Old oddball tubular Key Machine

[goldpro]

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has a manual they could email me or info about this machine. It dates from around the early 1980's and was sold by Custom Security products/Pickmasters. It might have been made by Jensen as it's green and has a couple of dial indicators on it. It is very accurate but a bit slow to use. I found a couple of ads for it in old volumes of the National locksmith and I think they claimed it could cut keys with spacing for 7,8,9, 10, & 11 pins, cuts within a cut etc. The most puzzling thing is the spacing ring (large chrome round part) has 36 holes in it to divide a circle into. However many you need for a certain key....say 8 divisions for a 7 pin standard tubular lock. 36 divided by 8 = 4&1/2....this means I would need to move the spacing wheel 4 &1/2 holes to get to the next cut. that 1/2 hole is a bit of a problem as 8 doesn't divide into 36 evenly. :-) However the index pin can be shifted in it's holder to another placement hole to solve the problem. There are 10 different holes for the index pin to be put in. This means to cut a key you start- say with the index pin in hole 0 and the correct hole in the spacing plate. next cut you turn the spacing plate and put the index pin in hole #5 to get that 4&1/2 hole spacing. Kinda complicated and slow but it does work. The spacing is very accurate as is the depth although there is no quick way to zero the depth dial indicator so you know that a certain reading on the indicator means that the end of the cutter is exactly flush with the end of the key. Fortunately most of the blanks we use have the same measurement from the back of the barrel part to the tip so once you zero the cutter it stays pretty much bang on. The back of the barrel part on the key bottoms out on a inner shoulder inside the collet vise that holds the blanks. this is a code cutter only...no means to duplicate. has a small variable speed motor and is very quiet. I've written in felt pen on the spacing wheel the cut number in red and the index pin position in green. I don't know if I'm using it correctly so If anyone has experience with one of these please do let me know. thank you kindly, Tom