Newbie - Removal of Shackle on Small Padlock??

[Chucklz]

You could always cut some of the shackle away so that it appears to be a standard padlock. However I think I have a solution for you. What you are looking for is not a lock with a removeable shackle, as most of these will be rather large. You should be looking for a lock with the following characteristics.

1.) Body is wider than it is tall. This is simply for the illusion, and to assure that once the lock is in, it wont be out again.

2.) Look for a lock, that when you open it, you see a "notch" on both sides of the shackle. This is rather important. Unfortunately, I do not have any locks that meet both criteria with me at school, or I would send you one.


To put the lock in the bottle. Open the lock. Put some masking tape on the top of the lock body so you don't scratch it in any way. Cut the shackle off the bottom of the lock, BELOW the "notch". Remove tape. Put lock body in bottle. Coerce the lock to "stand up". Push the shackle into the lock. The lock will still appear to be, and in deed will be, completely functional.

[Norcal29]

Chucklz,

What a great idea ... the obvious, an illusion. I think your analysis and objectives description is excellent and right on target!!

I guess by using your process, which is marvelous, what will hold the lock in the closed position is the fact that there is a "Notch" in the shackle on the side that I don't cut through, which is typically the part of the shackle that comes out of the lock so it can be attach to something?

However, I'm still a bit confused. You specify to look for a lock with a "Notch" on both sides. Do you mean on each "END" of the shackle that goes into the lock, or each side of the shackle end that "Typically" remains in the lock body?

If you mean each end wouldn't the "Brinks 101-30001, brass body lock" meet your criteria?

Thanks again,

Ron

[Norcal29]

Hello 32768,

Looks like you and Chucklz are both on the same page of the play book. I also, appreciate your creative suggestion.

If you want to see a lock in a bottle, or for that matter a deck of cards, tennis balls, bars of soap and even a tennis shoe check out Jeff's web site, that should leave you talking to yourself, as it does me, for a day or two.


http://www.jeffscanlan.com/bottles.html

Ron

[Chucklz]

Yes, a notch on both the end that goes into the lock and one on the side that usually remains in the lock. The important part is that you can cut the shackle BELOW the notch on the end that usually remains in the lock. With a notch on both sides, the lock "double locks" so that when closed a spring loaded metal projection enteres this notch keeping the lock closed. You could do it with any old lock, but you want one on both sides, so that the shackle acts normally and feels "solid" when given a tug, looked at etc.

Now about the website you sent,

I know how the cards, cigarettes, matches etc get into the bottle, all essentially by the same method. The bar of soap, well that didn't take me too long to figure out at least one method of getting it into the bottle. If you know how exactly it was done, I would like to ask a few question. I can get the tennis balls into the bottle, but only in a way that depressureizes them, thus making them useless for tennis.

[Norcal29]

Chucklz -

1) are you attending a locksmith school or do you teach at one?

2) I have some ideas on how the items got into the bottle, but as of yet have not tried them.

I would like to hear your thoughts and I have a couple of thoughts on the tennis balls -

Now, I have to go find a lock to saw.

Apreciate your help!

R
Email request removed by Chucklz

[Chucklz]

I am a biology student at Lafayette College. I teach a molecular Biology lab, but thats about it.

[Norcal29]

Chuck(?)

Ahhhh yes, I do recall the days of organic and biology labs. Some days went extremely well and others made me wonder why I was there weighting out an infinitesimal amount precipitate.

Glad to see that it sounds as though you have things pretty well under control. Is your goal simply a degree in biology or do you have plans for teaching, medical school or?

About the tennis balls, I'm sure that the pressure has to be released in order to "Cram" them into the jug, which in some cases I suspect will have them in a less than desirable shape. So, my theory is that before that are stuffed into the jug an air needle, a-la blowing up a football, is inserted into the tennis ball. After the ball is inside an air hose, probably attached to a compressor, is snaked into the jug and a quick blast of air re-inflates the ball. Obviously, after it’s in the jug the pressure is no longer important as long as it is round.

As for the deck of cards had you observed that the original plastic wrap is on the deal and appears to be sealed? I happen to have one of the bottles with a deck inside done by Jeff for a conversation piece.

So, what are your thoughts on how he achieves that?

Ron

[MrB]

As for the deck of cards had you observed that the original plastic wrap is on the deal and appears to be sealed?

Hey, quit messin' with my brain.

[Chucklz]

Right now the plan is grad school, PhD. and then some research.

I was thinking that if you made a very small cut/ hole in the tennis ball that you could essentially "fold" it up, and bottle it. It should return to its original shape on its own.

Decks of cards?

Use a razor to ever so carefully remove the plastic. Try to "unglue" it from the top. Remove plastic, insert into bottle. Empty the card box, unfold, flatten, and then insert into bottle. you will have to "roll" it slightly to get it in. Using long forceps, refold the box, and slip into plastic. Now insert cards a few at a time. Fill the box, fold the flap down, and carefully fold the plastic down. A very tiny spot of clear glue should keep the plastic where it belongs.

[Norcal29]

A great idea about the glue ..... however, and you are at a disadvantage here, if you saw the plastic wrapping on the out side, it appears as if original. That is, all of the edge looks as though it is seemed like it came from the factory. I'm thinking more like "Heat"(?) to unseal, but the reseal has me off base.

But I think you've hit the lock square on!!

Guard school sounds like an excellent idea and definitely worth while. I shifted and went the MBA route. Presumable with a PhD you plan to teach?

After the cards.... want to theorize on the tennis shoe????


R

[MrB]

The great thing about illusions is that your brain plays tricks with you. It makes you "want" to believe the impossible.

However; to get things in bottles, either:

1. The object was deformed/dissassembled to fit through the opening, or
2. The bottle was deformed or constructed around the object, or
3. Magic was used.

Of the above options, number 1 is surely going to be the most likely, practical and feasible approach in the majority of cases. However much you tell yourself it can't have happened, it must have happened.

Tennis shoes are really rather soft and deformable. I think that given enough force you could probably scrunch one up quite small. If you were really mad you could dissassemble it and glue it back together inside the bottle, but I don't think I would have the finesse and patience to do that.

[funboy79015]

Here is my thought on how these bottles are made. Carefully, cut the bottom out of the bottle. Put the stuff into the bottle then reattach the bottom using the type of epoxy that is used to fix those star shaped cracks in windshields.

[Norcal29]

I have to agree ... the obvious is the bottle has not been adjusted in any way. I actually confirmed this with Jeff on the phone one day.

That leaves only "Somehow" you adjust everything that goes into the bottle so that "It" appears to magic, whatever that means (read illusion to the normal way of thinking).

You would have to be pretty pis*&^$#" to cut up a shoe to put in a bottle and then reassemble it.

[scampdog]

ships in bottles are reasonably easy if you take time to make everything collapsible.

but a lock in a bottle, is a totally different kettle of fish. the only way i can see of doing it ,is to cut the lock body into three sections, very accurately, then drilling and pinning the centre section,and drilling the two other sections to match up with the centre one. assemble the pieces outside of the bottle and clean up all the joints as smooth as possible. you will need to make up some makeshift tweezers to allow you to work inside the bottle.insert the sections and apply superglue to the body parts(NOT THE PINS)and press together. the shackle could be fitted, by cutting the top of the shackle bend diagonally, insert in to the shackle holes apply glue to the cut diagonals and fix in situ.

sorry about the sketching (useless with a pencil ), sounds like a really good project,when you get it done, don't forget to post it for us.