Got a question about key machines? not sure what to buy? need a user manual? have some tips for keeping one running well or need help cutting or programming keys? Post here!
I am not sure how anyone here identifies these old machines... except that some of you guys have some great experience and have worked with them before. This is a very rusty boat anchor. What did it start its life as? Pete
ok, I have to ask.. are you a locksmith just starting out and you're just buying these old 1970's/1980's rusty machine because you're on a tight budget or do you just see them on your local craigslist or facebook marketplace and you want to know what make and model they are? or are you actually buying these and trying to fix them up and use them for work? If you're buying them, why not just not buy these for a few months at $100-$200 each and save up for a new nice HPC 1200 Blitz or a nice Ilco or Framon machine?
I believe that is a Curtis Key-Matic 2000 machine missing the motor shroud
I am looking to buy a few key machines -- and I keep seeing these machines come up. Most all have a lot of grime and surface rust from being stored away, but I have enough ability to take these apart and rebuild them.
I'm a hobbyist who collects antique locks and keys, and really loved locksport for many years. I don't see myself opening a business anytime soon because there are things that I may not get experience with--i.e. door closers, panic bars, fire codes, auto key programmers, inventory control, etc. But its a dream I've had for 20 years. The basic work like cylinder repair, opening, and fixing things is interesting enough where I work at it and can do it.
I have a little time, and I see these key machines... and they fascinate me. And I can fix them and restore them with time. I can certainly remove rust and replace bearings and shafts.
But some were probably dogs when they were built. I bet some key machines weren't popular because they had non-standard parts or things that would break often. I can't ID the machines except some ILCOs, and neither can the people selling them! (That doesn't stop the sellers from wanting outrageous prices). And every once in awhile something very interesting comes up for sale (i.e. the Sagar SA100 which appears to be a sturdy machine if we much lower price).
These things are really interesting and part of what keep me coming back to juice the brains and experience of all the experience on the forums!
Breathing Life back into an Old Machine or Tool not a Bad Thing, Have seen some Excellent restorations of things on You Tube. I am an Electrical/Security Contractor, also Locksmith. I have a Blitz, you can do a lot with a cheap machine. I do Home and Auto Lockouts, Rekey Locks, Am an Electro ics Tech as well, Many times managers or people can't find the keys for what needs repaired, So I will pick the lock, I Repair Security Systems, Gate Operators, Juke Boxes, Pinball Machines, many things, after repair, I will lock back up, and Provide keys, leave open or whatever you want. I don't Do Car Transponders, Or go after Master Keying. Mostly Emergency Stuff. For Small Scale. I would get A decent set of Picks, shims, followers. You can buy small Schlage and Kwikset Pin assortment for a small price, pinning tweezers, depth/space keys, blanks, and precut pairs of Schlage and Kwikset Keys, then you can rekey Locks, and provide Keys for locks that have none. Good Luck
Peter Martin wrote:I have a little time, and I see these key machines... and they fascinate me. And I can fix them and restore them with time.
Thanks for taking the time to put it in perspective, I was like, why does he keep buying these rusted old machines? But it's great if you are able to fix them and make them work again. There is a lot of satisfaction in that kind of labor of love and in preserving the machine's history while keeping it from the scrap heap.
Believe it or not, we still have 3 of these machines in our vehicles. They are slow but accurate. The cutters are also long lasting. So if you are on a budget, they aren't the worst machine out there. The jaws however aren't the best.
