Welcome to our world exploring the Historical, Political and Technological aspects of Locks, Keys and Safes

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Back to basics

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default Back to basics

    What does anyone think about the difference between pin and pipe blanks?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,755
    Country: Wales

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    686
    Country: Bulgaria

    Default

    Not my intention at all.

  4. #4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chubby View Post
    Not my intention at all.
    I have wondered in the past which came first? I think it would be very hard to figure out the answer.

    I used to have some Roman padlocks from 1st-3rd century and they had posts in them and after recalling as many locks as I can it seems that it is far more common to have pipe keys associated with padlocks. I think the split is close to 50-50 pipe or pin for door locks.

    If locksmithing were a true classical profession that would be a good subject for a dissertation.
    BBE.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Devon UK
    Posts
    3,117
    Country: UK

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BBE View Post
    I have wondered in the past which came first? I think it would be very hard to figure out the answer.

    I used to have some Roman padlocks from 1st-3rd century and they had posts in them and after recalling as many locks as I can it seems that it is far more common to have pipe keys associated with padlocks. I think the split is close to 50-50 pipe or pin for door locks.

    If locksmithing were a true classical profession that would be a good subject for a dissertation.
    BBE.
    Potential reasons are likely to be functional and so I would guess that it was easier to make a reliably round hole than a reliably round pin when it had a flag/bit sticking out of it.
    also basic padlocks don’t always line up the front and back keyholes as accurately as could be wished but a pipe key means the front hole can be much bigger.
    then of course, with simple mechanisms, the depth and diameter of the pipe could add to the differs available or allow master keying.
    on modern safes where keys can be alloy pipe keys it almost looks like they are deliberately building in repeat keycutting business.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Aberdeenshire
    Posts
    697
    Country: Great Britain

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Gordon View Post
    Potential reasons are likely to be functional and so I would guess that it was easier to make a reliably round hole than a reliably round pin when it had a flag/bit sticking out of it.
    also basic padlocks don’t always line up the front and back keyholes as accurately as could be wished but a pipe key means the front hole can be much bigger.
    then of course, with simple mechanisms, the depth and diameter of the pipe could add to the differs available or allow master keying.
    on modern safes where keys can be alloy pipe keys it almost looks like they are deliberately building in repeat keycutting business.
    Pin or Pipe,

    From a different perspective, attempting to pick the lock by the tentative method the 2 in 1 pick cannot be used unless the pin can be wangled out and the rivet hole cleared. Chubb and Price in particular left very little room for the insertion of wires before the time of the collar and curtain. The packing of the lock with both gunpowder and high explosives was also strictly limited unless the pin was first removed as above.
    This seems to make a case, at least in the early day, for the pipe. For the lock collector, making new keys to a lock the pipe comes into its own when aligning the perpendicular of the blank.

    How often has the safe mechanic in times past, when told the key won’t turn, asked for a hairpin to clear the packed oose (Scot.) out of the drill hole. Money for old rope so another point for.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Devon UK
    Posts
    3,117
    Country: UK

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by safeman View Post
    Pin or Pipe,

    From a different perspective, attempting to pick the lock by the tentative method the 2 in 1 pick cannot be used unless the pin can be wangled out and the rivet hole cleared. Chubb and Price in particular left very little room for the insertion of wires before the time of the collar and curtain. The packing of the lock with both gunpowder and high explosives was also strictly limited unless the pin was first removed as above.
    This seems to make a case, at least in the early day, for the pipe. For the lock collector, making new keys to a lock the pipe comes into its own when aligning the perpendicular of the blank.

    How often has the safe mechanic in times past, when told the key won’t turn, asked for a hairpin to clear the packed oose (Scot.) out of the drill hole. Money for old rope so another point for.
    Yes the pin obstructs the keyhole but I doubt it was a security measure when it is so easily wangled out or a simple tube put over the pin and a drill used down the tube.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Cleveland, Ohio USA
    Posts
    1,433
    Country: United States

    Default

    In the early 90's I was making and selling 2 in 1 picks for many different locks, several of which had pins. No need to remove the pin. Yes it is harder to make the picks but certainly doable.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •