Tucson Lock Safari

[GWiens2001]

My 8-year-old son and I were inspired by Zeepia's Hungarian Lock Safari, so he and I made our own Tucson Lock Safari. (By the way, thanks for the lock trade, Zeepia!)

Granted, it is not far since we live in Tucson, but we sure had fun. About 2 hours of stopping by each group of stores got us plenty to photographs.

The first 4 pics shown are locks of which I am not sure who makes them or the model. Note: we do not own any of these locks in these pictures, and some are for vending or security systems, so we are NOT asking how to open or bypass these 4 locks, only if someone here can identify them for us.

First, is this one a Galaxy?

The other three unknowns:






And now the others. Some are common, some are not. Hope you enjoy!







Yes, this American 5200 was left unlocked, and not by us!








This deadbolt was on a restroom door. As filthy as it was, I think they should give a copy of the key to the cleaning crew!








This Kwikset came from a sliding glass door.




























This is from a newspaper vending machine.








And now a Mul-T-Lock copy:


I won't say what business this one was on, but considering the cost of the merchandise they sell, I'd choose something more secure.

[GWiens2001]

Sorry if the OP is too long. Won't be doing such a long one again, but wanted to cover the entire safari.

Gordon

[MBI]

That's quite a wide variety. Pretty cool.

[zeepia]

Nice safari with a lot of cool lock pictures. Specially liked that Bupra letter combination lock storage box. Still would like to have some other to play with personally.

So my trip to Hungary wasn´t waste of time but the original idea came from AtticRR and his safari in SF. And the ball turns again and again...

[Solomon]

Someone had a busy day by the looks of it! Really cool stuff in there, thanks for taking the time to share them with us

[cledry]

I am surprised someone doesn't confront you going around snapping photos of locks. Around here you cannot even photograph inside shopping malls.

[cledry]

Nice safari with a lot of cool lock pictures. Specially liked that Bupra letter combination lock storage box. Still would like to have some other to play with personally.

So my trip to Hungary wasn´t waste of time but the original idea came from AtticRR and his safari in SF. And the ball turns again and again...

It is Supra.

[cledry]

I've seen those locks pictured in the second photo, I think they come from Lock America.

[GWiens2001]

That second lock was on a 'fireman's box. This is a box that is set up so that the fire department has a key, and can use it to access a true key to the business in event of an emergency. I just don't know who manufacturers them. A closer look makes it look as it may be a disc detainer lock, but not sure. Again, not asking how to open it, just who makes it.

Gordon

[GWiens2001]

As for photographing the locks, with my 8-year-old son running ahead and saying excitedly "Here is a Medeco Biaxial, I can see the split circle, Dad!" Or "Here is a Schlage, but it has a funny triangle on it...does that mean anything special, Dad?", i only had two people (regular customers), who looked at me a little funny. I just said, in an offhand mannor, that "he wants to be a spy, and is fascinated by locks". One said "Which boy didn't at that age" and smiled, the other said "Oh, well try those gates over there, it has a wierd lock on it." (The gates had the pic of the MTL padlock seen above).

Gordon

[MrWizard]

Sounds like you both had a great day. Lots of different types from regular to high security mortise including combo key box and padlocks your son must have been excited with all those to check out. That first picture when those type came out I believe it was called a Change-O-Matic. Who made that one I really don't know. Same principle whoever it is. Good job lot of pictures.

Richard

[Evan]

@GWiens2001:

You found some interesting locks...

The SFIC InstaKey locks are probably the most unusual of the lot, they work by having stacks of glued pins which allow the retail store to re-key simply by using a specific "step key" in the lock which shears off one of the glued pins and via a cut out in the correct spot on the bottom of the key blade extracts the pin making the previous keys inoperative... Yes on an SFIC this seems like a strange thing to do, but it doesn't require an additional set of cores, only a sealed plastic baggie of the new set of keys... InstaKey SFIC has a market share more for their exclusive keyway and on-line management of key holders via serialized keys...

The lock on the newspaper rack is interesting in that it does not actually lock anything, it is a tamper-proof control which is used once a week on Sundays to increase the price the machine charges for opening the door to take a paper... The coin vault is secured by a pin and padlock which projects through the entire coin box area and the padlock is attached up inside the little welded box...

~~ Evan

[GWiens2001]

Evan,

Cool! Thanks for the explanations. Never knew that anybody made a lock that rekeys as you describe the InstaKey. Also, it is interesting that they use the key on that newspaper machine to change prices. I always thought that would be done intenally to the machine, like a soda machine.

Gordon

[Evan]

Evan,

Cool! Thanks for the explanations. Never knew that anybody made a lock that rekeys as you describe the InstaKey. Also, it is interesting that they use the key on that newspaper machine to change prices. I always thought that would be done intenally to the machine, like a soda machine.

Gordon

Nope, the route person delivering the papers to the machine for circulation doesn't have any keys except on Sunday, they would use slugs (basically coin substitutes) to open the machine to put the papers in... On Sunday the person loading the machine needs to be able to change the price without opening the machine since only the revenue agent who services the machines to collect the money from them has the keys to open the top of the machines...

~~ Evan

[djhobbes]

That second lock was on a 'fireman's box. This is a box that is set up so that the fire department has a key, and can use it to access a true key to the business in event of an emergency. I just don't know who manufacturers them. A closer look makes it look as it may be a disc detainer lock, but not sure. Again, not asking how to open it, just who makes it.

Gordon

Most fire department boxes around my area are Knox Boxes.