Identification of Locks

The automobile lock collector's first challenge: is it a car lock? While most original equipment is readily identifiable, many aftermarket items can avoid such easy detection. Old catalogs and automobile magazines can provide a lot of insight as to what was available in those early years.

The next challenge for the automobile lock collector is in trying to determine what car a given lock might be used for. The automobile afficianado need only look around at other cars of his interest to see what types of locks are used. The lock enthusiast does not have this luxury.The greatest help in identification that we have found is from the old locksmith code books, followed by lock manufacturer's catalogs.

Further Lock Evolution Notes

Just as the early automobile was based on a modified horse drawn carriage, many early automobile locks were based on locks already commercially available. But automobile locks provided their own special problems early on, problems not usually associated with other locks. Some method of keeping the locks free of the dirt and dust of the roads was reqired. Various types of dust covers were added; flip-up and swivel types were the earliest, followed by internal sliding covers and then, flip-down.