Sargent & Greenleaf, Rochester, New York - 4 movements, Model O

Sargent & Greenleaf's 1893 introduction of its four-movement Model O time lock was, given its limited market, a commercial success. But the Model O was ultimately a three-movement lock expanded to include an additional movement: the size of Sargent's 'L' movements and their associated release design gave them adequate strength for all common applications, but the new class of vaults emerging in the mid-1890's and their automatic bolt motors approached the of the L-movement's abilities. Yale, still only quasi-competitive with Sargent based on their 1877 interest pooling agreement, was offering both its Triple L with the Gesswein Attachment, and its Quad N for unusually heavy release power. Sargent's Model O was a good option vis-a'-vis Yale's triple K, but the company would not not offer a true counterpart to Yale's Quad N until its Model N time locks in 1901 and the N Special in 1908.

A

A. Model O, (later no. 6403), c. 1893. The distinguishing feature of this example is the color of the case finish. This is the only OEM S&G case that has the surface jewelling done in silver this author has seen. I am convinced this is an original from S&G as I have taken a small excavation to see if there was a lower layer done in their standard gold finish and it is not there. The silver is covering over the original 'free form' damascene jewelling as originally applied to the base bronze case. The quality of the work also indicates an OEM source. While this may have been made as a display piece by the firm, there is wear around the door lock aperture consistent with normal use. Perhaps this was a special order made for a custom installation. These four movement locks were fitted to large vaults. Due to their great expense, the Model O was rare even in its day. Less than 300 are thought to have been made and about 20 are known today. 5"h x 8 3/4"w x 2 7/8"d. Case and bolt #O-26, Consecutively numbered, 'L' - sized, movements #4622, 4623, 4624, 4625. file 218

B

C

D

B. Model O, (later no. 6403), c. 1895. These four movement locks were fitted to large vaults. Due to their great expense, the Model O was rare even in its day. Less than 300 are thought to have been made and about 30 are known today. Note curious movement serial numbers. There are three consecutive movements in the late 8100's with a fourth one a much lower #2356. My guess would be that the three consecutive movements are original to the lock; at some time the lock's fourth movement was replaced by S&G who simply took a refurbished lock from inventory that was from an earlier time in the production of the 'L' sized movements. Case and bolt #O-124, 'L' - sized, movements #8189, #8190, #8191, #2356. file 3

C. Model O, (later no. 6403) but of later manufacture, c. 1900. Case and bolt #O-248, 'L' sized movements #15054, #10615, #12171, #13175. file 24

D. Model O, (later no. 6403), c. 1910. This lock equipped with long duration 120 hour movements. Few locks by S&G are found with the 120 hour movements since S&G charged over 50% more for such a lock over the price of their standard 72 hour movements. A catalog price guide from 1929 shows the standard 72 hour model no. 6403 lock at $433.34 and the 120 hour lock at $655.55 a 51.3% premium. That price guide can be seen in the introduction section to the S&G section. Case and bolt #1016, "L" sized movements #1-1004, #1-1005, #1-1006, #1-583. file 283