Till locks ?

Here in he US, a till is where a retail store (small) would keep its money. In other words, it's a cash drawer.

So why distinguish between the locks ? They don't seem to have any higher security.

In the UK, a "till" is either a cash register (and presumably a stand-alone cash drawer too) or else an archaic term for a small lidded compartment inside a larger storage chest.

Looking at the drawing, the till lock looks as if could be more substantial and higher security than the usual drawer lock. It might be a lever lock (higher security than the usual wafer tumbler drawer lock found in the USA.) Also the till lock looks substantial, with 4 screws holding it to the drawer front, and the bolt perhaps a little larger than usual.

So I wouldn't rule out the possibility that it is stronger and more secure.

Or perhaps it is just some old terminology?

I noticed that the page states "Brass plated steel, supplied without key."

Perhaps this lock requires having a locksmith set the tumblers to a particular key rather than having a generic type.

Not sure about the picture on lords site, but a proper till lock is usually heavy brass construction, 5 lever and sometimes slam action.

Paul

AFAIK a till lock is one where you cut a recess so the rear of the lock case is flush with the woodwork of the drawer, this will make sense by looking at the illustration. It would normally lock upwards, but again as the illustration shows it could also be used on a cupboard. It would be unusual to have more than four levers and depending on make etc could have between 12 and 250 differs.

For higher security a four pin tumbler version is available, or alternatively use a six lever surface mounted lock with a flat steel key.

Having no expertise I would have thought the difference between a till and a drwaer lock is that a till lock "locks" as the drawer is closed - the bolt has a chamfered edge allowing the bolt to be depressed as the drawer is closed, the bolt then rises into the mortise (and deadlocks?) the key is then needed to open the drawer (The sort of lock seen on cash boxes ) A drawer lock requires a key to open and close.

Peterk

The lock in your picture looks like it is probably a lever lock, whereas most "drawer locks", at least in the US are plain old low security wafer locks. The lock in your picture I will wager is considerably more secure.

It wouldn't be very practical to have to unlock the till with a key each time it is used in the course of daily operation.