Niche Museums
A look into the unique collection of 370 bank locks curated by engineer John M. Mossman, housed within the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in New York City.
John M. Mossman (1846-1912) was a bank vault engineer who operated out of New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His customers included the Stock Exchange and Bank of America, and he often found himself replacing older locks with new, upgraded versions.
He kept hold of the locks that he replaced, which formed the basis for his 370-item lock collection. As a result, the collection focuses primarily on bank locks, including an extensive collection of time locks.
In 1903 he donated the collection to the General Society, under the condition that it be made available to the public.
The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York was founded on November 17, 1785, and moved into its current headquarters in 1899. It describes its mission as "to serve and improve the quality of life of the people of the City of New York through its educational, philanthropic and cultural programs".
The museum is by appointment only: I emailed on a Monday afternoon and was able to arrange an appointment for Tuesday morning.
Upon entry, visitors are presented with a small brown leather-bound book entitled "The Lure of the Lock". This is the museum catalog, which opens with the following:
It is the mission of this museum to present one of the most fascinating sidelights on an industry which is peculiarly American. Locks are full of romance, and especially bank locks; for nearly every lock in this collection has protected untold millions in money and securities. After one has studied these locks for a month or two, one comes to almost love them, they are so interesting by reason of their peculiar mechanism.
The catalog is dated 1928, but as you explore the collection you will realize that every item on display is accompanied by a small card that tells you which page in the book to consult for a description. Evidently the collection has remained almost constant since 1928, such that the catalog is still the best way to understand it!
Who needs to see locks from the past 100 years when the ones from pre-1928 are so delightful already?
15 March 2026
Source: Hacker News
