Leland Steering Wheel Lock

[Doogs]

Here's a lock I just picked up that is both old and unusual.


FORD MODEL T STEERING WHEEL LOCK

"LELAND LOCK CO DETROIT

PAT 2-28-11......2-18-12....4-15-19 5-23-19

ON THE TAG IS UNDERWRITER LABORATORIES MOTOR VEHICLE LOCK 119938

NO KEY...HAS A DING BY THE SPOT WERE THE KEY CYLINDER GOES

FOR PARTS OR RESTORE.... HEAVY BRASS"

Here's a patent filing for a slightly different style of lock with a far more detailed description than I could give.
http://www.google.com/patents/US1395609 ... 609&f=true

Thanks for looking
Doogs

[Neilau]

Nice find.

Love those old specialty locks.

[Oldfast]

Interesting find. I can't quite figure it though.

Is this back when you could remove the steering wheel...
then this lock would go on the end of the steering column?

[Doogs]

Hard to find any info on the internet Mike but i believe it's an after market part that is affixed permanently as a secondary security measure to prevent theft by merely hot wiring the ignition. Trying to find out more, such as if it was keyed to match the ignition switch or if it required it's own separate key. I'll update when i find out more.I'm going to look again right now. I'll post what I have found already.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/261213.html
http://www.google.com/patents/US1372103 ... 103&f=true

Here's another patent attributed to the inventor Theodore D. Stanley
https://www.google.com/patents/US114237 ... wQ6AEwADgK

It would seem he developed the lock after improving the shaft and gears of the original Ford Model "T" steering assembly.

ETA: The lock I purchased is pre-1921 so it is different than the one in the patent referenced. It does not have the flange that prevents bypassing by beating the lock/wheel assembly farther onto the shaft engaging gears and defeating the lock.

[Oldfast]

Hmmm. Interesting piece of history ya got there.
Don't do too much research on my account...
As always, I was just a bit curious, lol Thanks

[Doogs]

Figured I better do an update for this bad boy seeing as it's in my hands and i've had a chance to give it a once over.

I figured out it's a Sargent 4 pin cylinder which is either jammed and/or threaded into the housing due to some ause so impressioning is my only option at this point. Although I can remove the plug by removing the tailpiece I cannot use a follower to retain the drivers and springs.
Here's the breakdown:








Here's an old ad CheerIO found for me:

[Neilau]

Nice pictures.

Thanks for sharing.

I don't think that I would feel too safe having a lock that disengages the steering wheel from the column though.

[Doogs]

No kidding Neilau especially a single tooth that doesn't look all that strong. I wonder how many pedestrians had to do a jump to the left when these things failed.

[Neilau]

Yeah.

In that case they are probably quite rare thus a good score.