(113) Ilco Peanut mortice cylinder pick and gut
Channel: Nite 0wl
Date: 24/02/2019

Peanut mortice cylinders are the smallest standardized size of the North American mortice cylinder family. The largest of the family is the 'mogul' format which is roughly two inches in diameter, the Peanut is approximately 3/4" in diameter but is otherwise identical to the other sizes of mortice cylinders. Originally designed for use in narrow stile door hardware as a space saving measure, today they are nearly extinct and only found in some cabinetry, display cases, and on some boats.
Due to the smaller size it is more common to encounter balanced pin stacks as in this example (the driver pin varies in height with the key pin to create a consistent overall height for the pin stack) to help preserve the springs. Today no major manufacturer still makes peanut size cylinders except by special order as they have largely been replaced by cam lock cylinders or other hardware capable of taking easier to service cylinders.