need help with old lock

[postalgriff]

dug this old lock today that has US on it, was wondering if anyone can help with age and I'm not sure what it was used for. I was thinking maybe post office or maybe military. hope the picture with the pennies works for size reference, back looks the same as the front. thanks for looking.

 

[72cheyenne]

Here a thread with a lock like yours. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,121610.0.html

PBK's answer from that thread.

Nice relic! It's a warded brass padlock made around 100-110 years ago. Most aren't marked, but Franklin M. Arnall's The Padlock Collector identifies the maker as the E. T. Fraim Lock Co. of Lancaster, PA. Although it's sometimes listed as a lock from a U.S. mail bag, and on eBay some sellers have also called it a military lock, in fact it was a retail item sold in local hardware stores and mail order catalogs— not an official government lock. "US" was just the model name. When RFD mail delivery began, many people bought these "US" locks to use on rural mailboxes. There were also locks with "MAIL," "RR" (for Rural Route), and other official-looking names that were sold for the same purpose.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

There have been others posted here before but I dont know why the search option doesnt work for me all the time.