On the Development and Distribution of Primitive Locks and KeysPitt-Rivers, Augustus Henry Lane-Fox
History
On the Development and Distribution of Primitive Locks and Keys
Pitt-Rivers, Augustus Henry Lane-Fox
Locks and keys
A further modification of this takes place in the Swedish padlock,
figs. 26C and 27C, Plate V., in which the parallel bar _d_, instead of
being a fixture, is made to turn upon a hinge at _h_. When shut, the
other end of the bar, instead of coming down over the mouth of the
tube, and at a distance from it, as in the preceding example of a
Roman padlock, is made to enter the side of the tube at _j_, and the
bolt passes through the ring of the bar, after entering the mouth of
the lock and inside, instead of outside of it. By this means we arrive
at the ordinary hinge of the padlock which with further modification
of form and mechanism is in use on carpet bags in this country at the
present day. This Swedish spring padlock was in use in Scandinavia
until towards the end of last century. There is one in the Museum at
Kiel, which was found with iron spear-heads of the 11th century;
others are attributed to the 15th century in that country. Figs. 31C
and 32C, Plate V., is a specimen of an English fetterlock of the same
construction as the Swedish one, obtained at Epping, near London, and
we have evidence that a lock constructed on this principle continued
in use throughout the Middle Ages. In 1829 a fragment of an iron
padlock, consisting of the tube or box with its parallel bar attached
to it, was found in association with some extended skeletons at
Lagore, near Dunshaughlin, in the county of Meath, in Ireland. It is
figured in the sixth volume of the 'Archæological Journal,' where it
is described as an iron pipe, its use being apparently unknown to the
writer. It was found in connection with iron leaf-shaped spear heads,
broad double-edged swords, bronze pins, and enamelled ornaments, and
the post-Roman period of the find is attested by the presence of the
fallow deer amongst the associated animal remains. Figs. 28C, 29C,
30C, Plate V., is a Russian bronze padlock, believed to date between
the 1st and 4th centuries, greatly resembling the Oriental ones to be
hereafter described. It is in the Museum of St. Petersburg, and is
copied from M. LIGER'S work. Fig. 33C, Plate V., is a fragment of one
containing the springs and curved bar, found by me in excavations made
in the Norman Camp at Folkestone. It was discovered in the body of the
rampart, and in a position to prove that it was of the age of the
construction of the camp, or of the period of its early
occupation.[28] Fig. 34C, Plate V., is a later example very much
resembling the Russian padlock, fig. 29C, Plate V., and of the same
kind as the last. The curved bar of the bolt fits into a socket in the
parallel bar, in which respect it resembles some of the Indian ones to
be hereafter described. It was found at Swanscombe, in Kent, and is
probably of the 15th century. It is extracted from the 'Archæological
Journal.'[29] Part of a padlock similar to this was lately found by
Mr. JAMES WILSON in the ditch of Bedford Castle, and was exhibited at
the Society of Antiquaries.
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