Is this a locksmith's tool? plus odd key

[Timothy]

It is not a Locksmith tool. My guess it look like it for a file cabinet drawer. This is first i have seen it. Just maybe someone will come up with answer for it...Timothy....

[Huw Eastwood]

It's a small 4-pin 'key case' or 'keyhole' blocker lock. Most companies made both types for blocking key cases/cabinets with sliding glass doors and similar for blocking mortise/rim lock keyholes to prevent entry of keys.
Popular in continental europe, here's a Burg Wächter example for blocking keyholes, years ago we also had an American key case version by Guard.
Yours does look older, someone might have a catalog to ID it.

[mkz]

Thank you! I would have never figured that out. I will look thru the collection of keys to see if I have the key for it. Thanks again!

[Pschiffe]

It is not a Locksmith tool. My guess it look like it for a file cabinet drawer. This is first i have seen it. Just maybe someone will come up with answer for it...Timothy....

Looks similar to a Burg-Wachter sliding door showcase lock. See thumbnail attached from a defunct distributor catalog showing the lock plug together with both wood and glass door mounts.

Pete Schifferli

[Huw Eastwood]

Zylinder-Schlüssellochsperrers! here's another two of the Burg Wächters, same type i posted earlier but still sealed on their respective UK and German home market cards.

[mkz]

Sadly I do not have the key for it. Any opinions on the personalized Yale key with the name on it? Is it common?

[Timothy]

No you not going to find the key blank like the one you post the first time. They no longer made those kind of blank. To me it look like Y-1 999-5 pin 999B-4 or 5-pin. As least you have a good old lock from Yale....Timothy....

[nathanbonstein]

the paracentric key at the time was made for a specific company or store if 5 pin was a #8 and if 6 pin a #11
the blanks for the key block are around,but then you have to find a locksmith to cut it
Timothy is correct it would be a 999--y1 or 999A--y2 depending on who made the blanks

[mkz]

Thanks for the info. The key does not go to the lock. It was in the collection and I am just curious as to why it has a name on it. I assume maybe it is the name of the lock shop or locksmith. I couldn't find another example of this so thought it might be unusual. I'm more into locks than keys so pardon my ignorance! Thanks for everyone's help!

[Pschiffe]

No you not going to find the key blank like the one you post the first time. They no longer made those kind of blank. To me it look like Y-1 999-5 pin 999B-4 or 5-pin. As least you have a good old lock from Yale....Timothy....

I'm guessing that custom incised Yale key, obviously made for Max Frankel; an olde time locksmith in Syracuse, NY was intended to encourage a return to that shop for replacement keys and also that genuine Yale blanks be utilized. It likely dates to the early 20th century. See thumbnail of an advertising card from Mr. Frankel. The other thumbnail is of a similar Yale-type key made for another long-gone local locksmith in Buffalo, NY. It is not marked Yale however and likely came from an after-market manufacturer. Pete Schifferli