Identifying an interesting lock (CorKey)

[jmes.antny]

Hi

First time poster, long time lurker!

Got an interesting lock that I would like to identify.

I have attached four pictures of it, but basically it is an ordinary nightlatch on one side but the lock mechanism on the otherside, has a kind of mechanical keycard slot where a thin strip of metal is placed in to turn and open the door.

http://i54.tinypic.com/mudy8.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/51vm0i.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/qsuwis.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/dwvujm.jpg

I have no idea how the mechanism inside works but I would be interested to hear from anyone who has encountered this type of lock before

Cheers!

[edit mh: added the name of the lock system to the title, for later reference]

[Evan]

@jmes.antny:

That is a CorKey rim cylinder...

<< External link to CorKey Control Systems website >>

The rim mounted night latch is just a plain old standard one operated by the CorKey cylinder...

~~ Evan

[jmes.antny]

Thanks for the swift reply Evan, thats perfect!

Seems it is an encoded magnetic lock based system, very interesting indeed.

[Squelchtone]

Nice find Evan!


Here's the patent in case you guys are interested: Google Patents

Squelchtone

[Evan]

Nice find Evan!


Here's the patent in case you guys are interested: Google Patents

Squelchtone

In all fairness, I have never seen one in real life before and only know it from the pictures and brief discussion that Bill Phillips gave it in his book "Locksmithing" where you can see several pictures of the various types of CorKey locks in Chapter 8 on Page 113...

<< External link to the Amazon.com page for "Locksmithing" 1st Ed. book by Bill Phillips >>

This lock is one of those things you only ever need to see once to be able to recognize it again...

~~ Evan

[lock2006]

Where i used to live before,they have this intersting lock for the garage door and front door of building
you got it have the metal card to have acces in.

[mh]

I've also seen this lock at a lab here: http://www.uws.ac.uk/about/paisley/index.asp some 15 years ago.

Cheers
mh

[stratmando]

Try m.indiamart.com search "Corkey", says it IS magnetic. Nice to buy one, a cheap one may have similar magnet pattern?
We have Magnet Card Reader at our Lodge. Believe it was 6X6, 6 Rows, 6 Columns. A member asked me one time if it could be picked, temporarily, I said Maybe not.
Kept thinking on it, and bought a Magnetic Field Card(think it is magnetic/more likely steel? particles in fluid, you can see the disturbance. Have check from lodges around the country, all had 3 Magnetic Squares inside the card, is made visible by shining light through card, or a compass. So far all have been in a different row, pushing card in a pulling out reveals their location. Then polarity is only concern.
NNN
NNS
NSN
NSS
SNN
SNS
SSN
SSS
Good Luck
I might try thin piece of magnetic material on end of a piece of plastic, and move around inside while turning,
Too much pressure may bind.
Tried to see Link by Squelchtone for Patent, link didn't work. If Someone can find that Patent, would give you some insight
Good Luck some more

[MartinHewitt]

In Pulford's book are patent numbers:
US3444711
US4932228

[Squelchtone]

Try m.indiamart.com search "Corkey", says it IS magnetic. Nice to buy one, a cheap one may have similar magnet pattern?
We have Magnet Card Reader at our Lodge. Believe it was 6X6, 6 Rows, 6 Columns. A member asked me one time if it could be picked, temporarily, I said Maybe not.
Kept thinking on it, and bought a Magnetic Field Card(think it is magnetic/more likely steel? particles in fluid, you can see the disturbance. Have check from lodges around the country, all had 3 Magnetic Squares inside the card, is made visible by shining light through card, or a compass. So far all have been in a different row, pushing card in a pulling out reveals their location. Then polarity is only concern.
NNN
NNS
NSN
NSS
SNN
SNS
SSN
SSS
Good Luck
I might try thin piece of magnetic material on end of a piece of plastic, and move around inside while turning,
Too much pressure may bind.
Tried to see Link by Squelchtone for Patent, link didn't work. If Someone can find that Patent, would give you some insight
Good Luck some more

strat did you mean to reply to this old post from 2011? or were you trying to reply to the guy with the Sentry safe that has a Corkey style lock on his safe door?

My link in this thread doesn't work because its been 10 years and google did something on the back end to make it no longer valid.. here's a new link https://patents.google.com/patent/US3444711 and

Thanks to Martin for the patent numbers.

Squelchtone

[stratmando]

Yup, that's what I did, Copying, and Pasting to correct Location, Thanks

[murphsfam]

Thanks so much to everyone. At least now I have a name for the lock. I don't understand why Sentry could not at least given me that much. You guys are great.