Help in identifying this key.

[8675309]

Hi, I've been searching all over for information on this key. It is a York key that looks like a fairly normal house key except....it has a spring and joint in the middle that allows it to bend in one direction.

Inscription on handle reads:"Stamford Yale & Towne Conn U.S.A."

What type of key is it and what type of lock does it go to?

HPIM1827.JPG

[Rickthepick]

nice, does the keyblade fold away. does it double up as a bottle opener

[Schuyler]

Hello,

It's a Yale & Towne, as it reads, of course, which is now known simply as Yale. I've got a few of these, all blanks, in my collection, but no specific lock for them to go to. Sorry I don't have better info, but they are certainly an interesting bit of lock history.

[eppiotic]

According to my our shops founder, It's a specialty key Yale gave out as a promotion. He said he didn't dare cut it for fear of it breaking. He apparently got 5 or 6 of them when he taught at ALOA conventions.

So according to him there isn't a lock for this key its just a promo. Id hold onto it its pretty cool.

[Wizer]

Nice info, eppiotic. When was this?
I thought it looked like an uncut blank, so for a rare key that would have been even more so.
I bet some collector would want it bad..

[eppiotic]

Nice info, eppiotic. When was this?
I thought it looked like an uncut blank, so for a rare key that would have been even more so.
I bet some collector would want it bad..

Well I can't really tell heh. Hes my grandpa and locksmithing for about 41 years or so and hasn't taught in ALOA since the late 80's early 90's so I have no idea. He knew what it was right away but I wish i had more info myself.

[thelockpickkid]

Yale and Towne made lots of cool keys back in the day. I had three keys with a bent blade designe, they want to old Chevy vehicles I am told, same profile as a Y11 I sold them for around $10 dollars apiece, pretty good profit if you ask me!

[Schuyler]

And in case any of you are looking to unload more Y&T goodies, I am a collector specifically of Y&T products.

[8675309]

"The key is a lockout key designed for and used by the US Post Office on rental boxes when the user hasn't paid his rental fee. The Yale cylinders used on those boxes typically have the pin chambers drilled from the bottom of the shell and that leaves a hole for the spring loaded part of the key to lock into. The keys were inserted into the keyway from the rear of the lock and that prevented the user with the operating key from inserting it from the front. The keyway of that key should be what locksmiths typically call the 'Yale 8' key as the proprietary keys for the US Post Office are the reverse keyway. Making Post Office keys is prohibited by the US Criminal Code."

That Was other information I got...

Which one is it?
Is it a Post Office key or a Promotional Key?
Help!

[yng_pick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Unusual-YALE-Post-O ... 2c53244f1b

Looks like it is the post office key

[Squelchtone]

I couldn't take it any more, so I went and took a pic for you guys at my local post office.

It's amazing what you get when you flirt with the 40 year old lady behind the counter. She even said "I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this, but I don't see what information you could gain from taking your picture" There was nobody in the post office at the time..

and yes, that is my Post Office Box that the key is inserted into from the inside, in case I didn't pay my bill. There are in fact holes underneath that the clip snaps into.

sorry for bad focus in the pics.. cell phone..



Squelchtone

[Schuyler]

Awesome, Squelch! Thanks so much. That's great.

[eppiotic]

I couldn't take it any more, so I went and took a pic for you guys at my local post office.

It's amazing what you get when you flirt with the 40 year old lady behind the counter. She even said "I don't think I'm supposed to be doing this, but I don't see what information you could gain from taking your picture" There was nobody in the post office at the time..

and yes, that is my Post Office Box that the key is inserted into from the inside, in case I didn't pay my bill. There are in fact holes underneath that the clip snaps into.

sorry for bad focus in the pics.. cell phone..



Squelchtone

The names Tone... Squelchtone.