Wooden lock from the barn

Starving Artist

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Posts
109
Location
Costa Mesa, Ca
Our customer presented us with this project.
From her great-great-grandfather's farm (from about 1800) she wanted us to design a display case to be placed on her coffee table. It was to be so people could see the back (actually it was the from of the barn door) and see how the lock worked. When you look at the lock you will see the wooden pins that moved into the lock pin and are controlled by the lock key.

Lois (Superior Acrylic --Riverside. CA.) and I felt the best method was to place a acrylic case over it and have a mirror on the back so that you could see everything. Lois made the case and holder for the lock and we built the base out of raw cedar. Because of the value (about $50.000) we did not want any support to be attached and the key was to be supported in the lock (this was done with a copper wire from behind the lock) so that the lock could be removed. You will see the hand-made nails that was used to attach it to the door.
wooden lock - without case--for internet.jpg wooden lock--plastic case-key down - for internet.jpg Wooden lock -plastic case -for internet.jpg
 

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Perfect presentation. Bet the customer was very happy.
 
that's wicked cool. is the back of the acrylic enclosure made using acrylic mirror or was a glass mirror installed inside the acrylic box?
 
We used a acrylic mirror back on the box -- did not want to build a special support for a glass mirror. Customer was given acrylic cleaner, but she did not think she would remove the case to show lock or clean the inside.
 
Is it a few centuries old?
 
Customer does not know date removed from barn (feed bin), but her grandfather had it saved from his childhood. Four years ago my customer took it to one of those "roadshows" for collectables and was told it was valued at over $50,000. They thought it would have had to have been made around 1800's and used to lock door on the farm's corn storage.
 
Pardon me while I faint.

Did you know the value beforehand?
 
Yes--The value was known before we designed to showcase. This is why we would not attach anything to the wood--no support was attached and the acrylic base just supported the weight -- preservation was the key to design of all items within the showcase.
 
Very Cool!
It kind of looks like an antique Jenga game...:p
GP428L.jpg
 
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