Brass Keyhole Cover With Crossed Skeleton Keys And F

[Spats]

Can anyone identify this brass keyhole cover? The dime at left is for size reference. Sorry for the poor photography but hope you can see the details. Crossed skeleton keys, an F and a double loop at bottom. Any information on manufacturer and approximate age is appreciated. ............ ....Just added a second picture that may be a little better.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[trikikiwi]

Other examples here

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/399306-antique-padlock-plz-identify.html

Unfortunately, no conclusion.

 

[Spats]

Thanks triki. Guess this one will be a mystery for now. Your response allowed me to see the cover on a lock so I know more than I did. May never know who made it. Thanks again for your help.

 

[DCMatt]

Here is one:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/399306-antique-padlock-plz-identify.html

DCMatt

 

[Anduril]

You may have better luck identifying the padlock key hole, rather than the keyhole cover, or even the rest of the padlock. (?)
DCMatt posted a good link for antique padlocks.

The closest matching keyholes I see uploaded there are locks made by Wilson-Bohannan.
Those keyholes there are very "close", but not an exact match.
As such, my personal "working theory" is WB.

I am assuming of course that the lock that originally went with your partial keyhole cover piece is the same as that posted by trikiwiki (above).

 

[trikikiwi]

Is it just me?
or, is no one else reading the thread from the beginning, and the seconding ...?

 

[Anduril]

Is it just me?
or, is no one else reading the thread from the beginning, and the seconding ...?

It's an interesting ID problem, for sure.
Spats has what looks to be a piece of a padlock keyhole cover, of which at least one other example (complete lock) also appears in this thread.
The problem is neither one identifies the manufacturer - which you would think would be (er, uh, um.. "easy") since the lock cover design is somehwhat unique, ornate and descriptive.
But not so, to my knowlege anyway.

I'm a bit of a lock guy in my spare time (as a hobby), and I don't recognize this padlock cover at all.
I am just wondering out loud whether the manufactuer could be identified by the key blank (as indicated by the keyhole shape!), rather than the markings on the padlock cover.
My guess is "yes", but I can't find the key blank either, other than the WB's, which while close, are not a perfect match. Unless I'm missing something really obvious here.??

 

[lockster99]

I know Fraim, as in E.T. Fraim Lock used just an "F" on a few of their older locks. The company does date back to at least the 1880's.....just a guess.

 

[Spats]

This keyhole cover was found at the site of an antebellum plantation house that stood until the 1960s. I have found several padlocks, keyhole escutcheons, and keyhole covers including MW&Co (1868-1913) and W&CO (1845-1878). I was trying to date this one to determine if it was made before or after the Civil War, but looks like this one will not be solved. Thanks all for your input and help.

 

[lockster99]

"F" padlock

Knew I had one somewhere in the hoard of locks. Almost the same design, an "F" with embellishment around it. What is odd about this lock is that it's all, I believe, copper with a brass finish...even the hasp. Still no help with the manufacturer unless they could be early E.T. Fraim. Sorry.

 

[Anduril]

And there goes my theory about being able to ID the manufacturer by the key blank.