Push key Yale lock (Patented Jan 7, 1890)

teplegna

I came across this push key Yale lock/key at a consignment shop today and was very drawn to it…it is “very heavy” and looks to be in excellent condition (outside of the lock being difficult to open occasionally). I am curious if anyone has information on this particular lock and if so if you could please contact me with the info…it would be much appreciated.
The lock has on one side “YALE & TOWNE MFG. CO. STAMFORD, CONN. USA.” and on the other side “PATENTED JAN. 7 1890”.
Thank you in advance 🙂

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

The case of that lock is cast iron, which accounts for the weight. Typically called a pin tumbler push key lock because there are other mechanisms adaptable to the push key approach. Your lock was made prior to 1929 when the Trefoil logo was discontinued. The method was copied by a few other manufacturers once the patent expired. The mechanism is fairly easy to bypass since it may be shimmed from the front. A spanner wrench may be used to unscrew the brass ferrule on the shackle toe side and with it removed the retainer for the heel side can be moved to allow disassembly for rekeying. Hope that helps,
BBE.

Rick Fox

Can these locks without the Trifoil logo still be shimmed from the front? I have several of the early ones that I have shimmed open then fitted keys for. I have one in great shape without the Trifoil logo that I can’t seem to shim.

Thanks!
Rick

Dean Nickel

Look in the keyway and see if the pins have rings going across the pins.This would make it almost imposable to shim because of this.

Rick Fox

The shim only reaches about ½ way to the first pin as though it hit some sort of shoulder? No grooves are visable on the bottom pins through the keyway.

I have successfully shimmed them that had grooved top pins. It there a good reference for depth space increments for these and other old locks? I bought an old wooden cabinet full of old blanks about 6 months ago and have since really enjoyed obtaining old locks and fitting keys.

Brian Denyer

Wipe the shim with a bit of 3-in-1 oil and use the pin tumbler depression drill holes
as a guide to pin placement. or take a cut key and place it along the lock to see where the tumblres are located. I think focus and patience are the biggest factors? After going through a small box of these with and without Musroom Tumblers LOL

Rick Fox

I ended up lubing it up with Houdini and banging it around quite a bit in my soft jaw vise with a plastic mallet. Once I banged it around some, it really loosened up and I was able to easily pick and shim it.

I do not currently have any factory cut keys. I just bought some on ebay to see how they measure. I have been making keys by marking the pin chamber locations on blanks. I was just wanting the factory measurements as a check.

Thanks for the great advise, it is exactly what has been working for me.

Rick