Seal Padlocks

Brian Morland MLA Hon

A couple of seal padlocks from the collection. The first is a Douglas design made by Wallsall Locks and Cart Gear,

and the other a Hobbs made Tucker and Reeves design.

These are commonly referred to as customs and excise padlocks. There are a couple of points that I would like to raise. The first is: Is there any knowledge as to other departments, other than Customs and Excise, usage of this type of lock. The other is does anybody have examples of the paper seals that were used. Its rumoured that these were complicated designs like may be found on banknotes.

Dean Nickel

The US IRS use to use them on rum shipments when they hit dirt. Also I hear that they were used on document containers when they were in transient.

Tom Gordon

The seals that I have seen have been rather cheap looking and not very complicated.

Brian Morland MLA Hon

Tom – Do you recall if it was a Douglas or a Tucker and Reeves. I’m convinced that other government departments as well as other Governments used these locks. A few years back Josiah Parks put out a calendar in which one of the photos was of a Douglas and described as a Foreign Office specification lock used on diplomatic bags. There is another Douglas in the collection that came from one of the Royal Navy’s WW1 ordinance factories.

I’m sure there must have been many variations of the paper seals. Were the plain ones you had seen watermarked and/or serial numbered and with a space for a signature?

Tom Gordon

To be honest my memory is shady on them as it was a long while ago but I believe that they were serial numbered and very little more. I have no idea on the watermarking.

Brian Morland MLA Hon

This is a picture of the Union calendar image, which we framed a few years back, and now graces the office wall.

The description reads – ‘Brass Padlock, English, 19th Century. A high security fitting. Eight levers. Designed to Foreign Office specification for locking diplomatic bags. Josiah Parkes Collection’.
Hopefully other members/visitors/collectors can add to this thread with other versions of their seal padlocks.

ambirr

I have recently obtained this lock and am very interested to see if anyone can tell me how old it is. The markings on it are as follows . Top has the Crown with an E inside (Is this Elizabeth 1st ?). It then has I.R and Excise, then Douglas Patent, then the Makers name Tucker & Reeve London Makers. The lock itself measures 14 cms (approx 6 inches) x 8.5 cms (3 & ½ inches) is numbered 609 on both the key and the front. It is made of solid Brass. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Tom Gordon

Queen Liz 1 was 1533 – 1603
Queen Liz 2 was born in 1926
so no I am afraid it isnt Liz1

Paul Prescott

Probably Edward the VII. 1901 to 1910 Pictures would be nice to add to the resources here.

ambirr

Here are the pictures. There is no way that the crown is Kings Crown. Have a look see.

Syd Waterman

Hi.
Probably just a typo-The padlock was manufactured by Tucker & Reeves.– not Reeve.
Just out of interest when do you think the lock was made?

Patent

ambirr

I have no idea, thats why I asked on the forum. Any help would be appreciated

Syd Waterman

OK. I understand that you have no idea as to the age of the padlock.
I was only trying to understand your comment in reply to Oldlock -
“There is no way that the crown is Kings Crown”.
I would go along with Oldlock’s dating King Edward V11,or possibly
late Victorian(1900).
Patent.

ambirr

I deal mainly in Militaria and in this field there are definite ways to recognise the age of Badges i.e. It would have a Victorian Crown, A King Edward through to King George Vi and the Queen Elizabeths crown. All the shapes of these crowns are very different, and the crown on the lock is not one that I recognize. Also with King Edward the Intitials inside the crown are normally EVIIR similarily George V is GVR and George VI is George VIR. Elizabeth is EIIR. The reason I am stumped is the strange looking Crown and the E inside. Hence I thought it may be Elizabeth 1st. I dont know if Tucker and Reeves were in existence in the late 1500’s, hence my query. I thank you all for your patience with me in (for me anyway) a completely new field.

Syd Waterman

Thanks for your reply.
Let’s play detective!

Tucker & Reeves first patent for a lock mechanism was 1853.
The Douglas Patent was 1889.
T&R disappeared some time in the 1920’s ( I think)
The E inside the crown is a reference to “Excise” and not the Monarch.
The same crown appears on excise ( Customs) locks used in Queen Victoria’s
reign also into the 1930’s!
Hopes this helps .

Patent

ambirr

Many thanks, It all makes sense to me now. So the lock is basically approximately 100 years old, and not from the Elizabethan period. Again thanks to all who replied.

Sooze

Can anyone tell me if this is a “seal” padlock or give me any info on history? Patent says June 9, 1874 and lock is very heavy but there’s no key.
Thanks.

Timothy

I got this from looking up in Google under Images for US Customs Padlock. Here what the whole lock look like with key….
BRASS OBSOLETE U.S. CUSTOMS LOCK AND KEY. MADE BY I.S. & R. SUPPLY CO., NEW YORK PATENTED JUNE 9,1874. XXX 1500 MARKED ON BACK OF SHACKLE. KEY LOOKS OLD BUT DO NOT KNOW IF ORIGINAL BUT IT OPENS THE LOCK. THERE IS A SPLIT IN THE BARREL APPROXIMATELY ¼″ LONG. PROBABLY HARD TO FIND A KEY FOR THIS LOCK. BACK DOOR HAS SPRING TENSION AND WILL STAY SHUT IF POSITIONED CORRECTLY. LOCK LOOKS TO BE IN GOOD USED CONDITION BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE KEY AND LOCK HAS BEEN POLISHED. BODY OF LOCK MEASURES 2 ¾″ WIDE BY 1″ DEEP. 3 ¼″ BOTTOM OF LOCK TO TOP OF SHACKLE. - eBay (6 March 2011)
This seal padlock had a high bid of $725 (Plus $7.80 Shipping).

Adrian Weber

I do not like it when people polish old padlocks like that and ruin their patina but nevermind.
I myself would not spend that much money on a padlock but some people do.