How Draw Locks On A Rool Top Desk

Hello, first time poster. I hope someone here tin can point me down the right path--
I have a 1906 mahogany two-pedestal C-shape roll-top banker's desk. I am trying to figure out how the hook-lock things work on the back of the drawers.

I feel like it'south a very common arrangement for file-cabinet type desk drawers, just I cannot find annihilation via Google (I am conspicuously not calling them the right matter).

On the back of the drawers are harpoon-shaped hooks that go through a vertical board with slots in information technology for each drawer'southward hook. The whole thing has five-shaped spring.

I recently moved and the peak drawer on the left side ever latches and won't open.

What is this lock system chosen and how does it work? The vertical boards take an L-shaped subclass that y'all can turn up or downwards. I *believe* this is to grab the tambour. But I don't know how the lock works.

I idea there was some organisation where the peak drawer wouldn't shut until y'all made sure all the other drawers were close or something like that, merely I cannot figure out how to engage or disengage the system.

I'd love for at that place to be a way to latch and unlatch the harpoon hooks when I wanted to lock my desk.

Whatever assist is appreciated. I can upload pics if necessary.

judy and KingofThings similar this.
The mechanically minded volition be along whatever time now, hopefully with the correct terminology. Information technology sounds every bit though in a general fashion information technology works like function desks I have known, where locking the middle drawer besides locks all the others. If any of the others are open afterwards the center drawer has been locked, they will be locked as presently every bit pushed in all the way back in. The middle drawer pops out a niggling whenever unlocked & has to exist pushed in confronting leap resistance to be closed & locked. Don't suppose y'all accept the fundamental?

judy and KingofThings like this.
No, no key.
This desk was a crazy purchase: I drove out of state to bank check out an oak flat file and the desk-bound was kind of an afterthought. I was looking for a C-shape ringlet top made out of tiger oak but this mahogany piece floored me.

I bought it from the bang-up-grandson of whoever sat at it when it was new. He "hated antiques" and I bought information technology for $300.

I got the desk and matching original chair, merely no drawer keys. The center genu-hole drawer has a lock on it, and i of the pigeon holes has a lock door on it. (it'south even so locked, and I fantasize there are depository financial institution notes or something juicy in there).

The tambour as well has a door-key style round tumbler lock, which is a Yates.

I don't have whatsoever of those keys, but I believe the claw latches on the back of the drawers are a kind of "guild of operations" lock. I believe the top right drawer latches or unlatches them all via lodge of how far each are pushed in or something along those lines.

(EDIT TO Add together: I recollect it'southward a butt cylinder furniture type key. Are there whatever odds I tin can find a generic key to open and lock the drawers?)
KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

Welcome!
Whatever photos?
If I had at it I'd get information technology worked out but meanwhile, equally Bronwen said, wait for others like Brad and Johnny.
KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

Take pics of the locks to show.
If you have some thought of shape come across if your antique stores have onetime keys. They unremarkably practice. Come across if they volition allow you borrow them with some kind of collateral and if you luck out pay them double what they desire.
After posting I looked through more than of the entries at the link I gave yous above. There is a lot of info there, including some very specific instructions for (the many) others who have had the same problem. While you lot wait for our furniture gurus you might observe something useful to your case from theirs.
I used to desire one of these desks sooo bad!
judy and KingofThings like this.
Many hither will not click on links.
This may help. Post pictures to this thread.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/making-a-post-and-uploading-pictures.16038/
Welcome to the lath.

judy and KingofThings like this.
KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible matter to waist' - MHH
Tin can't help much as I am not existent familiar with these. I believe on most, if you lot got the top drawer unlocked, it would allow all the drawers to open. Could see how the machinery might exist tied in to the tambour somehow instead. Just really don't know.
Well, I never found or received an answer that helped my particular problem, only I did solve the issue after finding and reading this patent from the plough of the 19th century.
In my particular desk, the roll top in fact IS supposed to catch on the Fifty brackets, which depresses the locking bar and disengages the hooks.

These hook-latch desks all take a machinery where opening the controller drawer locks or unlocks the others via pressure on the locking bar in the back of the desk. In my case, instead of a controller drawer, it's the curlicue top.

The trouble I was having was due to the latching hook on the top left drawer becoming loose and slightly bent. Rather than fuss with adjusting it, I swapped it for the second drawer downwards and it solved everything. Now I can lock and unlock the drawers every bit intended.
I have a roll summit I got from my dad who has since passed away (he bought it 30 + years ago). Appears to be perhaps early 20th century. Gyre top (tambor?) is open and will non close. Besides 4 drawers on the left side and ane top drawer on the right are locked closed. No eye drawer. I have ii keys. 1 unlocks the curlicue top locking mechanism (when information technology'due south airtight). Can't observe a place for the other key? Don't know what the other key is for. I have tried and tried to get the gyre top loose to bring it down only will not budge. Whatever ideas? Cheers!
@Douglas White - you should start you ain thread in the furniture section and include lots of photos to get any response - you are replying to a thread that hasn't had any activity in over ii.five years.