Hudson 6-Lever

[Silverado]

Another antique store find. It's a Hudson 6-Lever as far as I can tell

It's a push lock and it appears to have taken a nasty beating on one side. Would an impression work just the same as anything else on this?

[billdeserthills]

This padlock belongs to the type referred to as push key, or pancake lock
it cannot be impressioned, as all 6 of the levers must be picked at the same time before it will unlock
in the past I have removed the cover and then cut a steel key to fit or you can make a tool
more info here www.antique-padlocks.com/panpk_pick.htm
Lauren discusses the making of a dix-pik type tool elsewhere on this forum

[Squelchtone]

For a minute I thought it got hit so hard on the side that it closed up the key slot!

[tpark]

I haven't dealt with this version, but I've decoded Champion 6 lever locks. The basic technique I used was to insert a thin wire between the disks and measure the location of the gates. Lauren Arndt has dealt with pancake locks (as Billdeserthills has noted) -the book title from Lauren's book is "The Extreme Antique Padlock Collector". If you can't find the relevant info ask again here, and I'll try and help.

==Ted.

[Silverado]

For a minute I thought it got hit so hard on the side that it closed up the key slot!

I thought the same thing when I picked it up and looked at it. Then I realized the key slot is around 5:15 (bearing from front view of the lock). I may have to look into it further, the wire method sounds like the way to go. An exploded view of one of these would give me a better idea of where the gates are.
I'll head over to antique locks and see what I can find later today!
Thank you for the information!!

Anyone got an estimate on the age of the lock?

[billdeserthills]

I have a similar looking padlock which uses a warded key and the key turns, instead of this push-key type you are showing

[Gantry]

I own 4 - 6 lever pancake locks, none came with keys. So far I've impassioned 3 and made keys for them. The 4th I took apart and am cleaning the "guts" and will reassemble (after I make a key for it). I have made a "pick" using 2- 1/4-20 thumb screws, 2- 1/4" washers, 2- 1/4" lock washers, 2- pieces of steel (appx. 1/2" x 2"), and 2 pc. of thin leather, & 6- 18ga finish nails(this is the basic list glue and a tap where also used)..The pick shown here was ver. 1 I have since updated it to be a little larger and stronger (picture 4). If you would like to see the "guts" of a pancake let me know and I will u/l'd the one I have in pieces right now.,,,,,.

[femurat]

Hello Gantry and welcome to the forum.
Your tool looks great and, more important, works. Thanks for sharing. Many users in need to open a push key padlock will find your pictures useful.

Cheers

[GWiens2001]

How easily should the nails in the tool be able to slide?

Gordon

[Gantry]

I guess if enough people would like I can make a new thread (and if it's aloud) going through the whole process of making and using the 6 lever pick, with pictures of each step. Before I put this last lock back together I wanted share a few more pictures 1. The "exploded" view with all the parts out of the lock. 2. picture of lock with parts in the unlocked position. & 3. in the lock position. If you have any questions I will try to answer them (disclaimer-I am very new to this but will try me best to help out) Gantry
, ,

[tpark]

Thanks for the info! I made an impressioning tool, but I couldn't get it to work with the champion locks - it was still useful for opening the lock once it had been decoded though. I have the same question about how easily the nails should slide in the tool.

--Ted

[GWiens2001]

Thanks for the info! I made an impressioning tool, but I couldn't get it to work with the champion locks - it was still useful for opening the lock once it had been decoded though. I have the same question about how easily the nails should slide in the tool.

--Ted

Been trying on and off for six months to open a Champion lock with mine, and still no success. I will probably have to make a decoder to get it open, then use the tool to make a key.

Gordon