Rotary registry padlock

Smith & Egge Company · 1881

This is a cast, brass registered mail lock developed by the Smith & Egge Company. The shackle is stamped "STANDARD 1881" on the front and the lock number "H 526" on the back. "STANDARD 1881" refers to the lock's keying. This rotary lock used a standard key issued to post offices and Railway Mail Service employees handling domestic registered mail. Each registered mail lock of this style was referred to by its serial number as well as the four-digit rotary number that appeared in a side window (covered by a brass flap in this example).