Bungalow Door Locks

[berwynson]

I guess I began wondering about mechanical things as a kid, took apart the Bendix coaster brake on my first two-wheeler when I was seven. So, I investigated the mysteries of our bungalow's locks. Best example of a pic I could find below. The lockset was mounted in a slot in the center of the door. It was a flat squarish hunk about 4 X 4 X 3/4 inch thick, with holes on either side to allow insertion of a key. The keys all looked like the pic below, but not quite as exagerratedly large. Every door took a big, long, heavy key. No wonder my Mom was forever repairing holes in our pockets!

The doorknobs were fastened to a square steel rod by setscrews, the rod passing through the lockset in the door. Many of the doorknobs were made of glass, mostly clear, not colored. Occasionally, a doorknob loosened, and wiggled around, posing a repair job for the little snot who had to get into everything! In later years, I have wondered how my folks were able to cope with it!

Are these old type locks still in use in Berwyn's bungalows?    berwynson

[caprice1483]

Unfortunately, not in my 1926 bungalow.

[berwynson]

I think ours was built in 1923. The builder's name was Sloboda, if memory serves. I heard these facts from my folks as a kid, of course. Some memories are so old, .......but, that's how it goes!   berwynson

[Nancy K.]

"Scale"  was the name of the builder of the bungalows on Maple Avenue in the early 1930s.

[berwynson]

"Scale"  was the name of the builder of the bungalows on Maple Avenue in the early 1930s.

Apparently, being as you and I are likely the most-senior members here, few others delve back as far as we do. I guess one cannot blame them. Why be interested in ancient history, when faced with the day-to-day issues present.    berwynson