1700s Miniature pad lock ?

[button king]

Found this yesterday with my Spanish cob, just cleaned it off and saw its a lock anyone know anything about it??

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[mangum]

You are correct, I have found one exactly like it. Home guard Dan IDed it as being colonial. Nice find!

 

[button king]

Why would they make this so small it's the size of a quarter lol?

 

[ARC]

Spice chest lock... Tea box lock... Sugar box lock.

 

[button king]

Really? Never would have thought of that

 

[MuckyBottles]

Looks like a rotted smokehouse lock to me (1800s)

 

[ARC]

Realistically... would have been used on anything...
There is no absolute way to tell..
Chalk it up as "padlock".

 

[Ahab8]

I have one exactly like it somewhere. I was shocked at how tiny it was. I'm gonna have to look for that thing

 

[wecoyote]

Maybe used for a girls diary?

 

[Ahab8]

Found that thing. Next to a dime for size. I never had a clue how old it was

 

[button king]

Nice man looks just like the one I have

 

[Doc Arey]

Maybe it was for a tiny smokehouse!

 

[Steve in PA]

Yep, i have dug quite a few of those. I believe they were in use from the 1770s to about 1820 based on the sites were I have found them.

 

[ironhorse]

Yep, i have dug quite a few of those. I believe they were in use from the 1770s to about 1820 based on the sites were I have found them.

I'm right there with ya , I've had very similar finds from sites of the same age

 

[BuckleBoy]

Yep, i have dug quite a few of those. I believe they were in use from the 1770s to about 1820 based on the sites were I have found them.

I agree. They seem to be datable to a pretty narrow range. Late Colonial period. I've dug 4 of them in 23 years... I call them "mickey mouse style locks."

Congrats!

 

[CRUSADER]

Padlock - UK Finds Database -
Circa 18th C, according to the UKDFD.

 

[button king]

Thanks crusader for the info on the lock!