Mosler Lock Company, Covington, Kentucky - 2 movements, Models Double C, Timebination® K.C.D.C #441 and #1130, D.C.R. #4, and Do-All® delayed action series of time locks

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Mosler introduced their Timebination® series of multi-purpose time locks around 1930 each performing a unique function. They were a combined unit of a combination lock and time lock. The Mosler company moved from Hamilton, Ohio to Covington, Kentucky sometime in the late 1920's. It appears a separate subsidiary, the Mosler Lock Company, was created for time lock manufacture at this time as the change in name and location begins to appear on the movement dials. However the first example below has dials marked "Milford, Ohio", which this author suspects is a later location than Covington since the time locks are using  movements made by Recta, introduced in the 1950's. Other dials from this time using the Recta movements usually have no city designation.

This combination of a time lock and combination lock was not a new concept as Sargent and Greenleaf introduced their first product in 1874 that also had this same configuration but only a few were ever made. Consolidated also had a combined product in their Dual Guard and Triple Guard products. But due to their cost and complexity saw limited production. However, Mosler appears to have had some success in this field. 

 

The time lock is equipped with a solid door, a four tumbler combination lock with dial lockout key and two time lock movements. The second photo shows the lock attached to a dummy wood mounting meant to simulate the the safe door's thickness and therefore allowing the combination dial to be attached and function.

The center module contains a four tumbler wheel pack for the combination lock. Each tumbler is individually programmable to any number 0-99. On either side is a 120 hour time lock.

In this photo the time lock movements and combination lock wheel pack are removed. Arrow '1' shows the primary fence controlling the bolt work. Arrow '2' is the secondary fence used to release the locking lever shown by arrow '3'. That lever when in the engaged position as shown in this photo stops the snubber bar, arrow '4', from sliding completely to the right and preventing the the primary fence from moving. The round disk in the center is the combination lock drive cam and is attached to combination dial on the outside. This cam drives the four tumbler wheel pack. When all four of the tumblers are aligned with the indentation on the drive cam the fence is able to drop into the five aligned recesses known as the 'gates'. The empty hole shown within the circle indicated by arrow '3' can have a pin inserted which will keep that lever in the open position and allowing the time lock movements to function normally and the lock to be opened in the normal fashion. The delayed action can only be activated with the removal of this pin. See video below for a demonstration. The use of a second combination to override a time lock was first used in the single movement time locks made by the Hall and the successor company Consolidated and was called the Hall's Infallible Lockout Protection system. However those employed a second combination in order to prevent a lockout in event of the unintentional failure of the time lock. This was a very real possibility as those models used only one time lock movement. But in this example Mosler turns the idea on its head and uses the second combination to undo a purposeful disabling of the time locks. The reason for doing this is in the event that the owner would want the safe to be locked and prevent anyone with the primary combination opening the safe for a period that exceeds the 120 hour, 5 day, limit of the time locks.

  Video showing a demonstration of the Mosler Model Double C delayed combination time lock.

 

The first photo shows the combination wheel pack and the fourth tumbler. Next the four tumblers displayed. They all have been set to the number 50.

Model Double C, Delayed Combination, 1961-1966. The Milford, Ohio designation of the dials indicate the time frame when this lock was made. One in a series of multi-purpose time locks produced by the Mosler company. This lock is designed to allow the user to disable the time locks; preventing anyone with the primary combination from opening the safe and thus keeping the safe permanently closed until a secondary combination is dialed in. Once that was done, the time locks were reactivated and when they went off guard the primary combination could then be dialed in and the safe opened. 5 7/8"w 5"h x 3"d, case #12062, movements #10182, #10196 file 221  

 

 

These two photos show the rear of the time lock the first with the cover open revealing the two Illinois Watch Co. movements. The keyhole located between the movements allowed the operator to disable the movements, turning the unit into a simple combination lock. The next photo shows the spring-loaded door closed.

Timebination®. Model D.C.R. #4. c. 1930. This unit features a fixed 20 minute delay that is automatically set when the the bolt is engaged and the combination knob turned clockwise one turn. Also equipped with a dial lockout key. This lock, in contrast to the 'Do-All' model, requires no winding. The action of cranking the combination knob will wind and set the time locks in motion for the twenty minute period. Contains two modified Illinois Watch Co. 18-size, Model #4 pocket watch movements dating this prior to 1932 when Mosler switched to Waltham movements. Case 4 1/2"w x 3"h x 2 1/8"d, consecutive movements #5503089, #5503090  file 254

 

Timebination®. Model KCDC #441. c. 1940. A later type as described in the example above. This unit features a fixed 20 minute delay that is automatically set when the the bolt is engaged and the combination knob turned clockwise one turn. Also equipped with a dial lockout key. This lock, in contrast to the 'Do-All' model, requires no winding. The action of cranking the combination knob will wind and set the time locks in motion for the twenty minute period. Contains two modified American Waltham Co. 16-size pocket watch movements. Case #441, 3"h x 4 1/2"w x 2 1/8"d. file 52

 

The first thing that stands out on this KCDC Model #1130 timelock is that the dials have two hands similar to those found on a standard analog clock dial. However, the longer hand does not indicate minutes but hours. So one revolution of the longer hand as shown in the first photo above indicates 10 hours on the shorter hand. All other time lock dialing have just one hand to indicate the duration that the lock is on guard. These dials are quite small, 1" in diameter and and the lock has a long duration of 120 hours. It would have been difficult to have put all the detail around one round of the dial; here there is only ten hours around the perimeter with that scaled to the inner numbering needing only six sets of numbers from 20 to 120 with a halfway line in between. Other time locks that have similar duration have larger diameter dials from 1.5 to 1.75" in diameter making it possible to have all of the numbers on the perimeter needing only one dial hand.

 

The second photo shows the movement and the three tumbler combination lock below upon which it is mounted.

What the author found fascinating about this time lock was it's devilish complexity. Other than the Consolidated Dual Guard nothing else comes close. The movement has a quintuple stacked frame construction within a very small space.

 

The center of the machine has a layered stack of seven cams, spring-loaded gears and ratchets, next the bottom view of the movement plate showing the twin Swiss platform escapements.

Do-All®. Timebination®. Model KCDC #1130. c. 1970's. This timelock was meant to function as both a normal time lock as well as a short term money chest lock as the KCDC #441 time lock described above. The lock would have had a combination lock dial attached to the rear of the lock (now missing), that could put the lock on guard for a short period of time during daytime usage to thwart daytime holdups, but unlike the KCDC #441, was also equipped to operate over an extended period of time as would a normal time lock. Case 4 1/4"w x 2 3/8"d x  2 1/4"h. No serial numbers. file 339

 

Notice in the second photo the fact that both movements are mounted to the same plate. This is a departure from the industry practice since Yale introduced semi-modular movements in 1888 and S&G introduced individual movements in 1889. They are not, however, paired. The movements can be separated and are interchangeable but one must first remove the dials and then unfasten each movement from the front mounting plate to do so. It is interesting to note that the movement in the left hand movement is an older Illinois Watch Co. movement which were discontinued by 1932, long before this type of 120 hour duration dial work was introduced in 1949. These movements were interchangeable within the movement block with a conversion mounting ring. The second movement is a Waltham of correct period.

 

Do-All®. Model D-A. c. 1958-1961. A hybrid lock that combines a key lock and time lock. Delayed period may be set 20, 40 or 60 minutes. The re-lock feature may be set or left off as desired (note lever on lock right hand side). If the locking lever is set at "on" and the door is not opened within 10 minutes after the delay period expires, the lock will re-lock until another delay period is set up and expires. A time lock containing a combination (instead of or in addition to a key lock) and time lock is called a Timebination lock (see below) and a Sargent & Greenleaf model here. Earlier Mosler locks used a modified Illinois Watch Co. 18-size, Model #4 pocket watch movements. After 1932 Mosler switched to the American Waltham Watch Co. 16-size pocket watch movement (one used in this example with the other using  an older Illinois watch Co. movement, probably a retrofit job). Both of these movements were covered with an attractive domed crystal which kept the movements protected from the dust and elements. A far better system than movements in other time locks that were exposed to the elements every time the time lock door was opened. Case #203, 4"h x 4"w x 2 5/8"d. file 211

Below are two pages from the ten page patent #2095429 applied for in October of 1937 by William T. Benham an employee of Mosler for the Model D-A.

 

 

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