keys-locks-msg - 2/15/08
Medieval keys and locks.
NOTE: See also the files: keys-locks-bib, furniture-msg, metalworking-msg, decor-sources-msg, furniture-msg, beds-msg, tools-msg, tools-bib, blacksmithing-msg.
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NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
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Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: James L. Jordan (6/16/94)
To: Mark Harris
RE>Source for Inexpensive Keys
My my, so many questions, so little time.
Ignoring early locks (ie. viking period), where the key is used to push a
spring out of the way and move the bolt aside, let's see...
The locks we use today are made of a stack of discs with a slot cut
through the middle for the key to slide in. each one of the notches and
bumps on your house key matches up with one of these discs ('tumblers).
If the bump is to long, or not long enough, you sleep i your car.
In the good old days a key would be basically a rectangular plate
sticking out of a round shaft. The slots cut into the 'plate' allowed
metal pins (wards) attached to the inside of the lock to pass through
when the key was turned. The head of the key (plate with notches) does
two things when it gets near the top. 1) it lifts up a spring that keeps
the locking bar in place 2) it slides the bar out of the way.
They used this 800 years ago, and they used the same basic system in your
grandmother's house. Trivia- keys used in doors were symetric sot hey
could be used from either side.
Catalouges of medieval archeoloical digs ten to turn up a lot of keys
(people have always lost them I guess) and thye usually give a digram of
the locks they went to.
Hows that?
Jay Jordan (Lord Thorvald Hrafnsson)
From: James L. Jordan (6/17/94)
To: Mark Harris
Mail*Linkš SMTP RE>Source for Inexpensive
Questions, questions...
One of my sources is "Medieval Ojects & Economy in Winchester (England)",
Ian H. Goodall is one of the main editors. They did a acoprehensive
archeological survey and so covered items from Roman times up through the
14th-15th century.
Keys and locks were made of iron. Sometimes the locks were tin plated
for rustproofing. Locks were custom made for a peice (chest or whatever)
and were therfore pretty expensive and came in all sorts of sizes and
types. For those who couldn't afford that, padlocks were more affordable
and more portable.
In Norse culture, the keeping of the keys waas one of the wifes
responsibilities and she displayed them on her person as a badge of
office. (I also think the more keys, the walthier you appeared). In
other European cultures, the key was kept by a person if it was a very
private matter, or handed over to a servant if it wqas a matter of
household operation (key to the liquor cabinet, and all that good stuff).
Locks were not only security, but a sign of wealth. Fancier locks meant
more money. Some keys had very elaboate heads that would indicate a very
complicated lock within, but most were dummies just cut in for show.
Some later period examples I've seen (German, 16th century) were
incredibly elaborate and functional. There was a transition form the
village blacksmith to a locksmith that increased the complexity of locks.
Whew, I'm out of breath. Later
Jay Jordan (Lord Thorvald Hrafnsson)
From: jjordan at yorick.umd.edu (James L. Jordan)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca,rec.woodworking,rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject: Re: Source for Inexpensive Keys needed
Date: 15 Jun 1994 13:02:20 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
What do you mean by an "early appearing key"? I happen to make locks,
and the keys that go with them vary quite a bit from, say the 9th
century, up to the 14th century depending on the design of the lock.
Regular locks and keys did not change much in function from the 13th cen.
until the 19th when tumbler locks started takeing over. I was in a
hardware store the other day, and saw some skeleton keys with the regular
keys. Presumably for dressers, etc. that have mostly decorative locks.
They look a lot like 'earlier' keys. File off the 'made in China',
perhaps get rid of the bright finish or blacken and you will have an old
looking key. The teeth on the bit wont be fancy, but a hacksaw can take
care of that. Places that sell furiture (the good stuff) may have acess
to different types ans sizes of keys. I usually just make my own.
Hope that helps.
Thorvald Hrafnsson, Atlantia
From: meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org (meg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca,rec.woodworking,rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject: Re: Source for Inexpensive Keys needed
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 94 14:50:50 EDT
Organization: Stonemarche Network Co-op
dragonsl at hebron.connected.com (Ralph Lindberg) writes:
> Please excuse the cross posting, but these are the three groups that
> most likely would have the information I want.
> I am looking for an inexpensive source for early appearing keys. They
> need not work as they are just for show. I've tried my usual wood
> worker/metal working catalogs and found nothing. Please e-mail me any
> responces. Thanks ahead of time...Ralph
>
> Ralph Lindberg N7BSN More hobbies than time
> Ellen Winnie N7PYK Just because I'm not doing anything
> email => dragonsl at connected.com doesn't mean I have nothing to do.
> Members SCA, REI, ARRL, AMSAT, PS Lacemakers, NW Microwave, KCFMS, CS-VHF,
> Good Sams, RPI and Kitsap ARES
>
Megan here. I am a lover of old keys. Having a real house at Pennsic made
it appropriate for me to have some keys dangling from my belt. I go to
antique shops for mine...especially the dingy dank ones that sell almost
anything. Flea markets are another good source. Hint...wear an old key
from a cord round your neck...hold it up as you inquire "Got any old
keys?" so they will know exactly which type you are looking for.
You shouldn't pay more than $5. for a large key, or $1. for a small
skeleton key.
The wards of the key, to appear more medieval, should be like a maze,
with intricate cut outs of a square field. The ring should be round. But
most people won't know the difference today. In 20 years, however, the
authenticity police should be sufficiently educated about medieval keys
to demand accuracy.;-)
Medieval locks...now there's something I lust after. Any smiths out there
who want to make me a working reproduction of a 16th century lock for my
house at Pennsic? I will pay cash!
Megan
==
In 1994: Linda Anfuso non moritur cujus fama vivat
In the Current Middle Ages: Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive
In the SCA, Inc: sustaining member # 33644
YYY YYY
meg at tinhat.stonemarche.org | YYYYY |
|____n____|
From: jjordan at yorick.umd.edu (James L. Jordan)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca,rec.woodworking,rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject: Re: Source for Inexpensive Keys needed
Date: 20 Jun 1994 13:27:29 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park
Woop woop! Pull over please, it's the authenticity police! The bows
(back end) of keys do not have to be round. The most common keys
between, say 12th and the 19th had round bows because tehy wer the
simplest to make. Some were diamond shaped, some had pieces that were
cast, and had all sorts of fancy scroll work, etc. Keys from earlier
periods have a toatally different shape as they operateed the locks
differently.
I happen to make period locks, mostly for chests, but I have played with
a few types of pad locks. Oh, before I foget. You know that fancy
'maze' pattern you said to look for in the teeth of the key? In period,
a lot of those fancy twists and turns were bogus. It is a hundred times
easier to cut notches in the key and mak it look complicated tahtn it is
to actually put the wardds in the lock. After you've bolted ti to the
chest, who's going to know the difference?
Trivian alert! If you get a lock for your door, the head will be
symetrical. This is so it can be used from both sides of the door. I
suppose you want those little little plate that swing down and cover the
key hole? Such privacy concerns probably aren't period.
Woop woop! Thank you for your time, my lady. type carefully out there.
Lord Thorvald Hrafnsson (Atlantia)
From: mchance at nyx10.cs.du.edu (Michael Chance)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca,rec.woodworking,rec.crafts.metalworking
Subject: Re: Source for Inexpensive Keys needed
Date: 20 Jun 1994 12:07:02 -0600
Organization: University of Denver, Math/CS Dept.
Baoness Megan writes:
>Medieval locks...now there's something I lust after. Any smiths out there
>who want to make me a working reproduction of a 16th century lock for my
>house at Pennsic? I will pay cash!
I saw a medieval guild strongbox in a museum in Braunschweig (Bunswick)
Germany for a locksmith's guild. If I remember aright, it had 16 locks
(4 on each side), each of a different style than the others. It was
displayed with the top removed, so that you could see the different
lock mechanisms from the inside of the box. Truly interesting to see.
Mikjal Annarbjorn
--
Michael A. Chance St. Louis, Missouri, USA "At play in the fields
Work: mc307a at sw1stc.sbc.com of St. Vidicon"
Play: ab899 at freenet.hsc.colorado.edu
mchance at nyx.cs.du.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: swhite at utkvx.utk.edu
Subject: RE: Source for Inexspensive Keys needed
Organization: University of Tennessee
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 1994 15:23:44 GMT
Greetings!
> I am looking for an inexpensive source for early appearing keys. They
> need not work as they are just for show. I've tried my usual wood
> worker/metal working catalogs and found nothing. Please e-mail me any
> responces. Thanks ahead of time...Ralph
Well, that would depend an awful lot on your definition of inexpensive.
Recently, Thor's Mountain obtained a rather unusual key from Dixie Gunworks out
of Union City TN. This key was about 11 inches long, 6 inches wide, and
about 5 pounds of solid brass (your mileage may vary). The price was in the
nieghborhood of 15 dollars and was I think 20 bucks after shipping and
handiling. In the catalouge it went under the name of the "Jailors gun key"
and was supposed to be a reproduction kit of a match light pistol given to
jailors. Needless to say, that Seneschal always had a good grasp of the
wieght of his office.
Yours in Service,
Samildanach
From: kellogg at ucssun1.sdsu.edu (kellogg)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Period Crime Prevention ( was Re: Not an Urban Legend)
Date: 12 Sep 1994 15:20:14 GMT
Organization: San Diego State University Computing Services
I wrote:
: I don't know about things other than the above, but the Norse
: made rather clever locks, both padlock and built in, for chests. One
: book I have shows photos and reconstructed line drawings of one of each,
: I'll get the bibliographic data and post it tommorow.
Here's the data on that book.
Eldjarn, Kristjan. _The Viking_. New York: Random House, 1975.
ISBN 0-517 44.553-0
Avenel Kellough
Regent and Chatelaine for the (newly elevated)
College of St. Isidore, Huzzah!
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: bq676 at torfree.net (Kristine E. Maitland)
Subject: Combination Locks in Period
Organization: Toronto Free-Net
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 17:34:07 GMT
Bona dies, tutti!
I was doing some research on period middle eastern garb for dancers when
I stumbled on this article that I thought some SCAers may find interesting
[as usual I look for one thing and find something else]:
Francis Maddison. "Al-Jazari's Combination Lock: Two contemporary
examples." in _The Art of Syria and the Jazira, 1100-1250_
ed. Julian Raby (Oxford University Press, 1985)
--
Inez Rosanera Kristine Maitland
cortigiana,cantana, pariole branch assistant, lyricist, critic
Barony of Septentria Toronto, Ontario
Principality of Ealdormere Canada
From: rmhowe <MMagnusM at bellsouth.net>
Date: April 28, 2006 1:05:10 AM CDT
To: - AncientArtifacts <Ancientartifacts at yahoogroups.com>, - Authenticity List <authenticity at yahoogroups.com>, - B of *WH* Forgemonkeys <forgemonkeys at yahoogroups.com>, - BARONY of WINDMASTERS' HILL <keep at windmastershill.org>, - Dunstan <Dunstan at yahoogroups.com>, - EKMetalsmiths <EKMetalsmiths at yahoogroups.com>, - Manx <TheManx at yahoogroups.com>, - Medieval Leather List <medieval-leather at yahoogroups.com>, - Medieval Sawdust <medievalsawdust at yahoogroups.com>, "- MedievalEncampments at yahoogroups.com" <MedievalEncampments at yahoogroups.com>, - SCA-ARTS <artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>, - StellarArts <StellarArts at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: A New Book on Keys, Locks, Small Caskets and Fittings
For those of you interested in European Locks and Keys along
with many fancy caskets the following is in color:
Goetz sells books on specific arts like glass, furniture, or
painting. There are no problems I know of buying from him.
I've done it for years now. All his catalogs are in German
though, so I have tried to be specific. He takes credit/debit
cards. INFO at GOETZBUCH.DE
Look for it under suche [search]:
Bookseller number: 47794 Prunkstcke aus der Hanns Schell
Collection Schlssel, Schlsser, Kstchen und Beschlge Pall,
Martina 29,80 EUR [A Euro is about $1.25 US.]
Pall, Martina: Prunkstcke aus der Hanns Schell Collection:
Schlssel, Schlsser, Kstchen und Beschlge; [Pieces of
splendor from the Hanns Schell Collection: Key, locks, small
boxes and fittings] Description: Katalogbuch zur Ausstellung
in Wien. 21 x 30 cm. Geb. 403 Farbabb. und 25 techn.
Zeichnungen. 165 S.
Publisher: Graz, 2005, Hardcover, Catalog book to the exhibition
in Vienna. 21 x 30 cm. Geb. 403 color pictures. and 25 technical
designs. 165 pages. The book itself is in German and English
on each page or description.
Shows how a number of the locks work from Roman times onward.
Also included are some Asian locks.
Previously the same collection has had books on cutlery and
the cases for it {I didn't buy this one] and one on Caskets.
Those were published by Arnoldsche.de and not nearly as
reasonably priced as this one. Then again they were larger too.
I don't know if it is still available but this is the book on
caskets:
Berger, Ewald: Prunk-Kassetten, Europaische Meisterwerke aus
Acht Jahrhunderten, Ornamental Caskets of Eight Centuries;
1998: Arnoldsche, Stuttgart, cloth, dj, Text in English and
German. The Hans Schell Collection, Graz., profuse color &
b/w illus., 318 pages, 12 x 10, ornamental caskets / decorative art / metal work / gold boxes.
ISBN 3-925369-83-X $110.
Bestand katloge der Hanns Schell collection; Bd 1.
(to be followed by others on cast iron objects, locks and
keys, forged steel objects, and guild emblems.)
Pp. 336, approximately 500 illustrations.
Berger, Ewald: Ornamental Coffers; Eight Centuries of European Craftsmanship ISBN: 392536983X Arnoldsche Verlaganstalt GmbH,
Jan.1999, US 110.00
Master Magnus Malleus, OL, aka R.M. Howe
Great Barony of Windmasters Hill, the Manx, Great Dark Horde
<the end>