Help dating T. Ketland & Co. lock?

[DaveM]

A few of you fellows have done extensive research on the Ketlands (J. Puleo / others).  In reading other archived threads on the Ketlands and various partners, I found some good info but I am trying to see how closely I may be able to nail down the date of this lock.  It is marked on the exterior "T. Ketland & Co." and stamped on the inside KW&A.  It appears to be the original lock on an unsigned fullstock American made curly maple fowler that I picked up.  I believe the KW&A stands for Ketland, Walker and Adams based on other posts.  If I understand correctly, Adams joined with Ketland and Walker in 1814.  If I understand previous posts correctly, by 1815 one partner died, another in 1816 and the last died in 1822.   Is it appropriate to conclude that this lock would have been made during the short time that these three partners overlapped before any of them died (say 1814/1815)?  Thanks for any help.

[JV Puleo]

I believe the KW&A partnership was broken up in 1816 when TK Sr. died. William Walker died in 1819. John Adams was still alive in 1825... he probably managed the remains of the company right up until it was declared bankrupt in 1821. The only question is when did he become a partner... It was definitely after 1807. It may have been after 1812 but I don't have my notes handy and I have misplaced my photograph of the document that establishes the 1812 date one way or another. In any case, he was probably associated with the company long before that. In fact, he was probably TK Sr's brother-in-law. He was certainly a relation of some sort because his wife was a Ketland.

That said, the lock could have been sold any time up to 1821/22. I am certain they did not chuck out old stock just because of an internal marking and the general feeling I get from the period material is that after the death of TK Sr. operations were winding down. The most likely dates are some time between 1812 and 1816.

[DaveM]

thanks so much!  That is just the input I was hoping for.  I'd be really interested in a good article or book about the Ketlands some day, this is great info that is sketchy at best at least in the books that I have.
Dave

[Dennis Glazener]

Can't help you with the T. Ketland and Co. but the engraving that looks like a bunch of bananas (or ?) I have seen on a couple of locks used on Gillespie rifles that were circa 1830 rifles. One was a late flint and the other was a converted flint.
Dennis

[JV Puleo]

That device, the "bunch of bananas" was an extremely common little decorative motif used in the B'ham trade. Its been associated with the Ketlends but I doubt its anything more than a little decoration added by the lock maker and has nothing to do with any known "maker" (none of whom actually made them). However, I think it is proof that the lock was made by someone in the B'ham trade.