In 1892 Yale introduced their most popular sized time lock movements;
their medium sized L-movement with the introduction of the Triple K for
manual bolt work safes and their Triple L for use with automatics. Early on,
the Triple K had relatively minor sales volume. However,, the popularity of
automatic bolt actuators began to fade between 1910 and the beginning of the
First World War. With the return of hand-actuated safes, the Triple K became
a a major time lock model for Yale, and by the time production ended in the
1950's, more than three-thousand Triple K's had been sold.¹
Their
largest was the M-movement and their smallest was the T-movement. The first
version of the the lock featured a large front door glass encompassing the
winding eyelets. The second version changed that glass to a smaller format
leaving the winding holes through the metal door no doubt due to glass
breakage from careless winding. The v.1 and v.2 designation hold for their
models Triple K, Triple
L, (manual, automatic, 3 L-movements),
Triple O,
Triple P, (manual, automatic,
3-M-movements), Quad K (K4),
Quad L?, (manual, automatic, 4 L-movements),
Quad M and
Quad N, (manual, automatic, 4-M-movements).
I have not seen a Quad automatic with L-movements, hence the ?-designation
but I would suspect they exist.
In the manual bolt operated models there was a significant design change
about the time the v.2 door design appeared. The snubber bar is changed so
it does not actuate against an external lever that is connected to the bolt
dog as can be seen in the v.1 and a few early v.2 models. Instead the
actuator is placed behind the front plate and so the snubber bar now has a
square keyed mount behind the right hand lower bolt that actuates the bolt
dog. There were no v.1 door style locks made with the bolt dog change. Some
v.2 door styles had the original exterior dog lever, but most were in
half-glass door cases by the time of the dog lever change.
The Bronze Wave case design came along after 1915 and was available only in
v.2 across the Yale line. For Yale's other locks, those which were two
movement designs or those equipped with their small T-movements, were all
introduced later and all have the v.2 door design.
D
E
F
Concurrently with the introduction of the
Triple L for use in safes with an automatic bolt motor in 1892, Yale introduced the Triple K
for use on safes with manual boltwork. Based on a similar format to
that of the Triple L,
the Triple K also used three seventy-two hour L-sized movements but is
distinguished by the extra space visible to the right side between the case
and movements that houses the bolt dog. Also there characteristic bulge at
the base of the case recognizable in the Triple 'L' is missing.
Early on the triple K was a minor variation and did
not play an important role. However, the popularity of automatic bolt
actuators began to fade between 1910 and the beginning of the First World
war. With the return of hand actuated safes, the triple K became a major
lock model for Yale, and by the time production ended in the 1950's more
than three thousand Triple K's had been sold.¹
A. Model Triple K, v.1. c. early 1890's. This lock uses Yale's' medium
sized Type L movement. The space on the side contains the mechanism for the bolt dog
and were used in safes with manually operated bolt work.
Locks produced early on, version 1, had the full glass door. A few years into production the door
design was changed, see next example B, where the winding holes were through the metal
door rather than the glass to prevent breakage in connection with sloppy insertion of the
winding key, version 2, (this example has replacement glass without the winding eyelets). This lock
was introduced concurrently with the
Triple L and the same design changes to door
occurred in that model also. The Triple L model
was designed for safes with automatic bolt works. The early case number puts this
very early in production, however the movements appear to be a bit later. Case #65,
consecutive movement numbers, 7373, 7374, 7375. 6 1/4"w x 4 1/4"h x 3
1/8"d. file 144
B. Model Triple K, v.2. 1904. This example exhibits the redesigned
door. Case #370, movement #21885, 21886, 21887. 6 1/4"w x 4 1/4"h x 3
1/8"d. From a bank vault in Stockbridge, Michigan This was the first
time lock I had acquired back in 1980. file 0
C. Model Triple K, v.2. c. 1915. This example has a later brass
colored case design with a circular machined pattern dubbed the "bronze
wave" by Yale which superseded the nickel
plated cases. There was a significant design change between this model and
the previous two. Here the snubber bar does not actuate against an external
lever that is connected to the bolt dog as can be seen in the v.1 model. In
the v.2 that actuator is placed behind the front plate and so the snubber
bar now has a square keyed mount behind the right hand lower bolt that
actuates the bolt dog. This change was carried through the rest of their
product lines for manual bolt work safes in their
Triple O and
Quad M series. The photos below show this model in situ in a York
Safe & Lock vault door. Case #1628, movements consecutively numbered #40141, 40142, 404143. file
148
D. Model Triple K, v.2, c. 1917. This example is
mechanically identical to example C but has a polished bronze case. The
polished
bronze was the least option chosen for many makers was was never as popular a choice
during this period as was the satin nickel. Yale had begun with a shiny
nickel plate with a cross-hatch damascene before going to the bronze
wave and later the satin finishes. Case #2012, movement #48055, #48056,
#49935. file
308
E. Model Triple K, v.2, c. mid to later 1890's. This
example has the optional "throw off" flag that keeps the lock in the off
guard position when engaged. To be sure the operator does not forget to
disengage the flag when it is meant to be on guard, the flag, when engaged,
can be seen even when the door is closed. This option is rarely seen in the
smaller locks like the Triple K, but is seen more so on the larger four
movement models. This example has a satin bronze case. The satin bronze was
an option for many makers but was never as popular a choice during this
period as was the satin nickel. Yale had begun with a shiny nickel plate
with a cross-hatch damascene before going to the bronze wave and later
the satin finishes. Case #872, consecutive movements #8956, #8957, #8958.
file
342
F. c. later 1960's. Type K33L with consecutively numbered L sized
Swiss-made movements. The movements were manufactured for and distributed by Herman D.
Steel, Co., Philadelphia, PA. and sold to Yale before Yale sold its time lock division to
Diebold. In the later half of the 20th century many manufacturers cut costs by dispensing
with the metal door and replacing it with a screwed on plastic cover; often with integral
lenses for easier reading of the dial. c. 1950's or later. file 57
A Triple K, v.2 mounted on a York vault door, below.
First photo has a Triple K within a Yale & Towne door and the last
photo shows a K3L on a modern post 1970's door.
A triple K the same as illustrated in example C. in a Macneale & Urban vault
door. Note the extensive decoration in the door.
A Triple K mounted in an emergency vault door. Photo courtesy Ryan
Krakowski.
(1)
American Genius Nineteenth Century Bank Locks and Time
Locks, David Erroll & John Erroll, pg. 268
A
B
