This most definitely is the same company. It was started in 1828 and was run by various descendants of Charles Smith until 1940. A detailed article about the lock maker is in the Lock Collector issue 30 January/March 2011 starting on page 7.
http://www.readbag.com/chrisbelcher-lock-collector-issue-30
I own four British made prison locks, including a warded Charles Smith & Sons lock. British lockmakers were far more likely to use lock wards in prison locks, though usually the wards were used to create master key priviledges. American prison lock manufacturers very rarely used wards or master keying. I have over 40 prison locks and none of my American locks have wards or master keying. Not that it isn’t done- I’ve seen some Civil War locks in museums with wards, but as far as I can tell it was wasn’t done much in the US are 1870. Folger Adam’s website for instance almost gleefully proclaims that they don’t use master keying- and never have.
My Charles Smith on the other hand is totally warded, which is unusual even for British locks.
I also have a red Hobbs prison lock from Ireland which has quite a few levers (7 if I recall correctly) and very extensive master keying. In fact I don’t think my key has full privileges. The lock may be out of whack (indicator window definitely doesn’t work), but I am only intermittently able to double throw it- usually on the 3rd or 4th try after locking and unlocking it. I’m thinking I’m having problems with it because my key doesn’t sufficiently privileges. The use of 7 levers or more is another feature that British locks employ that you don’t see on American Locks. American locks typically have 5 lever, 6 tops. But American locks typically use die cast metals as oppose the sheets of steel used in the Uk.
But British locks are just as likely to have as few as 3 levers. My gray Gibbons has only 3 levers, but includes master keying. Gibbons along with Chubb were the two top English prison lockmakers. The History of the Lock website has 3 Gibbons on display. Mine is very similar to the beige one from Corby Prison.
http://www.historyoflocks.com/gib001.html
One of my prison lock from Britain was very likely never used in the UK at all. I have a Gibbons Electro Jamb mounted prison lock from Canada. From all of my research, I have found no indication that this class of lock is used or was ever used in the UK. If you look at current detention hardware websites in the Uk, I don’t see any “Jamb mounted locks” listed. But the lock said it was manufacture in the UK, as are it’s electronic components. The lock is most similar to the Folger Adam series 50 Electro Mechanical locks in size, weight, and use of levers as opposed to a key cylinder, like the Folger 120 series. The key even has more than a passing resemblance to a Folger lever key. I have Folger key that ironically enough has almost the same key cut.
My fifth British lock is the one that most resembles current locks in service in the UK. It’s similar to the gray Gibbons in that it has a auto slam deadbolting feature- but the modern blue lock sounds like a rifle when the slam lock engages and spins the white indicator handle around. I do not have a key for it- and I have never seen a modern British Prison lock key on display. The Brits are quite anal about not them not being photographed and there was a recent row in the UK when a television crew recorded one. But from the key hole it appears the modern keys aren’t as thick and probably not as long.
I’ve never opened this lock up- the recoil intimidated me when I first got it. Now it’s mounted on the wall. But I do intend to have a look see one day at it’s innards. I’ll post them when I do.
Here is a full album of my British Locks- and their innards!
http://s968.photobucket.com/user/gmanphotog/library/English%20Lock%20Collection
