It might be lore that folks took thier door handles off as a locking method, I've never read such in a first hand account...but it would work. The handles aren't that much bigger than were the keys of the period, albeit bulkier. If it were an everyday practice, I think we would see a lot of wear on the threads. SML
This is a very nice open face lock, probably from the last 3rd of the 18th century. Very popular among Pennsylvania's Germanic community. Yes, the ability to remove the handle is essentially the lock. More than likely this was for an exterior door. Generally speaking, interior doors had fixed handles. These types are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Moravian" locks. Although Moravians certainly used them, they were just as common among all other Germanic groups as well. Chris Witmer
When Robert Weil started collecting images for the Contemporary Makers book in 1973 the challenge to record contemporary gun work was daunting. Gathering material was difficult and time consuming. Few makers thought that there was any value in published documentation of their work. Electronic publishing has changed all that. Having a website or having one's work available to view on the internet is becoming a necessity. In spite of all the potential to finally have a true overview of what's being produced by the artists of today, a great deal of work still remains covered up and basically unknown. Our role is to make an effort to document some portion of what’s going on today. To comment on the established makers and to uncover the unknown. We welcome your comments and suggestions and look to you our readers to make us aware of the talented makers out there. Art and Jan Riser Robert Weil and The Makers
It might be lore that folks took thier door handles off as a locking method, I've never read such in a first hand account...but it would work. The handles aren't that much bigger than were the keys of the period, albeit bulkier. If it were an everyday practice, I think we would see a lot of wear on the threads. SML
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nice open face lock, probably from the last 3rd of the 18th century. Very popular among Pennsylvania's Germanic community. Yes, the ability to remove the handle is essentially the lock. More than likely this was for an exterior door. Generally speaking, interior doors had fixed handles. These types are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Moravian" locks. Although Moravians certainly used them, they were just as common among all other Germanic groups as well. Chris Witmer
ReplyDelete