Lock for Antique Cupples Match Machine

[dreato]

I recently inherited an Antique penny match machine from my great grandfather's estate. The key is missing and I'd like to honor him and the legacy of his country store by completing this piece. The brand is Cupples and it was manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri after 1910. I've already taken this piece to the oldest locksmiths in the area, to no avail. I am new to lock picking and would appreciate any advice any of the experts here can offer: type of lock? Manufacturer? Master key available? Recommended picking tools? Thanks for any help, and Best Regards.

https://ibb.co/SxCnkJ6
https://ibb.co/mG5222T

[Squelchtone]

So wait, this is an old timey vending machine where you would put a penny in and you qould get one wooden match to light a cigarette or cigar?

That's wild.

The local locksmiths didn't even tell you what kind of lock mechanism it is? Weak sauce.. I believe that is a lever lock, and it uses what is known as a flat key (as jeffmoss262 said in your Reddit post)

I believe the key to your vending machine looks like this Yale & Towne key. (the cuts of the edge of the key would obviously be different to open your actual lock):


This *may* be the patent for that machine: https://patents.google.com/patent/US992113A/


Try finding a collectors group on facebook, they might know what the key looks like and how many different keys there were.

Squelchtone

[dreato]

Yes, this machine dispensed a box of matches for a penny. I've seen pictures of these machines with the key still inserted, and the key has the same 3 lobed design as the one in your picture. Thanks for your information! it's the most info I've gotten to date. That patent may be the one on which this machine is based. Any recommendation on picks for this old lock?

Thanks, and Best Regards

[billdeserthills]

I have had better results impressioning these keys than I have had in picking these locks. I'm guessing the cabinet is locked now, otherwise you would show the lock. I have some steel key locks that may be similar, mine were made by Eagle Lock Co., I think...

[stratmando]

May be Some Wheat Cents depending on how long since last opened. A 1909 S VDB would be Nice.
Matches may have Value as well.
Good Luck, keep us Updated

[nothumbs]

https://www.coincollecting.com/top-10-most-valuable-lincoln-wheat-pennies

[stratmando]

https://www.coincollecting.com/top-10-most-valuable-lincoln-wheat-pennies

Nice, hard to keep track of all the Valuable Rare Coins.
Born in '57. Collected coins in the 60's. Would get rolls of Quarters, Dimes, Nickles, Pennies. Collected the Silver Franklin's, Mercury Dimes, Steel Pennies, Indian Head Pennies, the War Nickles(Mint Mark was over the Dome.
Have about $800 in Quarters. Want to get Grandson to help Seperate into individual States. Then make full 50 Quarter State Sets. Forever the Washington Quarter, George was looking to the left, The Designer in early 1900
was.a man He won bid over a Woman Designer, Her design was recently Stamped and George is facing to the right. She shows a Very noticeable Ponytail. The Quarter we have used for decades, has a Ponytail. Just never really noticed. Don't mean to ramble, Just sayin'

[Squelchtone]

Gentlemen, let's stay on track with the OPs question please.



Thank you,
Squelchtone

[dreato]

Final Update, from me, not a lockpicker.
Based on advice I received in this sub, I took my old penny match machine to a few old experienced locksmiths. One tried a few old master keys with no luck. The other wouldn't touch it. Here's what happened after that.

Someone mentioned that this is likely an old Yale & Towne lock, so I contacted them. They said that often the # of the master key that will open the lock is stamped on the back of the lock. I bought a Fiber optic camera USB device, and snaked it in to look inside. I could not see a number stamped anywhere. I though maybe I could access the back of the rivets that held the lock on, but could not. I finally drilled out the rivets holding the lock, opened the machine, and saw a #12 stamped underneath a thin steel piece. I bought one of these keys on eBay, but it did not work. I then ground out the stamped tabs holding the lock together and opened it up. It had 2 lock levers inside, and one to move the tongue. I made measurements, and began fabricating a key. After a few iterations, I made a key that worked. I reassembled the lock, installed it with new rivets that matched the old ones, and reloaded the really OLD Cupples matches. See pictures in the link below. Thanks for all the suggestions. BTW, the oldest penny inside was a 1959D.

https://imgur.com/a/UHvPNGk

[GWiens2001]

Well done! And thank you very much for the update.

Gordon