What is it?

[Fentonian]

Recovered this today with my nox. Looks like a lock but no key hole? But it also looks like it may pivot open on the pin where the corner is bent up some. Looking inside it you can see it’s hollow. Any help with I.D and/or age would be appreciated. Found at a site that isn’t marked on any of the old maps for my area. I’m thinking 1850s from the looks of the brick and pottery.

 

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[Red-Coat]

Neat. I would be sure it is a padlock, but of a kind known as 'push-key'. That small slit at the bottom accepts a flat key which, when pushed into the hole, releases the lock by virtue of its shape without having to be turned. Like this:



That one is early 1900s but your looks substantially older. Comfortably in the early 1800s I would have thought and perhaps even a bit earlier.

[Note that the key shown above is a non-original replacement that has been modified to fit the lock).

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Cool find !

 

[crashbandicoot]

That is a cool lock,really nice design on it.

 

[Digger RJ]

Recovered this today with my nox. Looks like a lock but no key hole? But it also looks like it may pivot open on the pin where the corner is bent up some. Looking inside it you can see it’s hollow. Any help with I.D and/or age would be appreciated. Found at a site that isn’t marked on any of the old maps for my area. I’m thinking 1850s from the looks of the brick and pottery.View attachment 1997945View attachment 1997946View attachment 1997947View attachment 1997948

Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[oldmxrat]

Very cool piece, congrats!

 

[devldog]

Great save on the old lock. Nice looking piece. Congrat's on a cool find.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Neat. I would be sure it is a padlock, but of a kind known as 'push-key'. That small slit at the bottom accepts a flat key which, when pushed into the hole, releases the lock by virtue of its shape without having to be turned. Like this:

View attachment 1997949

That one is early 1900s but your looks substantially older. Comfortably in the early 1800s I would have thought and perhaps even a bit earlier.

[Note that the key shown above is a non-original replacement that has been modified to fit the lock).

Great information as always RC.

Now that's one beautiful antique padlock find Fentonian!

 

[THing4CSA]

Hi My Fellow TH'er Fentonian
Congrats on the lock find! I do find it amazing all the different types of locks that have been found over the years. I have found a couple of brass locks but not one like yours! I just do not see why anyone would make a lock out of brass as they would be so easy to break. I guess they were made to not rust as the earlier locks did! LOL ;-)

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

Recovered this today with my nox. Looks like a lock but no key hole? But it also looks like it may pivot open on the pin where the corner is bent up some. Looking inside it you can see it’s hollow. Any help with I.D and/or age would be appreciated. Found at a site that isn’t marked on any of the old maps for my area. I’m thinking 1850s from the looks of the brick and pottery.View attachment 1997945View attachment 1997946View attachment 1997947View attachment 1997948

very cool lock, nice find

 

[Lilwiggles]

Recovered this today with my nox. Looks like a lock but no key hole? But it also looks like it may pivot open on the pin where the corner is bent up some. Looking inside it you can see it’s hollow. Any help with I.D and/or age would be appreciated. Found at a site that isn’t marked on any of the old maps for my area. I’m thinking 1850s from the looks of the brick and pottery.View attachment 1997945View attachment 1997946View attachment 1997947View attachment 1997948

Could it be like an old pill box?