Mysterious vending machine lock

[Squelchtone]

Please note the 8th pin in the original 1959 patent drawing:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=l_9fAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=2993361&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1


Squelchtone

[Spiffytexan]

Thanks, guys! It is the Van-Lock, I mistyped "8 pins" instead of 7 apparently. If I can obtain one of those nifty y-wrnches in that video, I should be fine... Will my local locksmith have one? Who else might? We have crummy locksmiths around here...

[JK_the_CJer]

What? Dang thing changes "e--z--picking.com" to lockpicking101.com?!?! What?

Welcome to censorship for the purpose of protecting business interests.

[Squelchtone]

Thanks, guys! It is the Van-Lock, I mistyped "8 pins" instead of 7 apparently. If I can obtain one of those nifty y-wrnches in that video, I should be fine... Will my local locksmith have one? Who else might? We have crummy locksmiths around here...

Perhaps you missed the part in the video when the guy said he made that wrench himself. Go to it MacGuyver, we expect pictures of the your home made wrench by tomorrow morning.

Squelchtone

[Spiffytexan]

Heh, there were two wrenches, he made one, I could make do with the purchased one. The home-made one will not work on a vending machine, as there is a guard around the outside of the lock housing. I've made a-plenty tools in my day, but I'm here at college now, and can't exactly weld things in my dorm!

[Squelchtone]

but I'm here at college now, and can't exactly weld things in my dorm!

obviously not an engineering major!


The one used in the video is the HPC STW-3
http://www.hpcworld.com/Picks/p_stw.htm

Here's an online place to buy one:
http://www.basshome.com/hpc_stw-3_197939_prd1.htm

Squelchtone

[jimb]

Here is a video of a VANLOCK being picked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opsgDNYJmBc

In the video it appears that after the lock is picked that he turns it past the next set of holes. If I'm correct then what keeps the pins from falling into these holes?

[Squelchtone]

Here is a video of a VANLOCK being picked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opsgDNYJmBc

In the video it appears that after the lock is picked that he turns it past the next set of holes. If I'm correct then what keeps the pins from falling into these holes?

What you mean is what keeps the spring loaded bottom pins from shooting up and pushing the top pins back flush with the surface, thus locking the lock every Nth degrees. I was wondering the same thing, and have no good answer at this point.

vrocco knows these locks, maybe he has an explanation of how this works.

Squelchtone

[Raymond]

Try using a gum type pencil eraser. (square, rectangular, or cut it round) Stick sewing pins through it in line with the lock pins.

[nothumbs]

Two minutes with a large paperclip and a needle-nose pliers should get you a tool that would work. Not much tension needed.

[zeke79]

Is this the "hall directors" machine or does it belong to a vending company who comes to refill it at certain times?

[RangerF150]

Is this the "hall directors" machine or does it belong to a vending company who comes to refill it at certain times?

Personally speaking I think his "story" is complete rubbish, and I find it fascinating that he got all the help he got, thus far, without hesitation.
As stories go, I have never heard such a complete load of trash, I have a dog at home that would come up with a better cover story !!

Interesting the way this obvious rubbish story is let go and other threads are locked in an instant ?

[zeke79]

Agreed. At this time, with the info I have seen this thread is being closed.