C2 Keys

[Dave K.]

Can anyone advise as to who can cut original GM Briggs and Stratton keys for my midyear? I want judging quality, original appearance. Is there anyone besides the guy advertising in the Driveline?

Regards,
Dave K.
33108

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 Keys

Pete Lindahl can do it. Look up his profile (buttons on the top of the page) ans send him a PM.

[Donald L.]

Re: C2 Keys

Try Pat Krause. He does most of the Mason Dixon Clubs work.
(410) 879 9647
www.hotrodolds@aol.com

[William C.]

Re: C2 Keys

Try NCRS member Pat Kraus, "HotRodOlds@aol.com" 410-879-9647 I believe.

[Eugene B.]

Re: C2 Keys

Dave,
For GM keys, I highly recommend Pat's Locks, Ltd. His work is great and keys are reasonably priced.

The owner is Pat Kraus. He is located in Fallston, Maryland. You can reach him at 410-879-9647.

Regards,
Gene

[William C.]

Sounds like Pat is the NCRS locksmith!! *NM*

[Dave K.]

Re: Sounds like Pat is the NCRS locksmith!!

Guys,

Thanks much. I'll call Pat.

Dave K.

[Gary B.]

Dave: what do you mean by "cut"?

Dave,

What do you mean by "who can cut" keys? Any competent locksmith can cut a key from another key or from the key code. If you live in any decent sized city there is someone local to you who should be able to do it.

If you're looking for correct NOS key C2 blanks, that's another story. Totally correct NOS key blanks for C1 and early '63's (without the trademark symbol) are already very rare and correct blanks for other C2 years with the correct size hole are becoming rare.

Gary

[Patrick T.]

Sounds like Pat is the NCRS locksmith!!

I think I may have posted this before, but Pat Kraus did the whole nine yards on my '67 locks, keys, bezels, everything. It took about a week and the charge was very reasonable. PT

[John D.]

Re: Dave: what do you mean by "cut"?

Hi Dave, Read a recent article in "The Restorer" written by Peter Lindahl & Gary Beaupre. "Key Hole View of Keys" Winter 2006 page 10. My '63 has one original key with the big hole and the trademark. Your '66 should be the same I believe. Peter has the correct keys from what I hear. Just send him your key code. John Bollard told me at a recent show that Peter's keys are dead nuts.
John D.

[Donald M.]

Re: Dave: what do you mean by "cut"?

Gary, That is not such a strange question. I went to a local locksmith to have a spare set of keys cut for my'67 and he said he did not have old key "numbers", even though I had the key codes written down for him. I think he meant something else that he needed. Of course, I didn't get them cut (NOS blanks, you know!).He offered to cut them from the old set, I said no since they were worn. So, not every shop can cut the 50's and 60's keys.

[Jack H.]

Re: Dave: what do you mean by "cut"?

"...he said he did not have old key "numbers", even though I had the key codes written down for him. I think he meant something else that he needed."

What's meant is this. The four digit code used for locks & keys doesn't tell the locksmith how to cut the key. I points to an entry in a cut table that says at each specific tumbler position on the key blank, whether to cut a 1-4 depth notch (pre-67 keys) or a 1-5 depth notch (67 and later).

Without the cut table, the key code is useless. Some have code cutting machines that do their own table look-up and spit out a fresh key with simply the key's code as input. Other locksmiths have the cut tables on micro fische and they can translate the specific cut sequence from the key's code.

If you happen to have a copy of the Chassis Service Manual, there's a nice description of the key cut sequence in the forward section under locks. It provides a side view picture of a key blank (1:1, you can lay your key on top of the drawing) with horizontal lines representing the different cut depths...

[Gary B.]

I guess I made the mistaken assumption that

all old-school locksmiths had the tools and skills that my brother has and could cut a 50's and 60's key from the code number.

Gary

[Terry M.]

key business aint what it used to be

The Chevrolet dealer where I buy my parts bought a computer controlled key "cutting" machine a couple of years ago. The parts manager told me he had to buy it in order to make keys for one of the then new models. It was the only way to make the keys for that model. It uses a rotating cutter just like the machine at the hardware store, but the depth of cut is controlled by a computer. Next week, when I am in to pick up the part(s) I have on order I'll have to ask if they still have the old pliers type key cutters and the key code cut list. Now I am curious if the computer contains the code cut charts. Maybe I can score some more old goodies from the back room.

[Joseph T.]

Re: key business aint what it used to be

I bought a 57 that had no keys..I took the passenger side door lock to a local locksmith and he made keys for me from the code on the tumbler..which also worked in the ignition. Took about 15 minutes and cost about $15