GUESS THE LOCK GAME!!

[raimundo]

this key operated electric switch apparently is also used on espresso machines, I know of one such machine that has the tiny key tied to one leg with a string, since loss of the key would make the machine difficult for the guy who services it.

[mh]

So the 16-spring-question was too simple, so nobody would bother to answer?


Well then, I have something more difficult for you:



I know of course where I took the picture (it's EU again), but other than that, I know nothing about the lock,
but maybe you guys?

Cheers,
mh

[n2oah]

Looks electronic since the pins appear to be fixed in place.

Ah, I didn't know B&D didn't own DOM anymore. I think I got that info from a Han Fey article.

[mh]

[quote="n2oah"]Looks electronic since the pins appear to be fixed in place.quote]

If I remember correctly, they felt just like pins from tubular locks, just bigger.
But yes, they might be electric contacts.

Any ideas?

Cheers,
mh

[f0ku5]

mh, are you sure this is a lock at all and not some kind of a fancy interface or something? Any hints on what it "locks" or where it is on?

There would be a covering though if it was anything eletrical, at least outdoors.

[UWSDWF]

could it be like a VANlock?

[mh]

Ok, here's the only other hint I have:



It's on the deposit box of an Italian bank (on the island of Elba), located on the outside of the building; I believe local business people would bring their deposits there in the evening or at night.

Cheers,
mh

[mh]

Wow, I just found two more German vintage locks in my collection - here is number 1:



This style was quite popular in Germany in the 1980s - but what was it used for?

BTW, the picture shows the lock after it was picked, i.e. it's 'open' right now. It has 4 pin stacks in there, the 1st driver pin being even a mushroom or spool

The key is signed
"DIE GUTEN SCHLÖSSER"
"ABUS"
(meaning - the good ABUS locks);
that was their marketing slogan at that time...

Cheers,
mh

[UWSDWF]

could you show a picture of the lock closed

[zeke79]

Was it a utilities lock? Such as electric or gas company?

[UWSDWF]

thats what i'm thinking Zeke but i wanted to see it closed to figure out what it would lock to

[mh]

Here it's closed:



Utilities is not bad...
But maybe you can guess exactly where it was used...
It was used by private persons, but also in business and government offices.

[rohi]

It was used to lock oldfasioned phones, where you could lock the dial.

Ronald

[greyman]

mh, that is totally weird! I was about to post the same lock! I think it's by Juwell or something - they use them on the night safes in Italy. It's a mechanical pushbutton lock, but that's all I know (and maybe that's wrong!).

cheers

greyman

[mh]

It was used to lock oldfasioned phones, where you could lock the dial.

Ronald

Yep, you got it!

Those high tech locks were used to block plastic telephone dials (the things you had to turn, and they would go back on their own and click... good old times)

You could lock it e.g. to the 2nd hole; that way people could receive calls (which was for free) and also dial 112 (the fire/medical emergency number), but not dial other numbers, e.g. expensive long distance calls.

Of course you could also tap the number on the hook switch - but that was the secret knowledge of hackers in those times...

Cheers,
mh