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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    47
    Country: UK

    Question Pierre Haffner safe keys information request

    So these are rather unusual keys by Pierre Haffner. I don’t seem to be able to find much about him or his unique key design. I can only assume it was either not very good or too expensive to produce?

    I have included picture of the 2 keys I have along with some photos of Pierre and a safe.

    Please let me know if you have any info on this?
    (Ps searching the forum this looks to be the first post about this key which is interesting).
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails BCA84194-84F1-467A-AD37-A40DF4A85F9C.jpeg   04FF89CC-29A5-41CE-A797-DFC89971B4DB.jpeg   E4A17055-C116-47E5-B8DD-541F34525ED0.jpeg   5A581BEE-660C-4E7D-A881-4F491F00E185.jpeg   A7933AEE-11AB-4FC3-829E-853584B815F5.jpeg  

    D0A30F9B-B894-4E73-8C63-B7B6EA9CB527.jpeg   67B59DEA-BEBE-45EC-A9B0-730B1770502D.jpeg  

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    47
    Country: UK

    Default

    Some more pictures...
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 394B916F-F32C-422C-B634-DFD0F2839A4A.jpeg   EE8AA5DB-E48D-46CA-941E-CE05080108D8.jpeg   8D732714-67D7-4F46-B049-0D391DBC533D.jpeg  

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,754
    Country: Wales

    Default

    The keys with the turned flutes and flats on the end are simply for turning the geared combination lock tubes, those comb locks were typical of french safes at the time.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Update; realised the French text accompanying the original illustration on the page opposite was irrelevant to Haffner so have cropped it.

    What made the Haffner different was probably the rotatable disc on the outside of the safe which gave access to each of the combination tubes (to enable the above key to enter),which is possibly where any patents may apply. The key, although fancy looking is simply used as a tool to turn each of the numbers of the combination.
    Last edited by Huw Eastwood; 14-07-19 at 04:11 PM. Reason: Cropped picture and updated

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    leeds
    Posts
    609
    Country: Great Britain

    Default

    The Haffner key I have as well as operating the clicker combination tubes also operates an 8 lever keylock which retracts the safe boltwork, the action of turning the key pulls the levers onto the keyshaft and a shoulder on the levers hits the various sized rings on the key which lifts the levers to the gate position, I will sort out some pictures.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    leeds
    Posts
    609
    Country: Great Britain

    Default

    was doing a search on Haffner to try to find out some info and came across this, so for future reference, interesting mechanism.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails haffner lock (11).jpg   haffner lock (7).jpg  

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