Possibly a Civil War era padlock?

Coily

Hi,new member here,I post on Treasurenet and someone suggested I post this here. I dug this a few days ago near the site where an old house stood and Civil War relics have been found. It wasn’t very deep but I think the refuse from where the old house was possibly was pushed down a hill in back of the house. I plan on putting it in an electeolysis bath at some point after the holidays. Would a measurement help inidentifying this padlock? Thanks in advance for comments.

Scott Klemm

Yes, it’s possible it could date from the Civil War era, although without any visible marking one cannot know for sure. This type of padlock is known as a wrought iron or “smokehouse” padlock.
One company known for making this type of padlock was Davenport, Mallory & Co, later Mallory, Wheeler & Co. of New Haven, Connecticut. If it was indeed manufactured by this company, it could be dated anywhere between 1861 to 1910.

Coily

Scott Klemm wrote
Yes, it’s possible it could date from the Civil War era, although without any visible marking one cannot know for sure. This type of padlock is known as a wrought iron or “smokehouse” padlock.
One company known for making this type of padlock was Davenport, Mallory & Co, later Mallory, Wheeler & Co. of New Haven, Connecticut. If it was indeed manufactured by this company, it could be dated anywhere between 1861 to 1910.

Thank you for the reply Scott,very informative. Is there any way for me to just clean the brass part of this lock to get an ID on it for now? We live on Tennesse,was there a manufacturer closer to home that made these types of locks perhaps?

[unknown]

Scott Klemm

I would just use some fine steel wool. Your goal is not to make it shine, but just to remove enough of the corrosion to reveal any markings below. I looked at an enlargement of your photo, and thought I saw something that looked like a W. If this isn’t just my imagination, it would suggest that your lock was made by Mallory, Wheeler & Co. between 1865 and 1910. Hope this helps.

Coily

Scott Klemm wrote
I would just use some fine steel wool. Your goal is not to make it shine, but just to remove enough of the corrosion to reveal any markings below. I looked at an enlargement of your photo, and thought I saw something that looked like a W. If this isn’t just my imagination, it would suggest that your lock was made by Mallory, Wheeler & Co. between 1865 and 1910. Hope this helps.

Scott well voila,lo and behold I was able to scrape off enough crud to reveal the word PATENT,no other letters though that I see.

[unknown]

Donnie

Hello all, it is just my humble opinion, but I think the lock has more appeal,at least to me, if it is left in the original state as it was found..Any attempt to restore this lock to any kind of respectable condition will possibly upset you as if all the “rust” is removed,,,you will be left with a carcass of sorts & a brass drop..
I’m probably in a minority here, just the way I see it………………….Donnie

Coily

Donnie wrote
Hello all, it is just my humble opinion, but I think the lock has more appeal,at least to me, if it is left in the original state as it was found..Any attempt to restore this lock to any kind of respectable condition will possibly upset you as if all the “rust” is removed,,,you will be left with a carcass of sorts & a brass drop..
I’m probably in a minority here, just the way I see it………………….Donnie

I kind of like it left crusty too. You can still see the shape it originally was. I think sometimes too much electrolysis can do more damage to the integrity of relics than help them. In any event,this one is going in the bookcase.

[unknown]