Padlock J.W Harris Blackburn

momma

Hi, I am in Australia and don’t consider myself a padlock or key collector. But as I have quite a few of both ~ I think I must be a collector.
I have 2 of these locks, stamped on the shackle is JW Harris Blackburn, & the body has GEB. Now there is a suburb called Blackburn in Australia but a local locksmith suggests England. Also GEB is Grain Elevators Board in Oz, but could be something else. The shackles are brass or bronze, not steel. Approx 3 ⅜″ long x 2 ⅛″ across shoulders Weighs 318g or 11.21oz
Any advice appreciated…… momma

Paul Prescott

An all brass / bronze lock is usually made for one of two purposes :

1 - High resistance to corrosion (such as for use at sea)

2 - Use in explosive environments (brass striking brass will not generate a spark)

I do recall that flour is highly volatile and the dust suspended in the air can explode, perhaps the same is true of grain ??

macs_07

I agree with Oldlock re the sparking - although rather than flour dust just plain grain dust. In the right mixture highly volatile.
Also easy to produce - sand cast.
I also have an example of this padlock and a pretty good selection of Australian railways, I would speculate that it was made by the railways as it has a very good resemblence to an early 1P padlock. Also most grain silos were built along railway lines. Ease of loading and transport to the docks etc.
I will dig up the railways padlock and post a picture.

Dean Nickel

There are several cases of grain elevators exploding and taking it and anything near by out and leaving a crater. One destroyed a small town about 80 years back before they had air cleaners or fans to get the dust out. So YES grain dust IS explosive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_elevator#Elevator_explosions

Parautoptic

Dear All

Could it be (insert name of town beginning with G) Electricity Board?

(wild guess)

macs_07

These two padlocks are basically the same size, rivet positions are the same etc. Probably made by the Victorian Railways down at Newport. They were an absolute powerhouse of industry covering all trades. This is one of their earlier padlocks and a bit rough but when you compare it to some of the later ones the improvement in quality is pretty good.

The reference to -J W Harris Blackburn - I think there was a locksmith by that name but I can’t verify it. Strange though, Blackburn is some distance from any rail link that would service grain transport.

Both have a very simple but robust mechanism -
GEB has 2 levers plus ward.
VR has 1 lever plus ward.

Ian McColl

Mr Harris lived in Blackburn , Victoria , Australia, he was a locksmith but didn’t make locks. I guess your lock is stamped with his name (which would give me the impression he worked on the lock) I met the man when I was about 14 and he passed away before I became an apprentice in 1978.

Ian McColl

Tom Gordon

it just amazes me sometimes what detailed and specific knowledge it is possible to unearth when you have the right people onboard…

macs_07

Agreed Tom, a wealth of knowledge and skill.

How about Mr Harris being the locksmith responsible for the maintenance of the locks for the GEB and his stamp was included to advertise this. I have seen at least 8 of these locks and they all have the same markings, however I have never seen a original key.