John M. Mossman Lock Museum

The John M. Mossman Lock Collection is housed at the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York building, located at 20 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum houses one of the largest collections of bank and vault locks in the world, with more than 370 locks, keys and tools dating from 4000 BC to the modern 20th-century.

Egyptian wooden-pin locks, Chinese padlocks, American time locks, etc., are all displayed in lighted glass cases on the second floor of the General Society. Alongside the cases are studded trunks, with cleverly concealed keyholes, once used by bankers. Many of the examples are unique, made-to-order locks that were not produced in commercial quantities and nearly every lock has protected millions in money and securities.

To augment the lock collection. Mr. Mossman donated his notes and scrapbooks, known as the "Mossman Papers", which have proven to be a valuable resource for the study of locks. The Lure of the Lock was published in 1928 and describes each lock in the collection. This publication, as well as a photo CD of the collection, are available from the Society.

Collections of various antebellum curios, rare books, prints, flags, clocks and medals have also been donated by friends and members. Admission is $10 for viewing this museum collection, which is open to the public.

References

Kopell, Lily (September 8, 2006). "Bringing to Light the History of Laborers Who Built New York City". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
Hopkins, Albert Allis, (1869–1939). The Lure of the Lock; a short treatise on locks to elucidate the John M. Mossman collection of locks in the museum of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in the city of New York, including some of the "Mossman Papers". With 500 illustrations. New York, General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen (1928).

External links

Mossman Lock Collection - The General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of the City of New York

Museums in Manhattan

Current	American Academy of Arts and Letters American Folk Art Museum American Museum of Natural History Rose Center for Earth and Space Asia Society Asian American Arts Centre Castle Clinton Center for Jewish History Children's Museum of Manhattan China Institute The Cloisters Drawing Center Dyckman House El Museo del Barrio Eldridge Street Synagogue Ellis Island Federal Hall Fraunces Tavern Frick Collection FusionArts Museum George Gustav Heye Center Girl Scout Museum and Archives Gracie Mansion Grolier Club Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Hamilton Grange National Memorial Hispanic Society of America International Center of Photography International Print Center New York Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame Japan Society Jewish Museum John J. Harvey John M. Mossman Lock Museum Lower East Side Tenement Museum Madame Tussauds Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center Merchant's House Museum Metropolitan Museum of Art Morgan Library & Museum Morris–Jumel Mansion Mount Vernon Hotel Museum The Museum at FIT Museum of American Finance Museum of Arts and Design Museum of Biblical Art Museum of Chinese in America Museum of Jewish Heritage Museum of Mathematics Museum of Modern Art Museum of Motherhood Museum of Primitive Art Museum of Sex Museum of the City of New York National Academy Museum and School National Jazz Museum in Harlem National Track and Field Hall of Fame Neue Galerie New York New Museum New York City Fire Museum New York City Police Museum New York Public Library New York Public Library for the Performing Arts New York Transit Museum New-York Historical Society Paley Center for Media Nicholas Roerich Museum Rose Museum Rubin Museum of Art Scandinavia House Skyscraper Museum South Street Seaport Museum Statue of Liberty Studio Museum in Harlem The Theatre Museum Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace Tibet House Ukrainian Museum United Nations Art Collection Whitney Museum of American Art Yeshiva University Museum

Defunct	Chelsea Art Museum Dahesh Museum of Art Forbes Galleries Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art

See also: Museum Mile

Coordinates: 40°45′19″N 73°58′53″W / 40.75525°N 73.98136°W / 40.75525; -73.98136

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