Although my knowledge about antique padlocks has not improved much, i haven’t give up opening the padlock presented a while back.
In the “opening” process, i have received some help from a good friend, although he is not a locksmith either.
After various attempts, he manufactured a raw key. So here is what he did so far:
As one can see, the key has 3 separate registers, while the register has a plain shape. I have been told that the second register is from the dial complication.
Although the key fits perfectly and turns completely, and every time it reaches 12 o clock it seems like it tensions a spring because the dial hand gets tensioned too and it’s hard to move. The positions it seem to trigger something is 9:30 or 4:30, but it definitely feels like wheels gear between 4 and 5. Then after you turn the key from 12 to 3, it sounds like it snaps or like it should open, but in fact it doesn’t.
It may well be yet another trick, or a number of key turns, or the hand should be set in various positions prior to opening and during opening or simply the mechanism inside is broken.
I don’t know if other collectors have arrived to a madness point when they feel like they would better leave it as is or break it down. I admit i have also considered thinner the rivets and dismantle the face to see if there is something broken inside. The “only” downside is that it ruins the originality, although new rivets can be made, but nobody wants that, am i right ?
Thank you for your attention!
/F
