Lock Lock, who's there..........

gameswat · Post by **gameswat** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:30 pm

Pulled this lock out of an old English machine years ago, where it shouldn't have been. Was recently sorting locks and only after cleaning did I notice the extra stamping. Anybody care to approx date this? Ha, just need to find the right machine to house it now.

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 4:48 pm

Well I don't know about anyone else, but I have a hunch it might be 1952.
Coronation year of Elizabeth II.

hutto · Post by **hutto** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:14 pm

priceless

highfield · Post by **highfield** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:44 pm

Looks like a 1952 lock to me

speedwell · Post by **speedwell** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:39 pm

Now then. Queen Elizabeth became Queen on the 6th February 1952 immediately on the death of George the 6th.She was not crowned until the 2nd June 1953. So although it says 1952 could it actually mean 1953?!!!!

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:52 pm

Exactly, you don't need a coronation to succeed to the throne so for the sake of the United Kingdom and furniture locks there would be no need to wait for a tin of condensed milk.

youngerap · Post by **youngerap** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:24 pm

But is the stamped date referring to the year Lizzie became Queen or to the year of lock manufacture?

I think this thread has a way to go yet.....

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:01 pm

I think it refers to the year the lock was made, which happens to be in the reign of Lizzie Twice.

We'll get to the bottom of it eventually.

arrgee · Post by **arrgee** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:48 pm

No, no, you have all got it wrong - nothing to do with HM Queenie

ER stands for Eric Roberts an MI5 agent who infiltrated the ranks of British Nazi sympathisers during WW2, he was actually an MI5 field officer whose day job at Westminster Bank’s Euston Road branch was intended to mask his secret work. The image of a crown is in fact a representation of the back of a clenched fist. Roberts was a career spy who quietly moved to Canada after the war, check out the Telegraph link.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/1118 ... ghter.html

As for the date, well that's easy, its a code that Roberts would use as a key to 'lock & unlock' his four real enigma machine: 1 = A, 9 = J, 5 = E and 2 = B.
I venture to suggest that this is the very lock that was fitted to the wooden case of the enigma - you have a piece of history gameswat.
Quite a simple explanation really.

Pic of Roberts below

slotalot · Post by **slotalot** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:05 pm

Does that mean the Eric Roberts is the key to this lock??

john t peterson · Post by **john t peterson** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 1:21 pm

I think Occam's Razor would explain that this is the one thousand, nine hundred, fifty-second lock made by the Union company. Just like Bryans Automatic, they liked to keep track of production. Obviously a low number lock, early. Another great find, Gameswat!

J Peterson
Locked up in America

coppinpr · Post by **coppinpr** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:48 pm

clearly this is one of two things , either its the 1,953rd E asy R elease Crown model lock made by Union or it was part of a presentation set of bedside cabinets given to the Queen and prince Philip on the occasion of the Queens coronation, the idea being that she could simply pop her jewellery into the bedside draw at night and lock it without fear of Phil the Greek pawning the crown jewels,(His own crown jewels were often on show in the high class bedrooms of Mayfair in those days) As we all know Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark (his original title) was not all that trustworthy in the early days( later in life he just got worse) $/\UK/\$

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:59 pm

.............. and heaven bless him for it!

gameswat · Post by **gameswat** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:24 am

My guess is the Queen was cashing in on the buzz that year by operating a special route of "Coronation" stereoviewer machines. Her in nightgown with crown on head etc. So of course this lock is by Royal Warrant. $/\UK/\$

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:50 am

Gameswat wrote:My guess is the Queen was cashing in on the buzz that year by operating a special route of "Coronation" stereoviewer machines. Her in nightgown with crown on head etc. So of course this lock is by Royal Warrant. $/\UK/\$

So you knew all along?

treefrog · Post by **treefrog** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:20 pm

I do wonder if it is just me, or your all talking a different language, have not got a clue what your all on about........obviously I lack a sense of humour.....

Back to the original question, the usual two reason for a number on a lock are part number or key number

john t peterson · Post by **john t peterson** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:52 pm

Obscure….thy name is "BadPenny."

Long live Obscure!

J Peterson
Americans for Obscurity

badpenny · Post by **badpenny** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 4:05 pm

The longer "Obscurity" lives the more people will know less about it.

gameswat · Post by **gameswat** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 6:01 pm

Arrgee wrote:

I venture to suggest that this is the very lock that was fitted to the wooden case of the enigma - you have a piece of history gameswat.

Argee, nice try but there's no enigma here. I stripped the lock from a strange old typewriter that only wrote nonsensical rubbish. Did keep me warm for well over an hour I remember.

coppinpr · Post by **coppinpr** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:17 pm

. I stripped the lock from a strange old typewriter that only wrote nonsensical rubbish

Now you have gone and thickened the plot again!! The only typewriters that meet your description were French!! who of course ,in typical French manner, insisted on NOT using the QWERTY keyboard system till about 1970. So now we have a French typewriter with an English lock with what could be a government issue stamp on it.

obviously I lack a sense of humour.

Treefrog, If you really want to see the obscure side of humour, go into to a busy Starbucks and order a coffee and give your name as "Spartacus" then sit in a corner and see what happens when the girl calls your name

FORUM

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