3/24/25 Report - More Research Resources and Information on Keys, Locks and a Couple Related Treasure Coast Finds.

 

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Locks Found by John C.

A few days ago, I gave you a great research resource on locks and keys. John C. wrote and asked if anyone had an information or ideas on the above locks that he found.  Here is what he said.

In reference to your last post, i really don't know too much about these 2 items. The one on the left appears to be some type of, inner door latch lock of some type, that may have used, some type of skeleton key to operate,?

The plate on the right looks to be some type of combination lock plate, the numbers are one through eight, maybe U S mail, ? It's pretty beat up,so i wonder how it ended up on the beach,? maybe you, or some of your viewers may have some ideas, i appreciate the blog, and all your hard work,

Thanks, John C. 

You never know what you might find on a beach - almost anything and everything.  And you just have to scratch your head about how it got there.

The item on the right does appear to be the front of a post box, as you suggest.   As soon as I saw it I was reminded of the one I had when I was at the university many years ago.  They are usually made of a good heavy material, maybe bronze, and clean up beautifully.  There are a variety of those being sold on eBay.  I think you'll be able to clean it up so it looks very nice.  Below is a photo of the type of thing you'll see online.

Mail Box Doors for Sale on Online.

I think you are on the right track on the other one too.  It does look like a door lock.   Maybe vintage or possibly antique.  Maybe someone else can help date that one.  If you look up vintage/antique door hardware you'll find many similar examples. 

Here is the link I provided for research on locks and keys a couple days ago in case anyone missed it.

Locks and Keys Throughout the Ages : Vincent J. M. Eras : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

After revisiting the topic of keys and locks I found some additional sources of information to recommend.  Below are some good ones.

Here is a link to a site that provides some help for identifying several types of keys.

11 Types of Vintage Keys and How to Identify Them | Resalvaged

And next is a great site by the Lock Collectors Association.  This site covers keys from the early centuries right up to the 20th century and includes great photos and descriptions of various types of keys.

The Lock Collectors Association

And the following site discusses the subject of locks and keys archaeologically found at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's tobacco plantation.

Jefferson inherited the property in 1773 and began designing and working on his retreat home in 1806. While Jefferson is the most famous individual associated with the property, it had several owners before being purchased for restoration, preservation, and exhibition in 1984.

The site presents a variety of locks and keys from that plantation.

Here is that link.

Under Lock and Key – Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

And here are a couple pictures of finds from that site.

Lock and Keys Found at Poplar Forest.
Source: See link immediately above.

And next is a must-read for any serious key researcher.  It is the PAS guide for recording keys.  

Keys – Finds Recording Guides

Immediately below is a helpful excerpt from that site.

Most of the keys recorded on the PAS database are made from copper alloy, but most excavated keys (and probably most keys in use in the past) are made from iron. Keys of the two materials seem to be surprisingly different, and we should not assume that what holds for iron keys is also true for copper alloy keys.

The best source for Roman keys covers only the iron examples (Manning 1985) but also mentions a few copper-alloy examples in passing.

The best source for early-medieval copper-alloy keys is Megan von Ackermann’s PhD at the University of York, which will shortly be available on Ethos. There is also an excellent short section on early-medieval iron keys in the Flixborough report (Ottaway in Evans and Loveluck 2009, 187-195).

The best sources for early-medieval and medieval keys are Goodall in Biddle 1990, Ward Perkins 1940, and Egan 1998. There are no particularly good sources for post-medieval keys...

That one covers keys.  Below is the PAS recording guide for pad locks.  The padlocks in the PAS database include many that are older, including medieva and older, which will be older than those typically found by U.S. detectorists.

Padlocks – Finds Recording Guides

While on the subject, here is a Treasure Coast find that is somewhat related.  

I found that one on the site that produced many railroad finds.  I think it is a sliding bar latch for a gate or door.  Pretty heavy duty.  I also found a padlock and chain on the stie, but don't know if they go together.  

I don't have the sliding bar, but I think it would work very much like the more modern sliding bar latch shown below.  

Let me know what you think about this one and John C.s finds shown at the beginning of this post.

Keys and locks are certainly nice finds and great collectibles.  I hope these new research links help you out.

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Funny story.   I found at several pairs of dentures over the years. While digging around in a garden, my wife uncovered a set and thought she was digging up a corps or something. She came in and told me. I recognized the dentures as something I dug up at some time and evidently didn't get thrown into the garbage.

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Source: SurfGuru.com.

The surf is small today.  The wind is from the southeast.

The weather is getting warmer.  It is still pretty good - not real hot yet, but that will be coming.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net