Antique Branford Lock Works "Prototype Prison Key". The key was put into active production but the run was short, as the key proved to be a poor design. Originally designed to be a foldable prison key, that saved space. Designed in the 1870's, although that's conjecture from what I've been able to gather. Is large for a key, approx. 6 inches long, has "Branford Lock Works, Conn" printed on the base of the key.
$30.00
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Branford Lock Works History
In 1809 Orrin D. Squire bought land on Main Street in Branford for his blacksmith shop. Lorin D. Hosley and Daniel Nichols joined him in manufacturing Franklin stoves. In 1852 Levi Parsons, Lyman Squire and William Kirkham established a lock business at the site when the stove business failed and called it the Squire and Parsons Manufacturing Company.
Thomas Kennedy, a lockmaker from New York purchased the company in 1862 and brought with him skilled labor. He used modern equipment for making locks much of it his own invention. He incorporated the Branford Lock Works in 1865 and was president of the company until his death in 1880. The business flourished under Kennedy’s management. The plant was expanded on five acres, was the town’s largest employer of 500 people and produced 500 dozen items per day. The faculty consumed five tons of iron, brass and nickel daily. Many of Branford’s Irish families came to Branford to work at the Lock Shop.
The Branford Lock Works made many types of door and window hardware from a simple ceramic knob to very ornate locks. Many homes built in Branford in the late 20th century were equipped with fixtures from the Lock Works but the products were also sold nationwide. There were two separate operations for making knobs and locks, each housed in separate buildings. The knob shop was located where Svea Avenue is today and was destroyed by fire in 1899. The lock factory was located in a large building at Main and Ivy Streets and two rear buildings housed the iron and brass foundries.