Twiskee patents and/or history?

[wylk]

I accidentally ran across a patent (486,685) that looks a lot like the Twiskee locks. These were very simple-looking low security padlocks that used a unique twisted key. As far as I can tell the keys used different twist directions (CW and CCW), and amount of twist (90 degrees, 180, 270, possibly others) for a very small keyspace. Some keys had side milling which was probably a later addition to increase the number of keys (in one direction, at least, i.e. a side-milled 180 CW key would still operate a lock designed for a non-milled key but not vice-versa).

Aside from this very old patent, does anybody have any other information on Twiskees?

[nocona46]

Hello...I see this is a very old post, so I hope you are still out there! I am trying to re-create some of my history, so I am looking for a Twiskee lock and key. About 60 years ago, my brother was stationed in Korea, and when he came home he brought me (a 6 year old) a Twiskee. Of course it looked odd so I kept it, and about a year later, he was stationed at Ft Riley, KS, and he brought me an old Yale lock...locked with no key...and he jokingly said..."Maybe that weird key will work". IT DID!!! For years I kept them, and showed everyone how the weird key opened the Yale lock. Unfortunately my dad locked my lock on an old building, then sold it, and would not go back to retrieve my lock. I tried the key in many locks...to no avail! Years later, in the 1970's in Phoenix, my keys were stolen and the Twiskee was lost to me forever. I recently started looking to replace it, and found 3 keys on E-bay, but so far no lock. They keys I bought off E-bay are twisted in different directions, and I've tried them on all my old locks--hey! I can dream, can't I?? Do you have any idea where I can find a lock? Thanks, Sylvia

I accidentally ran across a patent (486,685) that looks a lot like the Twiskee locks. These were very simple-looking low security padlocks that used a unique twisted key. As far as I can tell the keys used different twist directions (CW and CCW), and amount of twist (90 degrees, 180, 270, possibly others) for a very small keyspace. Some keys had side milling which was probably a later addition to increase the number of keys (in one direction, at least, i.e. a side-milled 180 CW key would still operate a lock designed for a non-milled key but not vice-versa).

Aside from this very old patent, does anybody have any other information on Twiskees?

[russj262]

I have a Twiskee lock that I am interested in selling and was about to list on ebay. Lock is in very good condition with both keys. Send me a message and I will send you pictures.

Russ

Hello...I see this is a very old post, so I hope you are still out there! I am trying to re-create some of my history, so I am looking for a Twiskee lock and key. About 60 years ago, my brother was stationed in Korea, and when he came home he brought me (a 6 year old) a Twiskee. Of course it looked odd so I kept it, and about a year later, he was stationed at Ft Riley, KS, and he brought me an old Yale lock...locked with no key...and he jokingly said..."Maybe that weird key will work". IT DID!!! For years I kept them, and showed everyone how the weird key opened the Yale lock. Unfortunately my dad locked my lock on an old building, then sold it, and would not go back to retrieve my lock. I tried the key in many locks...to no avail! Years later, in the 1970's in Phoenix, my keys were stolen and the Twiskee was lost to me forever. I recently started looking to replace it, and found 3 keys on E-bay, but so far no lock. They keys I bought off E-bay are twisted in different directions, and I've tried them on all my old locks--hey! I can dream, can't I?? Do you have any idea where I can find a lock? Thanks, Sylvia

[russj262]

I have sold the lock that previously had available.

[wylk]

Another problem with this particular style of Twiskee: the key is not symmetric. Unless you are observant about the position of the stamp on the case, you will probably insert the key in the wrong direction half the time, pull it out, and re-insert in the correct direction. In the process, the key will slowly chew away at the profile wards (correct term?) in the plug since pot metal is so soft. So it's not very convient and given enough time and hard use, the wards may disappear. At that point a plain key might work the lock. I have to admit this is a fairly unlikely attack but there is still the aspect of convenience.

In this example plug the wards are almost entirely gone. The lock seems to have been abused at the end of its life and possibly before that.

A better design would have been a symmetric key but there's no way to know what went into the decision-making at the time.

[Sprockets]

Amazing that there was an earlier twisted key patent! The one used on this lock was by Christian Buehner- US 1849070. It took me ages to find, but I found the excellent -antique-padlocks-com could have saved me many hours, if I had not looked there first!

Thanks to wylk's investigation, the actual lock was shown to also use a lateral locking pin in the bolt, which is notdepicted on the patent. A picking expert on the internet was disappointed by the ease with which he was able to violate a "Twiskee", using a hard lockpick forced through the diecast plug-what agonies it must have suffered!

[Doug MacQueen]

I don't know, it looks like rocket science to me. Realeaux triangles, Wankle engines with flattened sides to allow for a combustion area, scalloped sides to allow for a cutting edge. All these things I didn't learn in high school.

[wylk]

They do show up on eBay from time to time. You might look into saving "Twiskee" as what they call a followed search so you don't have to keep checking every few days.

There are a few lock shows each year (Los Angeles, Lancaster PA, Terryville CT, and Indianapolis) if you can attend one but I can't guarantee you'd find a Twiskee lock.

[wylk]

When I originally wrote "I also would like to know how the warding plug was manufactured" I had just taken the lock apart and verified parts were non-magnetic (except the locking bar and shackle). I was incorrectly assuming the plug was brass but everything was dark and dirty. Later I started cleaning up the pieces with an ultrasonic cleaner and wire brush and noticed the plug was different and not brass-colored. Using a file yielded a pot-metal color and it "felt" like pot metal when filed. Having thus concluded it was really pot metal, I assumed it was cast because that's rather easy to do.

Here is a picture of the key and plug:



Yes, I've seen square-hole drills and they are quite interesting. Some YouTube videos (search for "square hole drilling" without the quotes, for example):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALiqAXiTQBg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjckF0-VeGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5AzbDJ7KYI

[wylk]

Has anybody disassembled a Twiskee lock? I have three bodies (one without shackle, one without key, and a working key/lock). I intend to dig into the body-only one but none of the three show any clue how they were assembled.