Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video demonstrates the functions of the Pillard model #3 time lock. The New Britain Lock Co. was driven out of business through patent litigation brought on by the Yale Lock Manufacturing Co. After suing, the Pillard lock was removed and replaced, at a discount, to the bank and Yale then melted down the Pillard lock. Yale and Sargent & Greenleaf were the largest makers of time locks and used a patent pool arrangement to drive out nearly all competition, a practice that would have been a violation of law after the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed about ten years later.
Of the original 170 locks made by the New Britain company, over three models, seven are known at this time to have survived, with only three in private hands, the remaining in museums.
The special engraving work was done by the Parker Brothers firearms company, located in Meridian, Connecticut about ten miles from New Britain. The visual beauty and rarity of of the Pillard make these some of the most coveted and expensive collectible time locks. A full explanation of this lock as well as the restoration work can be seen here: my-time-machines.net/pillard_3a.htm, and a second example here: my-time-machines.net/pillard.htm.
This video demonstrates the functions of the Pillard model #3 time lock. The New Britain Lock Co. was driven out of business through patent litigation brought on by the Yale Lock Manufacturing Co. After suing, the Pillard lock was removed and replaced, at a discount, to the bank and Yale then melted down the Pillard lock. Yale and Sargent & Greenleaf were the largest makers of time locks and used a patent pool arrangement to drive out nearly all competition, a practice that would have been a violation of law after the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed about ten years later.
Of the original 170 locks made by the New Britain company, over three models, seven are known at this time to have survived, with only three in private hands, the remaining in museums.
The special engraving work was done by the Parker Brothers firearms company, located in Meridian, Connecticut about ten miles from New Britain. The visual beauty and rarity of of the Pillard make these some of the most coveted and expensive collectible time locks. A full explanation of this lock as well as the restoration work can be seen here: my-time-machines.net/pillard_3a.htm, and a second example here: my-time-machines.net/pillard.htm.
