Pinball Lock

[Marco]

Can i just ask, what would be the best way of proving that something like a pinball machine is actually yours? Im just curious what kind of photo would provide enough proof? The best way i can think of would be a video showing his house, and then himself unlocking the front door with a key and walking to the pinball machine. But then again that still doesn't prove that the machine is actually his. It could be a roommates or girlfriends, you never know.

I thought the rules here were that if a lock is in use and/or attached to something then no advice on opening techniques would be given.

Just asked because i wanted some clariffication on rules.

[Shrub]

Its not rules as such but ethics,

On the requested picture i would have hoped to have seen more than the machine with a bit of wood behind it, to me it looks like any bar in my local area,

A decent pic would have shown that it was indeed in someones basement or whatever,

I accept that this is probably all straight up as it doesnt follow the normal lines of posting that the unwashed do but i was merely commenting on that it should and could have been better but NOT to the original poster,

The op doesnt know us nor how we work so i wouldnt base things on him too much what i was adresssing was the sudden influx of info given because a 2nd picture of the machine was shown, the fact the machine could still be anywhere didnt seem to make any differance,

Remember the kid wanting to open a tubular lock that got a lot of answers? he posted a pic of the lock as well and it was deemed fine by some of our members and advice was given, when i got to the thread and asked more it turned out it was the lock on an elevator that he was trying to break into so that he could keep the lift at his level so he could use it when he wanted and sod the rest of the flats,

[Marco]

Ok thanks for clearing that up. I was under the impression that if a lock is in use then giving advice is a big no no. Now, obviously, i can see that this is not always the case and there are exceptions. Thanks shrub.

[raimundo]

from seeing the photo of the lock, I believe that the lock has been in storage for two years, as the keyway appears full of spider webs. and I also see one end of the slot with a flat edge that is typical for the shape of a keyhole with a one sided key and this shape is usualy on the uncut lower edge, so to me, as the plug appears to be cut without opening to the cylinder wall, it could very well be a wafer lock, but one sided, which means that if you have a thin lowrise pick and feel in the lock, perhaps lifting all the pins and pulling it out slowly while you count the solid clicks, to know how many pins/wafers there are you will get a good idea of the lock. if you do this same thing on the opposite side of the keyway and if I am right that its a single sideed key in a wafer lock, you will not get the same clik clik that you do when doing the pin count on the top of the keyway.
You should be able to pick it easily if you use light tension and light pickhandling. these types of locks will only cause trouble for pickers if too much force is used, for light picking they are very cooperative.
Use a slim shaft pick, perhaps a diamond and if it is sanded smooth, that helps too.

[n2oah]

Sorry about that

[Rodfather23]

I apologize also, I should have been clearer that the whole point of the photo was to show mostly that it was in his house.

[Shrub]

Marco, very extreme exceptions only and thats not my choice, any lock in use should have a locksmith called to it imho,

Rod, i thought you was very clear

[RangerF150]

Marco, very extreme exceptions only and thats not my choice, any lock in use should have a locksmith called to it imho,

Rod, i thought you was very clear

Jezz, there is a lot of people saying sorry in this thread!
It's bringing a tear to my eye

I agree Shrub that normally it should be a locksmith, but in this case I think it's fair enough to offer help.
Before I posted I did look at the timeline of the posts, and it was clear that he was genuine. Sure he could have had a laptop in a game parlor with WIFI and shoot off a picture and post it, bit it's all a bit unlikely IMHO.

It's a pinball machine, not a door, or car or some such critical item.
It's the sort of thing that I would do, if I where in his shoes.

It's a tough call I know, but I think in this case it was fair to offer help.

Just my two cents, now I need a hanky to wipe away the tears

[Kaotik]

I love pinball games!

I could easily see how at first glance, how the lock would seem to look like a double-sided wafer lock by it's housing.

Shown here are two wafer locks; The one on the top is a d/sided wafer with the same kind of housing on the game unit, the bottom one is one typically used for gaming (other than kaba, tubular and d/sided ect.), filing and drawer cabinets.


It is indeed a single sided lock though (dead give away by the keyway), as stated earlier.

[Kaotik]

Correction for my last post (above). After waiting a long while for the page to load up to see the bigger picture of the first photo by the OP, it seems that it is a double sided wafer lock.

Everyone else was right on this one. Good job and it is my fault for not not being patient.

Being on dial-up sux.

[Kaotik]

Correction for my last post (above). After waiting a long while for the page to load up to see the bigger picture of the first photo by the OP, it seems that it is a double sided wafer lock.

Everyone else was right on this one. Good job and it is my fault for not not being patient.

Being on dial-up sux.

[watzii]

Thanks for all the info. I've not made any progress yet. I'm thinking about folding and hiring a real locksmith to do the job. I'm still contemplating if it's worth the €100 they asked for.

Brgds,
watzii