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Post by blazzer on Apr 11, 2019 18:16:52 GMT 10
Hi guys, I have a 1977 viscount royal and I’ve found that I have two styles of locks on my windows (please see attached photo).lm trying to work out which style is the original setup (looking at the photo, style on the left or right). Im also hoping people will share with me which of the two styles they have in their van and what year model their van is.  6EA8D218-AD35-4A3B-A501-EB13D0572C2B by Les Galea, on Flickr |
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Post by Mustang on Apr 12, 2019 8:51:38 GMT 10
Hi Blazer, Welcome to the Classic forum. I can shed unhappy light on your problem, if you need more of these locks. (They are unobtainable) Our past Viscount "Vincent" now owned by "Time to Roam" magazine had these locks. For two years around 1976/77 Viscount went away from Australight windows & made their own along with these very light fragile locks. The Australian sun soon made them brittle & the "snip" part was so weak they broke off most vans easily. During this period they made two models which would not interchange, it took me 3 years to source one complete set, looks like you have all the parts? Plan was to have the parts digitally mapped for a 3D printer then get them made in Taiwan from a substantial plastic. The van has now been sold along with the master set of internal locks. Solution to keeping windows closed:I used insect screen knobs as in the image, (The black knobs at the side of the window) I ground the tube of each one down so the plastic knob turned over the window, applying light pressure against the window rubber. Never had a problem with this method, apart from the locking has to be done outside, the wider box held enough pressure if the window had to closed quickly.  See the Vincent link below for similarities to your Viscount. In a round about way your van appears to be 1977. |
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Post by blazzer on Apr 12, 2019 15:42:28 GMT 10
Hey Mustang,
Thanks for the reply. So as far as your aware these locks were only used in the year models of 76 and 77, I wonder which style came first and seems strange that they would change the design of the hook part just after one year.
Also thanks for sharing your solution....something to consider
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Post by Mustang on Apr 13, 2019 16:32:43 GMT 10
Hey Mustang, Thanks for the reply. So as far as your aware these locks were only used in the year models of 76 and 77, I wonder which style came first and seems strange that they would change the design of the hook part just after one year. Also thanks for sharing your solution....something to consider No Idea which is which. When I bought my 1977 ALL the window hardware was missing. We have a member who can identify your manufacture date if you can post the chassis number. cheers |
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Post by blazzer on Apr 13, 2019 22:32:10 GMT 10
I’m pretty sure it’s a 1977 model, the chassis number is R71172. The confusing thing with my locks is that I have both styles installed. Theory is somewhere along the line a few had been replaced with the different style just can’t confirm which came first.
Cheers
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Post by Mustang on Apr 17, 2019 17:19:55 GMT 10
I’m pretty sure it’s a 1977 model, the chassis number is R71172. The confusing thing with my locks is that I have both styles installed. Theory is somewhere along the line a few had been replaced with the different style just can’t confirm which came first. Cheers I'm sure you would need an X-Viscount employee to answer that? |
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Post by captivenut on Aug 25, 2019 18:25:03 GMT 10
Viscount window locks, winder boxes, door hinges, hatch winders, and probably several other components on models from 73 - 78 were declared illegal, due to copyright infringement, in a court case in the late 70's.
It may be still illegal to retail any of those products.
I believe a member of the Viscount owners facebook page has produced a 3D file of the window locks and has made it available for other members to arrange their own printing.
Cheers, Arthur
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Post by snoops on Aug 27, 2019 12:50:16 GMT 10
Interesting - didn't know that. Any patents would have long since expired and just about any other form of window lock would be more preferable these days. Originality would be the only reason to keep them now.
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Post by captivenut on Aug 28, 2019 19:48:46 GMT 10
….just about any other form of window lock would be more preferable these days. Originality would be the only reason to keep them now. Unfortunately the in house design of 73 - 78 Viscount windows, doors, hatches, insect screens, hardware, etc, makes it difficult to almost impossible to use other brands as substitutes. The topic has been discussed over and over on the Viscount fb page. Door hinges and window locks being the major stumbling block. I have managed to fit generic window winders to our 76 Viscount Royal with only minor modifications/adjustments but the window locks are virtually impossible to substitute without major changes - basically because there's not enough meat on the bone of the window surround to allow for generic or other styles of locks. At one stage I had considered fitting 60's window stays. I had a couple spare units that I played around with but decided it was too hard and would have required the ditching of the factory insect screens. In the end I managed to get some spare original window lock parts to repair/replace the broken ones. |
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