Gas Board lever padlock.

mercurial

I would like to find out about the padlock below.

On the front it is marked “PROPERTY OF THE GAS BOARD” and on the reverse it is marked “WORMALD SHEFFIELD MADE IN ENGLAND 1059 9”. The key is marked “M & M Patent”.

Obviously it was made for & used by the Gas Board, but did it have a specific purpose? The shape & position of the shackle suggests to me that it did. I’m only guessing, but judging by the shape of the shackle, maybe it was designed to secure a valve on a gas line/meter?

Can anybody suggest an approximate age of this lock, and also its value (if any)?

…mercurial

Paul Prescott

Yes, they were used for coin meters. While the locks are quite common the keys are not !

I would read the number as a date code - 10 - 59 .

Tom Gordon

Mine is dated 1932, with a slightly simpler curve to the keyhole and different wording saying manufactured by the Wormald Patent Lock Company Limited, Norfolk Street Sheffield and the rivets are also polished entirely flat. I would suggets that mine is newer than yours. they were very simple mechanisms and your key is probably not original but works because just about anything does.

EinstainToby

I’ve some photos of this lock.
It’s used to lock the lever switch of gas meter.
But, I don’t know how to post on the post.