S&G 3

Sargent & Greenleaf, Rochester, New York - 2 movements, Model #3

The Model #3 was introduced in 1877 shortly after #2 as a more compact version of their two movement time lock to fit onto smaller safe doors. Since it offered all of the security features of the larger Model #2 it carried the same retail price tag of $400, the same as for the Model 2.

A. Model #3, (later no. 6205), 1877. The earliest version with rarer 46 hour dials in black, top movement plate damascened with S&G's traditional 'grape vine' design and a screwed on square plate for the bolt hole escutcheon (picture A1) instead of the round bezel found on all later versions. Also only the first version lacked the patent dates found on all later issues since Sargent had not yet won his 1877administrative patent decision from the Secretary of the Interior (1). This version was produced for a short period of time after the initial introduction of this model. Note the similarity of dials and case design (hinges, 'original security red' painted interior) with the Model #2 here. Another unusual feature is the matching movement and case numbers. Soon, most of the movements had been swapped out of their cases for servicing making matching numbers between case and movement very rare. In later years the movement numbers often did not match the case numbers as they left the factory, but were reasonably close. One of three known with these early design features. This example has the lowest serial number known making it the earliest example of the Model #3 known. The earliest known version of Model #2. 5 7/8"w x 5 1/2"h x 3"d. Case #11, movement #11. file 49

B. Model #3, c. 1877. Same as above 'A' but in a left hand hinged door design. Nearly all time locks in the S&G line could be ordered in left or right handed designs depending on the safe's configuration. This lock is a bit later in the production run and it lacks the grape leaf damascene on the top plate. The case is earlier than the movement and still has the screwed on square plate for the bolt hole bushing (picture A1). Picture #B1 shows the rear movement plate covered with over 20 signatures of service personnel; the earliest from February 22, 1886 to the last in 1950. Case#45, movement #131. file 85

B1. Model #3, c.1877. This model has a rare door configuration with a scalloped glass to accommodate the large flat key lock. It was a limited production made between the original rectangular shape and the later full square design that was enabled by the adoption of the smaller, less expensive handcuff key lock (see example E). By this time the familiar chrome-plated doughnut shaped bolt escutcheon was in place of the crude looking square plate opening but the bolt still lacked the logo and patent dates. This example still comes with the black dials which were the original style and was discontinued early on in favor of the more legible white background. This example has the crystalline patterned case in very good condition and has the larger, heavy door hinges that at S&G used on their earlier models. Case and lock#158, movement #148. file 350

C. Model #3, c. 1881. Same style as above, by this time the patent dates appeared on the bolt dog and the large two-point door hinge was replaced with a three-point design which was continued throughout the rest of S&G's time lock production run. An example of this case design mounted in a Diebold safe door is illustrated below. That example has the white dials with the second generation dog release as seen is examples D and E and shows how this smaller version of the model #2 works in this installation whereas the larger model #2 could not. About 15 years later Diebold entered the time lock market with a line of their own devices. Case #503, movement #490. file 122

D. Model #3, c. mid 1880's with rarer coin door without a cut out for glass . This type of door was used where coin bags could smash into a conventional glass door. By this time demand had shifted to the longer 72 hour duration from the earlier 46 hours and a set of Geneva stops were added to the winding arbors to prevent over winding. The dial color had been changed from black to white for better visibility. Other changes to make the lock less prone to damage from dynamite explosions were made. A third heavy screw to secure the rear movement plate was added and also resulted in the addition of the lower decorative chrome plate as well as an additional 3/16 inch clearance between the drop bolt and the dial face. The drop bolt was redesigned with a decorative top extension ending in a disc (1). Spotted pattern case. Another solid door lock illustrating the crystalline pattern. Case #1306, movement #1286. file 12

E. Model #3, c. later 1880's similar as the one above it but with the more conventional glass door which was the third and last glass design on the Model #3. By this time anti-dynamite mounts with rubber inserts to absorb shock were incorporated into the rear of the case. Notice the original Sargent & Greenleaf stenciling on the glass. This particular lock has survived in nearly mint condition. Case #1664, movement #1638. file 64

F. Model #3, c. 1890's case with later movement conversion 1960's. Sargent and Greenleaf ceased production of their own movements due to high domestic costs in 1953. This is an example of an expertly modified time lock. It probably was done sometime between 1950's and 1960's. The substituted movements are the standard ones made in Switzerland for the Yale and Towne Co. and were the same as used in theirs and other contemporary locks of the time. According to John Erroll, author of the definitive book on time locks, American Genius Nineteenth Century Bank Locks and Time Locks this was the work of Andy Kotas, Stamford, Connecticut (same city as Yale's headquarters) and a former Yale technician. Retrofitting of time locks occurred when there was a lack of parts or personnel to service older time lock units. Modified time locks were done by a few experts whose work was respected and trusted. After all, if the lock were to fail completely, the door could not be opened. While a regular time lock had redundancies built in from the factory and thus a very low probability of total failure, a modified lock with altered parts common to all the movements like snubber bar drop lever or bolt could, if made poorly, cause a total failure. In the entire history of the use of factory installed time locks with redundant movements, when the lock was properly used and serviced and in the absence of tampering or efforts at forced entry to the safe, there has never been a total failure of an OEM time lock resulting in the door being unable to be opened. Case #1685, modification stamped #312. file 156

Most time lock modifications were performed on S&G locks since this company made their own uniquely configured movements. Early locks that used less commonly available movements, particularly those before the introduction of S&G's modular style movement lines after 1890 were candidates. Even so, modified locks are quite rare. It was an expensive procedure done from absolute necessity, and the risk of a catastrophic failure, while remote if done properly, was still a deterrent to the conservative banking community and their insurance companies. Modified locks are a very sought after subgroup of time locks.

Other modified time locks.

(1) American Genius Nineteenth Century Bank Locks and Time Locks, David Erroll & John Erroll, pp. 180-183