Protel Payphone Medeco Top Lock

[jas2jas]

Hi, this is my first post so please excuse me rambling. Here is my predicament: I bought a property 3 years ago and in the property is a Protel payhone. The company how serviced the phone went under. The thing is with a new contract with the local phone company for the line, the phone still works fine. Without the keys to open it, eventually the money box will fill up and stop taking more coins. I realize that a Medeco lock is not the best to really start with, but it is a specific need I have. The top lock which only opens the electronics appears to be a cam-lock style. From pictures of replacement locks for this phone it looks like it may be a biaxial lock but operating a sidebar only as the lock does not look large enough to accommodate a pair of pins plus a spring. It is mounted on a wall and as such access is limited. Can anyone confirm that my assumptions about this lock are correct and can anyone suggest a good approach to opening it? I'm thinking it may be like the "Tufloc" that there is a good you-tube video of?

Thanks in advance for any help one can shed on this.

By the way, I am relatively mechanically inclined, I have a full machine shop, but lack the knowledge of this particular lock

[Pickmequick]

To save all the rambling, you could have just posted:

Hi,

I want to break into a phone box, here's a photo, what tools do i need

[i_b_larry]

I had a similar problem with a self-storage that I managed a few years ago. The out-of-state owner had the keys to the pay phone and when he died his widow could not find them. The coin box eventually filled with money and the phone would no longer operate. I called a couple of locksmiths who laughed when I told them I needed to get into a payphone. We eventually took the phone out, pedestal and all, with the box still full of coins. The last I heard, the owner's widow carted it off in search of someone to open it.

You may just have to replace the phone.

[Jedilocksmith]

Hi, this is my first post so please excuse me rambling. Here is my predicament: I bought a property 3 years ago and in the property is a Protel payhone. The company how serviced the phone went under. The thing is with a new contract with the local phone company for the line, the phone still works fine. Without the keys to open it, eventually the money box will fill up and stop taking more coins. I realize that a Medeco lock is not the best to really start with, but it is a specific need I have. The top lock which only opens the electronics appears to be a cam-lock style. From pictures of replacement locks for this phone it looks like it may be a biaxial lock but operating a sidebar only as the lock does not look large enough to accommodate a pair of pins plus a spring. It is mounted on a wall and as such access is limited. Can anyone confirm that my assumptions about this lock are correct and can anyone suggest a good approach to opening it? I'm thinking it may be like the "Tufloc" that there is a good you-tube video of?

Thanks in advance for any help one can shed on this.

By the way, I am relatively mechanically inclined, I have a full machine shop, but lack the knowledge of this particular lock

With only having one post in here and looking to get through a lock that generally only locks up money or valuables, your not going to get much of an answer in here. Even if you knew exactly how it works, chances are you still wont be able to get into it. I know how they work, and I still cant do it.
The only thing you can do is find a locksmith that can deal with that kind of lock and hire him. Oh yea, be prepared to show the locksmith proof of ownership or he wont touch it either.

[i_b_larry]

As I write this, there is a Medeco Payphone lock for sale on eBay, the first I have ever seen offered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221159624157?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

At an opening bid of $20, it may be worthwhile to buy this lock and drill out the existing one.

[MacGnG1]

thats the wrong kind of lock for a protel, you need the big square one. search on ebay there are always some for sale.

[jas2jas]

Hi i_b_larry, I think the locks are actually like these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-payphone-uppe ... 7675.l2557

(I hope the link works)

I would be happy to replace the lock with a new one (that has a key!) I just do not want to destroy the housing in the process.

I think it s these locks because of the flush front of the lock and by searching the web for other replacement locks.

Therefore I believe his lock to be a Medeco cam lock but due to its size only has a sidebar to lock and no shear line. It still requires the pins to be set at the correct height and rotation for the sidebar pins to move correctly. I also believe this is a 4-pin lock.

I really need to figure out how to post pictures so I could explain better.

Thanks for all of the responses.

[MacGnG1]

those little ones are for the top housing. the lock for the coin vault is big and square. you can also buy them online or i have a few if you need one.