Modified Tubular Lock

[wpski]

I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen a lock similar to this and/or knows what company sells them. They are equiped on the vending machines at the place I work. It looks similar to a tubular lock but with no notch for the key. In case the image isn't clear enough there seems to be 6 tubular pins with rounded ends equally spaced around the cylinder, one regular tubular pin at approximatly 30 degrees and a ball on the top of the cylinder.

I know in previous posts people were concerned about people asking about how to open vending machine locks, when they didn't own the locks. I'm not interested in stealing anything, just knowing how it works.

Thanks

Link to the picture

[TOWCH]

There's an arcade around here that locks up some of it's games with that type of lock. Looks like it's main purpose is to make standard tubular picks ineffective.

[wpski]

Yeah thats what I was thinking, I think it works by having you push the pins all down to the right depths first, and then when you turn the key it applies the turning force onto the side of the pins. I'm trying to contact the vending machine company that services these machines in the hope of finding out who makes the locks so I can buy one of them to pull apart and see how it actually works.

[quicklocks]

[TOWCH]

The tension could be applied to that pin. Unfortunately the only way to find out would be to play with the thing and playing with other peoples locks tends to be frowned upon.

[wpski]

Yeah I thought that the pin at approximatly the 2:00 position would be used to apply tension. I played around with the lock one day at work and noticed that all 7 of the pins could be pushed in, and the ball bearing at the top of the lock could be pushed up into the lock too. Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on one of these locks and pull it apart to see how it works.

[bushd]

Post information on lock when acquired if you would, thanks. I wouldn't mind finding one of those myself.

[LOCKITIS]

WE CALL THAT A FORGE LOCK, ARCADE MACHINES AND SEVERAL OTHER VENDING MACHINES USE THIS LOCK, YES IT IS PICKABLE BUT A KEY IS NEEDED TO MAKE A PICK, YOU CUT THE GROVES LIKE YOU WOULD AN ACE.

[archiebald]

Thanks mate th lock has been drives me nuts when I look at it.

[willy634]

so these locks cannot be picked?? if someone were to loose there key you could not get in ???

[Chucklz]

These locks are rather trivial to pick if you own the HPC pick for them. Even a modified key and some wire can do the job.

[willy634]

sorry.. but get a pic from who??

[Chucklz]

HPC Inc. Schiller Park Illinois

[Pickermeapie]

That wouldnt happen to be a "Nix-Pix" would it, Chucklz?

[willy634]

Well I can't find anything refering to a forge lock. If that is it's proper name. Do you know which tools i would use??