Rim lock advice

[lee197960_0]

Hello all, I'm hoping for some help.

I'm trying to refurb the old rim locks in my Edwardian property and have a query I need help with. There are a few identical locks throughout the house, I have taken them off to take a look inside (they have all long since stopped working). I was hoping by comparing a couple I could work out how they go together. One of them has a working leaf spring so I have established how that works however there is a thumb latch (broken on all of the locks) which doesnt seem to have any obvious clues as to how it once worked. It seems that these have been opened a few times previous and I guess there are numerous bits and pieces that have been removed/lost.

Could some one help me establish how the thumb latch worked and how I could potentially reinstate it? I'm keen but my DIY skills are pretty limited. I've posted a couple of pics.

Thanks all
Lee

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think the thumb latch on mine has a little leaf spring that pushes on the back plate of the lock to keep it from being pushed into the lock and also to offer some friction so it stays in position. They are pretty simple things. If you clean the paint off you might find it just works!!!

 

[noj]

I'm sure there's a second spring too. I've got a spare lock floating around at home, if I get a chance I'll pop the back off and have a look - will take a pic if there is

 

[lee197960_0]

Thanks for the replies. Oh a second spring pressing against the thumb latch would make sense. I think mine have been opened and fiddled with so many times when I open most of them theres no evidence of any springs at all in there.

I had assumed I'd be able to find some kind of visual reference on google as to how they thumb latch worked but so far I've not had much luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
Lee

 

[noj]

Sorry for the delay - finally took one apart. There is a second spring, not where I expected but on the lock backplate that just puts a little tension on the thumb latch so it doesn't flop around

 

[noj]

Sorry for the delay - finally took one apart. There is a second spring, not where I expected but on the lock backplate that just puts a little tension on the thumb latch so it doesn't flop around


seems to have posted twice - sorry!

 

[lee197960_0]

Oh great thanks. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that for me! After hours of hunting this is the first actual image I've seen! For some reason I had built it up to be quite a grand thing, turns out its quite simple.

I've not had much luck trying to source some but have managed to get my hands on some spring steel, think I'll attempt making one.

Thanks again Noj

 

[plasticpigeon]

Sorry I didn't put a picture up, but in fact mine are identical to the one Noj posted!

 

[lee197960_0]

Hello all, just thought I would update my post with a pic of the finished lock. Took me a while but it works a treat. Thanks for the advice

 

[noj]

Good job!

 

[livias]

Nice vertically aligned slotted brass screws too
Its the detail thst makes all the difference