt. This is a double cylinder lock with no stop buttons on the edge, and a latch bolt that is not reversible. I’ve never seen one like this before now. The keyway looks like it would be double-sided, but I cannot be sure since I’ve never seen a cut key for this lock. Compared to the typical Norwalk locks I know about, this is truly an oddball.

I’ve seen similar vintage locksets (not Norwalk) installed upside down since the anti-friction latch was not reversible!

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

YALE7750 wrote
Here is the mortise lock, cylinders, and closeup of the maker’s imprint on the deadbolt. This is a double cylinder lock with no stop buttons on the edge, and a latch bolt that is not reversible. I’ve never seen one like this before now. The keyway looks like it would be double-sided, but I cannot be sure since I’ve never seen a cut key for this lock. Compared to the typical Norwalk locks I know about, this is truly an oddball.

The Norwalk patent 420,174 of January 1890 was designed to offer master keying. When a particular application was to be operated by the change key or master key only, both offsets were not broached into the plug. IIRC, the offset left in your cylinder was used when no MK operation was required. The cylinders themselves had an external diameter of 1.250″ which was unique to Norwalk products. The keys were not double bitted as you can see in the patent image below.
BBE.

[unknown]

YALE7750

BBE wrote
The Norwalk patent 420,174 of January 1890 was designed to offer master keying. When a particular application was to be operated by the change key or master key only, both offsets were not broached into the plug. IIRC, the offset left in your cylinder was used when no MK operation was required. The cylinders themselves had an external diameter of 1.250″ which was unique to Norwalk products. The keys were not double bitted as you can see in the patent image below.
BBE.

Thank you BBE for the detailed description—for some reason I had difficulty finding that patent through the usual searches—do you happen to know if the dual broached version was actually produced?

[unknown]

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

YALE7750 wrote
Thank you BBE for the detailed description—for some reason I had difficulty finding that patent through the usual searches—do you happen to know if the dual broached version was actually produced?

Regrettably I don’t have either type in my collection but I have seen cylinders with both sides broached and some with just one side. IIRC, you can see the both sides broached version at the museum in Terryville, CT.
BBE.

[unknown]