Alternative key blanks

[toolboxted]

Do any of you locksmiths have some advice on how to find key blanks when the original blanks are no longer reproduced ?

I’m trying to find alternative key blanks for the clasp lid lock keys used on antique and vintage machinist tool chests. These keys are often lost and when an owner takes his chest to today’s locksmith for impression cutting, they don’t know what blank to use. I’d like to add the alternative blank numbers to my website ‘The Guide for 20th Century Wooden Machinist Tool Chests’ to help solve this problem.

The original locks all had 1-4 lever tumblers. The alternative blank will, undoubtably, be for pin tumbler locks, but that’s ok because the nose can be recut. A ¾” long blade would work fine.

Eagle Lock Co. - ILCO supplies the !013G and 1013GR blanks and they are available.
National Lock Co. – Another locksmith found that by modifying the nose of an ILCO 1098M – B1 blank, it fits the keyway and can be used as an alternative National blank, which I have verified.

Yale & Towne Mfg. Co. and Corbin Cabinet Lock Co. – Any advice on finding alternative blanks for these two companies would be appreciated. I do know some of the key numbers………Ted

[toolboxted]

Here’s an update on my search for alternative grooved key blanks for the machinist tool chest’s keys.

Eagle Lock – No changes, except I did find a 49Yxx flat steel key lock that’s supposed to have 3 lever tumblers, but it only had 2, from the factory.

National Lock and Yale & Towne - I’ve added the ILCO 1013GR blank which can be easily cut to fit the keyway. However, they sit a little low at the top in the keyway.

Corbin Cabinet – I finally obtained a clasp lid lock and found that a .040t ILCO 1222E flat steel blank will fit the grooved keyway by cutting the blade height and nose to the proper sizes. I also shortened the blank. The key works fine.

To see the Alternative Key Blank page visit -
[url]'The' Guide for Wooden Machinist Tool Chests - Pg 272 - Alternative Key Blanks[/url]