17th Century New England American Plate Locks... any info??

Savinghistory

I recently got these 2 old door locks out of a Maine estate. They are both in working condition, but only 1 has they key. I looked online and only found one reference to these types of locks which referred to them as plate locks. They seem very interesting and very primitive in design. Does anyone know anything about these? Are they rare? Do they have any value?

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

Savinghistory wrote
I recently got these 2 old door locks out of a Maine estate. They are both in working condition, but only 1 has they key. I looked online and only found one reference to these types of locks which referred to them as plate locks. They seem very interesting and very primitive in design. Does anyone know anything about these? Are they rare? Do they have any value?

Try looking for Stock Locks or Banbury Locks as that is what some call them.
BBE.

[unknown]

Scott Klemm

Surprisingly I found the best description of a plate lock in a book on doorknobs - Antique Builders’ Hardware knobs and Accessories by Maud L. Eastwood (1982). Below is a copy of that page. Incidentally, I think a 17th century date is too early.

Doug MacQueen

Locks of this type are relatively easy to make for a skilled blacksmith. Time consuming but not difficult. From what I have read, the basic design is French and goes back to the 15th Century at least. That is not say those locks are anywhere that old. How old is the house? Does it pre-date the French and Indian War? Ed Donaldson has a website of antique lock hardware he sells and would be the one to ask about value. Scott, I have just found that James Patterson was listed as a lock maker in Pittsburgh in the 1815 directory. Doug

Scott Klemm

Doug MacQueen wrote
Locks of this type are relatively easy to make for a skilled blacksmith. Time consuming but not difficult. From what I have read, the basic design is French and goes back to the 15th Century at least. That is not say those locks are anywhere that old. How old is the house? Does it pre-date the French and Indian War? Ed Donaldson has a website of antique lock hardware he sells and would be the one to ask about value. Scott, I have just found that James Patterson was listed as a lock maker in Pittsburgh in the 1815 directory. Doug

Interesting. Keep up your good research! The lock and key collecting hobby needs more people like you. I think it’s sad that for many they’re only interested is how much can I get for my lock.
Scott

[unknown]

Richard Phillips

Doug MacQueen wrote
Locks of this type are relatively easy to make for a skilled blacksmith. … the basic design is French and goes back to the 15th Century at least. That is not say those locks are anywhere that old. … James Patterson was listed as a lock maker in Pittsburgh in the 1815 directory. Doug

Many Huguenot French/Dutch, and also German Protestant immigrants went to America and made European-style locks, mainly from 17C onwards, centred on Pennsylvania. The simplified style of these suggests later rather than early, so first half of 19C probably about right. Not rare, but not surviving in large numbers.

You would need to ask an American antique dealer if it has any value; indeed, as suggested, try EdDonaldson.
And btw - excellent clear photos, witha scale. Well done and thanks.

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