Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co., Stamford, Connecticut - 2 movements,  Y-261

Model Y-261, c. 1915.  Used in Ely Norris Cannonball safes (so named because of their overall ball-like shape). Seth Thomas pie shaped Type Y movements. These movements were unique to this style of time lock which, in turn, was unique to this style of safe making this style of time lock quite collectible. This example was made concurrently with Yale's more popular Y-361 which contained three movements (see photos). The three movement version, the Y-361 was quite popular eventually selling about three thousand units, of which a few hundred currently exist. The two movement was probably a cheaper version, however the price differential was not enough to make this lock saleable. According to John Erroll's book "Of this model there is no known photo, engraving, illustration, or surviving example of the Y-261, Yale's production ledgers as well as scattered instructions and maintenance documents make clear that that the Y-261 was produced and sold, if only in limited numbers".(1) That is until this one, and it is the only one known at this time. The low case number, 43,  compared to the very high numbers seen on the Y-361 attest to this. The fourth photo shows two separate stamps on the rear case, one designating the more common Y-361 and another stamped Y-261. Clearly Yale was taking cases that were in production for the better selling Y-361 and custom-machining them for the less popular Y-261. This lock, like the the three movement model, contained a key wound bolt motor which would withdraw the safe door bolts when the timers would permit.  Cannonball type safes were one of the most popular models made and many time lock companies made locks that could work in this type of safe such as Diebold, Banker's Dustproof, as well as Yale's LS31 and Triple L . 6 1/8" dia. x 3"d. Case#43, movements #Y2776, Y2778. file 157