Sarah,
That driver's door should indeed lock from the inside, as Cunningham and
similar coach builders usually adapted the Ford hardware to their door
panels. Cleaning and lubrication of the linkages may allow the mechanism
to lock, or there may be broken components. Fortunately, many of these
parts are available through the aftermarket.
If you send us an image of the car, we can identify the year of the
vehicle and check our library for a parts diagram. Then we can try to
talk you through the disassembly of the door panel (which is fairly
straightforward), allowing access to the mechanism. This depends, of
course, on the condition of the door panel.
I would not recommend securing the handle from the inside, because
visitors can cause additional damage to the door by twisting that
now-secured handle.
We achieved good results in similar situations by posting a small sign
nearby that reads "Yes, this door is locked."
By the way, it was standard practice for most American car manufacturers
to place keyed locks on the curb-side of their vehicles only, because
no-one was expected to get out of their car into the street.
Finally, and I don't mean to sound snarky, but if visitors are able to
climb over a 3'X 2' barrier without being witnessed, your security staff
may want to re-evaluate their procedures.
I hope this helps; please let me know if I can be of further service.
Tom Kenney
Collections Manager/Registrar
Petersen Automotive Museum
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Sarah LeCount
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Car Door Lock
Hello everyone -
I am new on the staff of a science/history museum. We have recently put
a 1930s Cunningham-Ford Town Car on exhibit after having it
professionally conserved. Although there is a solid, 3' high and 2' wide
barrier around the car, we know that visitors have breeched the barrier
and opened the driver's side door of the car. This door handle has a
lock which doesn't work - either it is jammed (which is what the
conservator said) or it was never meant to actually operate. The locks
on the other doors work, so we thought we might be able to lock the
driver's side from the inside, exit through another door and lock it -
but there is no mechanism to lock the door from the inside. We are
looking into reinforcing the existing barrier with a plexi screen, but
are also wondering - can we try a lubricant in the lock? Or can we try
to secure the driver's side door handle from the inside so it won't turn
and allow access? There seems to be some hesitation in reconnecting with
the conservator (not sure what the story is there) - so I'm hoping for
some advice from the List.
Thanks in advance!
Sarah
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