HISTORYOFLOCKS • 49
Walton lock with end gated levers and a box of wards, c1815. Kromer’s Se-Kro was a 4 detainer double
throw lock. The key as well as the handle
withdrew the bolt on this version.
Lips
version
with
detainers
and detent
that
everybody
is familiar
with, it
also has
a Hobbs
style live
relocker on
the bolt. Illustration
from a Stuv
catalogue
where the
end gating
is combined
with pocket
levers – Is
this one of
the early lock
designs which
inspired
the Kromer
design.
Range was the result, with many of
those original models still in production,
although with design tweaks.
Once the end gating detainers/levers
were being considered a number of
earlier mortice locks came to mind that
had features that were reminiscent of the
Chubb Security Range.
The Kromer Se-Kro was amongst them,
this is the one that inspired Bill Stanton
and which he mentions in his diary’s
back in the early 1950s, it was good to
get my hands on one to figure out why
it hadn’t succeeded. The first thing I
noticed was that it was a double throw
and with only 4 detainers, but that would
still offer a decent amount of differs due
to the concept not having to take into
account the bolt throwing steps. Looking
at the detent arrangement I realised that
it would be fairly easy to pass the bolt
through the detent gates without even
lifting the detainers. That would be simple
for Kromer themselves to improve upon.
Perhaps the domestic/mortice market
wasn’t where they were at, anyway
whatever the reason it wasn’t perused any
further; but it did inspire Bill Stanton. It’s
interesting though that even on this lock
the detainers had the over lift extension,
something that wasn’t carried forward to
the first Chubb versions until much later.
The next lock case that I opened was
a Lips deadlock, probably introduced
after Chubb had acquired them in 1960s.
It utilises 5 of those original Chubb
detainers, without the over lift extension
feature. However it does have a Hobbs
style over lift arrangement on the bolt
which is interestingly actually three
over lift levers, on top of each other and
individually sprung and impossible to
reach from the key hole. The lock is also
very much heavier in construction than
the Chubb.
Interestingly whilst looking through
both the lock collection and the
reference library a number of much
earlier locks were identified that may
well have been the inspiration to Kromer.
One such lock was found in the Stuv
catalogue from the early 1900s, so far it’s
the earliest found that shows a moving
probe type detent. Here each lever had
pockets instead of the detent regulating
plate under the detainer pack.
This then has demonstrated how ideas
are ‘borrowed’, adapted or modified; it
also demonstrates how many of those
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | JAN/FEB 2019
early collections came into being.
Locksmiths such as Eras, Stanton and
Taylor have always collected locks in the
same way as todays locksmiths build a
collection for reference giving them the
edge when it comes to servicing clients
requests.
Locksmiths can see (by appointment)
many of the locks and/or documents
featured in this article at either MLA
HQ in Rugby or at the HoL Reference/
Research Collection and Archive in
Bournemouth. We are keen to document,
preserve and display similar items as
those featured here; contact us if you
can assist in any way.
Brian Morland, curator of the Heritage
Collection of locks and keys, welcomes
comments and corrections on historical
aspects of locks and keys.
Brian can be contacted by email:
[email protected]