Western Electric 30C and 30B locks

[Vzon]

I have recently come across a large number of these locks in phone sets I recently purchased. Some of the sets have no keys, and up to now I've been using the grinder wheel approach on gaining access. This unfortunately tends to cause cosmetic and physical damage. These appear to be wafer type locks using what appears to be 7 wafers by looking at the keys. I would much prefer to use a non-destructive entry method if possible, if not then can these lock cylinders be drilled out? Any help would gratly be appreciated.

[raimundo]

you may be able to sell them to members of the lp101 community, there is some interest here, also there are threads that link to photos of cutaways, (case removed, and replaced with clear plastic.)

[Gordon Airporte]

You would become famous if you found a non-destructive entry method.
Extensive notes here:
http://www.crypto.com/photos/misc/wecolock/

[Vzon]

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I had no idea as to how pick proof these locks are until I did some further research.
To date, only one person (on record) has been able to pick these locks. John Clark was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to 8 years (he should be out now),and my guess is that he isn't telling anyone how he did it. Whatever device he used to pick these locks left marks that eventually led to his arrest.
I had already found the link provided in another response and was absolutely amazed at the complexity of this lock and the number of variations available within the lock itself. I would imagine that is why Ma Bell used them on their payphones.
I'll see how many extras I have left after my project is complete and will be more than happy to provide them to interested members.

[d_goldsmith]

Awesome

[What]

I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!

my mind is already cooking up tools to open the locks.....

[TOWCH]

http://jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazin ... 76,00.html

Thanks for the name. I always thought that story was a myth.

[CVScam]

I went looking at payphones today and most of the ones I saw had medeco cylinders in place instead of those western lever locks.

[n2oah]

I doubt he's the only one to pick a westren electric lock. If Chris B made a pick for the RKL-10, he could certainly make easy work of the 29B or 30C.

[Legion303]

I would love to have either one of these lock models to go with my Western Electric phone booth (installed in my office). Definitely keep us informed of your progress and think about what you'd consider a fair price for them, because I'm certainly interested.

-steve

[digital_blue]

For all interested, you can pick these up on Ebay periodically and they generally go for about $5-$10 per lock. It seems there's boat loads of them out there.

I had two... then I had one disassembled and I dropped it. Now I have 1 and 2 halves. I'm sure I'll get the other one back together at some point, so long as I managed to get all the pieces when I was cleaning up my mess.

But thanks to the OP for posting the name. I also was pretty convinced that it was just a myth that someone had ever picked these.

To date, to the very best of my knowledge, no LP101er has ever gotten one of these picked. If he has, he sure ain't talking about it.

db

[Stray]

had I been interested in lock picking earlier in life I would have had a few locks from some bell canada pay phones. (Probably would have been arrested though for having them.)


Riding my bike behind the tracks and came across about 6 pay phones beaten to hell. Looks like the person just ripped them out of the phone booths and drove them there to open. Had I had the interest I would have atleast looked to see how the locks were made.

Missed opportunities I guess.

[raimundo]

I remembered the name when I saw it, I found it very difficult to find information on this guy, but then consider that the web has information taken down all the time, and the internet is run by phone company people who may have the old ma bell habits even after the disintegration of the phone system. I couldn't get through to the link, but I'll write it down and try it later. this is the guy who for ten years lived by the change he got from phones, some say as much as half a million in change what a pain to use all that. caught around san diego I think, or itmay have been LA or OC.
As a piece of lock trivia, that name is up there with H. Edward Tickel