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  1. #1
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    Default Wolverhampton Auction


  2. #2
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    No idea, I wasn't even sure if it was lock/safe related as there are other general engineering bits on there from other companies.

  3. #3
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    Default Woodruff Keys?

    In general engineering terms I've sometimes been mislead by key machines and lock machines; for instance there are machines that produce Woodruff keys and their slots, and machines that fold and lock two sheets of metal together etc.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Woodruff key
    noun
    noun: Woodruff key; plural noun: Woodruff keys

    • a key whose cross section is part circular, to fit into a curved keyway in a shaft, and part rectangular, used chiefly in machinery.

  4. #4
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    This looks like it take two double bitted keys of some type.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldlock View Post
    This looks like it take two double bitted keys of some type.
    AVA keys for Chubb firefile cylinders?

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    Mosler used a twin spindle key on their 302 model combination lock dial spindles. Probably used a similar machine to cut them.

  7. #7
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    They used to cut the ava keys on standard key machines, even remember doing them on hand cranked machines back in the depots, and then later they used the prima laser.
    They were that pushed for space down at Dunstall, I cannot imagine them having machine this large there and me not coming across it either there or at woden rd.

  8. #8
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    Tom nailed it, apparently it was for cutting ava keys to code.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gary Stephenson View Post
    Tom nailed it, apparently it was for cutting ava keys to code.
    It is nice to be right occasionally. 😺

  10. #10
    Huw Eastwood's Avatar
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    Well done Tom !

    I have to admit to looking at that quite a bit and still being stumped on what seemed a very elaborate set-up for a key machine. The possibility of it being for code cutting didn't even enter my head, although the full size chip tray did suggest it was used for banging out quantities of whatever they were!

    Tbh I don't think I'd have guessed Ava's as we cut ours so simple in comparison to that one ! In the early days with an Ava turret on a rattly old Mancuna and then replaced that with a posh new Silca set-up permanently with the Ava/Abloy carriage.

    I wouldn't mind having a go on that or seeing it at work just for old times sake.

    Heres the machine in question in case the link ever gets broken
    Click image for larger version. 

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