USPS padlock with audit counter

[GWiens2001]

United States Post Office padlock with audit

Saw this at the local post office. The clerk very nicely let me photograph it.











Gordon

[fgarci03]

Nice finding Gordon!

You should learn close up magic and make a sleight of hand for it to disapear... to your collection!

Does it also have a combo, or what are the numbers for?

[ARF-GEF]

Very nice find!
I guess it was a good trip to the post then
Fgarci: The number on the side count how many times it has been opened. So you put it on a box, then note which number it says. After you come back you can see whether someone opened it based on teh number.
Are they willing to sell one ?
Or who makes them?

Does anyone know anything about the internal working?

[fgarci03]

Thanks ARF!

That is really neat! Thanks a lot Gordon, now I want one!

[fgarci03]

Thanks ARF!

That is really neat! Thanks a lot Gordon, now I want one!

[Oldfast]

Nice pics Gordon! Indeed these are some neat locks with rich history.

In case anyone is interested, you might look to this thread by mister sour.
He also has some neat vids on his channel (dragonsmith1) about them.
He was quite interested with em' & gathered a great deal of info.

p.s. Miss ya around here Sour!! Hope life eventually allows you back around here in full force.

[ARF-GEF]

now I want one!

me too

[GWiens2001]

I'd like one, too. The difference is that I know I can't afford one. They are very pricey. That is why I simply asked politely if I could photograph it.

@fgarci03 - I do know a little sleight of hand. But they know sleight of handcuffs, which is more impressive. I don't care to go to federal prison for stealing from the post office. I know you were kidding, but the Feds don't play games.

[fgarci03]

Federal prison? WOW!


- "Hey dude, why are you here?"
- "Robbed a bank, things got out of hand, some people got killed, you?"
- "Stole a padlock from the post office"
- "A Padlock? And what? Did you hurt someone?"
- "Yeah, I think the clerk got a sore wrist from me pulling the padlock from his hands!"


Now to serious stuff!
It was very nice of the clerk to let you photograph it. It's more likelly that people start looking weirdly at us for that!
How old would you rekon that padlock is?
Looks pretty old, but only 211 openings? Unless it has takes a full turn maybe...

[GWiens2001]

The clerk said they use them for the cash drawers, so I would estimate it is opened once a day, 5 days a week. Round down for federal holidays and vacation, it is probably opened perhaps 200-250 times a year. It may or may not be old enough to have turned over. Squelchtone (the fountain of lock knowledge) mentioned the name of the company that makes them. Will check into it, and see if they are still manufactured, unless he would like to chime in. If they are still manufactured, maybe I can find where they are sold and prices. Then I (or anyone else whe beats me to the site) can post links, prices, and more lock porn.

Gordon

[oldbiscuit]

I've got one of these Reg Mail Locks with a counter that I picked up on ebay several years back. They really are a easy lock to pick as it is only a three pin lock. When I bought mine they were fairly inexpensive, so I decided to open it up and check it out. Mine is the newer style with what looks like a brass rivet in the bottom by the keyhole. That rivet is actually a brass screw with a tapered head that has been tightened down, then the head sanded off flush with the lock body. I simply drilled asmall hole down through the center of the screw and used a easy out to unscrew it. I just replaced it with a security torx head steel screw, but I never plan on using the lock, only for display and playing around. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Mark

[GWiens2001]

Hopefully somebody else has better sources than I do with a quick online search. The only of these locks I could find for sale were on eBay. Let's see who gets there first!!!


one without a key for about $100.00 USD.

For those who did not rush off after the first link, here is one in better condition...With a key!. No bids yet, $65.00 USD, or $85.00 for buy it now.

Guess they are cheaper than I thought. Still, I have overspent this month for locks, so decided to see if someone else here wants to go get it. If you do, you are required by KP law to post pictures when you do get it! However, do not let Oldfast convince you that KP law also requires gut shots.
Gordon

[fgarci03]

I only have 3 words:

BE-AU-TIFULL!

[GWiens2001]

Great pics, Oldbiscuit. Beautiful specimen. AND Oldfast is happy! If Oldfast is happy, eveybody is happy! Thanks for sharing, Oldbiscuit.

Gordon

[fgarci03]

The clerk said they use them for the cash drawers, so I would estimate it is opened once a day, 5 days a week. Round down for federal holidays and vacation, it is probably opened perhaps 200-250 times a year. It may or may not be old enough to have turned over. Squelchtone (the fountain of lock knowledge) mentioned the name of the company that makes them. Will check into it, and see if they are still manufactured, unless he would like to chime in. If they are still manufactured, maybe I can find where they are sold and prices. Then I (or anyone else whe beats me to the site) can post links, prices, and more lock porn.

Gordon

You can find them on ebay under the name rotary padlock. They are indeed very expensive! The company only sells them to the Post Ofice, not to general public.
----- this is me passing what Squelchtone told me, so the credit is on him!