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- Set of Keys for a Studio Apartment in the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco, 1969 -
- 1969
- Collections - Artifact
Set of Keys for a Studio Apartment in the Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco, 1969
- Master Lock Company Door Lock, 1922-1925 -
- 1922-1925
- Collections - Artifact
Master Lock Company Door Lock, 1922-1925
- Car Door Unlocker, circa 1970 - When interior car door locks were buttons pushed down to lock and pulled up to unlock -- and before power locks became common -- this device allowed a driver to operate the passenger-side door lock without leaning across the front seat. The notched wood block worked much like a claw hammer works on a nail. This example appears to have been handmade.
- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Car Door Unlocker, circa 1970
When interior car door locks were buttons pushed down to lock and pulled up to unlock -- and before power locks became common -- this device allowed a driver to operate the passenger-side door lock without leaning across the front seat. The notched wood block worked much like a claw hammer works on a nail. This example appears to have been handmade.
- Car Door Unlocker, circa 1970 - When interior car door locks were buttons pushed down to lock and pulled up to unlock -- and before power locks became common -- this device allowed a driver to operate the passenger-side door lock without leaning across the front seat. The notched wood block worked much like a claw hammer works on a nail. This example appears to have been handmade.
- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Car Door Unlocker, circa 1970
When interior car door locks were buttons pushed down to lock and pulled up to unlock -- and before power locks became common -- this device allowed a driver to operate the passenger-side door lock without leaning across the front seat. The notched wood block worked much like a claw hammer works on a nail. This example appears to have been handmade.
- Detroit Brass Works Padlock Used by Detroit & Bay City Railroad, 1870-1875 - Railroad employees depended on padlocks to secure track switches, signals, and equipment. Generally, these locks were standardized so that multiple workers could open them with identically cut keys. Railroad locks later became popular with collectors. The Detroit & Bay City Railroad, opened in 1872, connected its namesake cities in Michigan. It became part of the Michigan Central Railroad in 1881.
- 1870-1875
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit Brass Works Padlock Used by Detroit & Bay City Railroad, 1870-1875
Railroad employees depended on padlocks to secure track switches, signals, and equipment. Generally, these locks were standardized so that multiple workers could open them with identically cut keys. Railroad locks later became popular with collectors. The Detroit & Bay City Railroad, opened in 1872, connected its namesake cities in Michigan. It became part of the Michigan Central Railroad in 1881.
- Automobile Wheel Lock, circa 1920 - Locking the doors on an open car was pointless. But owners could lock the wheels with devices like this Stop Thief car lock, made about 1920. The device would hamper the thief's driving ability and alert onlookers that the car was stolen.
- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Automobile Wheel Lock, circa 1920
Locking the doors on an open car was pointless. But owners could lock the wheels with devices like this Stop Thief car lock, made about 1920. The device would hamper the thief's driving ability and alert onlookers that the car was stolen.
- Yale Padlock with Chain, circa 1930 -
- circa 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Yale Padlock with Chain, circa 1930
- L. Miller & Son Store Display of Locks and Keys, 1923-1928 - Louis Miller, a Russian Jewish immigrant to Chicago, started and operated L. Miller & Son hardware. A highlight of his store (located in an East European immigrant neighborhood) was an elaborate and extensive tool and hardware display that literally showcased the store's stock: not only great salesmanship but also a benefit to customers with a language barrier.
- 1923-1928
- Collections - Artifact
L. Miller & Son Store Display of Locks and Keys, 1923-1928
Louis Miller, a Russian Jewish immigrant to Chicago, started and operated L. Miller & Son hardware. A highlight of his store (located in an East European immigrant neighborhood) was an elaborate and extensive tool and hardware display that literally showcased the store's stock: not only great salesmanship but also a benefit to customers with a language barrier.
- Spare Tire Lock, circa 1920 - Spare tires were tempting targets for thieves in the era when they were mounted on the outside of car bodies. A chain like this provided an inelegant but effective deterrent. In the 1930s, the gradual adoption of lockable trunks integrated into the car body, where spares could be stored, made chain locks unnecessary.
- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Spare Tire Lock, circa 1920
Spare tires were tempting targets for thieves in the era when they were mounted on the outside of car bodies. A chain like this provided an inelegant but effective deterrent. In the 1930s, the gradual adoption of lockable trunks integrated into the car body, where spares could be stored, made chain locks unnecessary.