Collection display

Fumbles

This is a start of my military lock collection. I have mounted them on a less than decorative board made from leftover stuff found in the garage. talk about low budget. I still need to label the locks for information/facts. This will be part of our American Legion military display at the County Fair.

Doug MacQueen

What county and when is the date? Doug

Fumbles

It is Geauga county, Ohio’s oldest fair. Starts Aug 29 and ends on Labor Day. 5 days of fun.

jeffmoss26

Sounds like fun!

Brian Morland MLA Hon

Nice collection Fumbles, is that lock, the bottom row 4th from the left, a Medeco or S&G/Ingersoll? Or have I got it completly wrong. Any chance of a larger picture…

Fumbles

The lock you asked about is a Miracle high security. I got it in a trade from a military collector 20 years ago. It is marked US on the bottom and has “ DO NOT DUPLICATE” keys. Having trouble dating it because it is a lower cost lock. Most likely from the arsenal storage facility. What I have found is the military won’t dispose of something that can still be used. So this lock is unique, used, with both keys in a small envelope and box marked with a location number. Someone wanted it gone to replace with a Medco perhaps.

wylk

Fumbles wrote
The lock you asked about is a Miracle high security.

One of my favorite plays on words: “If it works well, it’s a Miracle.”

Weren’t these used in the 1960s to 1970s?

[unknown]

Fumbles

I’m sure it is Viet Nam era. Exact dates are difficult to pinpoint with a lot of military items. One has to find the contract first, then use serial numbers from the manufacture. There are millions of defence contracts and nobody is going to drop what they’re doing to look up an out of date contract, if it was’nt 86ed already.
I have seen a Medco, this one looks like it meets the same standard but is not rekeyable. The info I got with the lock was that it was “specific use”. So I assume where a medco type security system could have more than one lock with the same key if needed. This one would have been stand alone with one person only access. Of course a Medco could be keyed for the same purpose, and has a smoother tumbler. Probably why I have it now.
I took the photo with my phone at 2:00 AM. I will get some more with a better camera once the lables are in place.
This is a great site for collectors by the way. Hats off to those who keep it running.

Riyame

This should be of great help to you. http://www.antique-padlocks.com/shared/hs_padlock_history_01.pdf

So if it has an ingersoll cylinder it should have been made in 1969-1970. If it has an AVA cylinder it was made in 70-71.

Do you have any interest in the cast body S&G padlocks? 826s, 831, 833, 951 and the Hi Shear LK-1200 (Made by La Gard IIRC)

Riyame

Sorry, I forgot to add:

In reference to your last post, they can be rekeyed. In the bottom of each shackle hole is a screw that can be taken out to remove the bottom plate to get access to the lock cylinder. Some times they get covered in rust and looks like they are not there. Simply spray a bit of of your favorite cleaning/oiling/degreasing liquid down there and let it sit a few minutes then flush it out.

If if is an AVA cylinder PLEASE BE CAREFUL when taking it out. Mixing up the disc tumblers? is very easy to do and very time consuming to fix.

I have pictures of a gutted one if you are interested.

Adrian Weber

Mixing up the disc tumblers? is very easy to do and very time consuming to fix.

One day I am gone get one! That’s gone be some fun because I AM going to mess it up for sure 😃:

Tom Gordon

Ingersoll still make a similar lock and to disassemble it, you have to know how to remove the shackle.
In the unlocked position, the shackle can be turned to a specific angle and pushed in to a speciific depth, to allow a pin to drop out through a small hole in the body. Looking into a hole to see the end of a pin and then shaking it whilst holding it upside down. Maintaining the angle and depth perfectly all the time is a real skill.
Then you can access the screw.

Adrian Weber

I have a habit of screwing up things by not being concentrated for a second 🙁rofl):

Fumbles

Thanks riyame, That is the info I’m looking for to lable these locks. I was unable to access the site on my own, thats what brought me here. How did you get in?

Riyame

I saw that link a few years ago. There was also one with more info on various S&G padlocks but I couldnt find it this time.

And all I did was google search it to find the link.