macs_07 wroteHi Philip,
I am in the same boat in getting a definite deciphering of the meaning of the numbering on these padlocks.
I had started getting rid of excess Battleship & Cruiser padlocks and then another early Battleship became available and I couldn’t resist getting it.
It is the earliest I have come across numbered - 949. Which I take as September 1949. It was interesting to see some small differences in manufacture.
With your collection of padlocks have you noticed and documented any differences that you have come across.
cheers. Ian
Hello to you Ian,
And allow me to thank you for making me so envious of you owning a 1949 Battleship 🙂-:. I am searching for one numbered 359, the year of my birth, but with no success thus far.
In my ‘collection’, I only have 3 Battleships and 3 Cruisers, but your post caused me to finally put into text the cosmetic differnces in some from the others.
To all intents and purposes, the Battleships look the same, as do the Cruisers. But upon closer examination, there are
differences:
Batlleships
My first Battleship, marked CHUBB LONDON on the frontage, is numbered 169 on the rear, and has the CHUBB logo on the keyhole cover.
My second Battleship, marked CHUBB LONDON on the frontage, is numbered 769 on the rear, and also has the CHUBB logo on the keyhole cover.
My third Battleship, marked CHUBB LONDON on the frontage, is numbered 879 on the rear, and has no logo on the keyhole cover, or anywhere else on the lock.
Cruisers
My first Cruiser, marked CHUBB on the frontage, is numbered 990 on the frontage, with no other logos anywhere. (I am assuming that it is 990, as some idiot has drilled a 6mm hole directly where the first number should be. I couldn’t see it for the keyhole cover when I purchased it, but didn’t bother sending it back. Only cost me £12…)
My second Cruiser, marked CHUBB on the frontage, is numbered 980 on the frontage, with no other logo anywhere.
My third Cruiser, marked CHUBB on the frontage, is numbered 279 on the rear, with no other logos anywhere.
For me, this raises some interesting questions: why do the Battleships from 1961 and 1967 have the fish logo on the keyhole cover, whilst the 1978 one does not?
Why is the 1972 Cruiser numbered on the rear of the padlock, and in the same format as the Battleships, whilst the other two Cruisers are numbered on the frontages, and in a different format?
I struggle to find much information on Chubb paldocks. Perhaps you, or another member, have sources?
Regards to you from Scotland,
Philip
[unknown]
