West Peterson Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Alexander Soultanis and I were discussing unique vintage keys, and decided that VW had the most interesting. Prove us wrong. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 I may be biased but VW Keys sure looked cooler to me than other brands. Have any cool looking car keys? Post them up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Ford had some neat ones too. Comet Mercury 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted July 12, 2022 Author Share Posted July 12, 2022 I will also submit that Packard had it right, too. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 1915 Buick 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Original KdF-Wagen Key. The First version. KdF-Wagen Beetles were built 1938-1944 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Sorry but you and Alex have been to the local tavern too much. Now here is a key! Like you did not expect me to chime in with an Olds! 6 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 (edited) 1981-83 Chrysler Imperial crystal and gold key.... Edited July 12, 2022 by keiser31 (see edit history) 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Are some of these keys posted up here an aftermarket or an accessory key you could buy? I'm thinking so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 I'm currently using these three ignition keys. They're all non-original novelty aftermarket accessory swap meet items that I bought over the years. I like them because they're easier to grab than the smaller originals. Years ago a friend of mine had a somewhat complete rotating display rack full of these featuring all the popular US makes of the 50s. It's long gone but what a great man cave item it would be today. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK Sr. Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Keys don’t get much prettier than this Wills Sainte Claire 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK Sr. Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 here is a flock with lock! Spare tire lock, transmission lock, trunk lock, golf club door, new old stock 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 When I would go into a really old locksmith shop it was always fun to see all the old car blanks hanging up and try to figure out what make cars they were for just by the shape of them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 This Franklin key has to date from the 1928 to 1934 era judging from the script style to the name, most likely 1929-1933. Was for their Airman series car . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 1 hour ago, KdFwagen said: Are some of these keys posted up here an aftermarket or an accessory key you could buy? I'm thinking so. Undoubtedly. The FoMoCo keys are original Ford. Steve's Oldsmobile key is an aftermarket- GM factory keys as a rule were pretty, shall we say, boring and uninspired. Some had a GM logo on them, others had just Briggs and Stratton markings. Ford seemed to be more about having a distinctive key design and marque identity, even for lowly Comet and Falcon. Think it was 1965 Chrysler started using Pentastar-shaped keys? Great thread. Keep 'em coming!😎 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 On a side note, anyone remember the license plate keychains the DAV would send out? Two of my uncles had war wounds and were DAV members so I saw a lot of those keychains over the years. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 42 minutes ago, rocketraider said: Undoubtedly. The FoMoCo keys are original Ford. Steve's Oldsmobile key is an aftermarket- GM factory keys as a rule were pretty, shall we say, boring and uninspired. Some had a GM logo on them, others had just Briggs and Stratton markings. Ford seemed to be more about having a distinctive key design and marque identity, even for lowly Comet and Falcon. Think it was 1965 Chrysler started using Pentastar-shaped keys? Great thread. Keep 'em coming!😎 Hey he said vintage keys! That's what he got was a vintage aftermarket key! Peterson needed to be more explicit if he wanted factory keys! So there.... 3 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdome Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 This This photo has to be one of the oldest automotive ignition keys if not the first. The key is for a 1903 Cadillac. You insert the key into 1 of 2 holes in the heel board and it will close a pair of contacts for either battery A or battery B. Cadillac did not have a removable key in 1904 or 05, like many other cars of that era. In 1906 Cadillac had a 3 position switch for battery A, Battery B, or BOTH with a much smaller key you insert to close the circuit between the selected switch position and the coil. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Bonesteel Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Hard to beat the Willis Sainte Claire or the 1915 Buick noted above, but no such discussion is complete without at least a reference to the 'bent key' by Yale Omega produced for the 33-34 Mopars as part of their 'bandit-proof' lock system. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 1917-1918 Buick 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted July 12, 2022 Author Share Posted July 12, 2022 3 hours ago, KdFwagen said: Are some of these keys posted up here an aftermarket or an accessory key you could buy? I'm thinking so. The Packard key is not aftermarket. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 4 hours ago, Steve Moskowitz said: Hey he said vintage keys! That's what he got was a vintage aftermarket key! Peterson needed to be more explicit if he wanted factory keys! So there.... I hope West is taking note of all these with possibility of a feature or filler page in Antique Automobile... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 7 hours ago, Steve Moskowitz said: Sorry but you and Alex have been to the local tavern too much. Now here is a key! Like you did not expect me to chime in with an Olds! I believe that is an aftermarket key blank sold at shopping mall keycutting kiosks. GM never offered anything that nice. Craig 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 5 hours ago, jdome said: This This photo has to be one of the oldest automotive ignition keys if not the first. The key is for a 1903 Cadillac. You insert the key into 1 of 2 holes in the heel board and it will close a pair of contacts for either battery A or battery B. Cadillac did not have a removable key in 1904 or 05, like many other cars of that era. In 1906 Cadillac had a 3 position switch for battery A, Battery B, or BOTH with a much smaller key you insert to close the circuit between the selected switch position and the coil. That is very cool. Thanks for posting it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 1 hour ago, rocketraider said: I hope West is taking note of all these with possibility of a feature or filler page in Antique Automobile... Not a bad idea! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 5 hours ago, Scott Bonesteel said: Hard to beat the Willis Sainte Claire or the 1915 Buick noted above, but no such discussion is complete without at least a reference to the 'bent key' by Yale Omega produced for the 33-34 Mopars as part of their 'bandit-proof' lock system. That is wild. A new one on me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KdFwagen Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 9 hours ago, KdFwagen said: Original KdF-Wagen Key. The First version. KdF-Wagen Beetles were built 1938-1944 This KdF-Wagen key I found after 15 or so years of hunting for it in Europe. Lucky to get it as they are Incredibly scarce and never had a chance at another one. Around 1945 the key cut profile and tumblers were flipped over (like a mirror image) and stayed that way moving forward. From what I understand the power on dash switch, drivers door handle, trunk and engine lid handle were all keyed alike. Most KdF-wagen beetles that survived were updated to 1946 era tumblers and keys soon after. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Bonesteel Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Here is a little bit better shot of the Yale Omega 'bent key' where you can see how significant the bend is in the key. I assume the concept was to prevent a straight shot at the lock tumblers for anyone trying to pick the locks. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne sheldon Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 (edited) On 7/12/2022 at 12:03 PM, Scott Bonesteel said: no such discussion is complete without at least a reference to the 'bent key' by Yale Omega produced for the 33-34 Mopars as part of their 'bandit-proof' lock system. 11 hours ago, Scott Bonesteel said: Here is a little bit better shot of the Yale Omega 'bent key' where you can see how significant the bend is in the key. I assume the concept was to prevent a straight shot at the lock tumblers for anyone trying to pick the locks. I had a key bent that way some years back. Don't remember where it came from, and few in the family had Mopars that many years ago. I wonder if I till have it? I thought it was strange when I found it in a box of stuff. At first thinking it had been damaged, but it looked too perfectly bent for that. At least now I know what it may have been from if I run into it again. Interesting stuff! Thank you all. Edited July 14, 2022 by wayne sheldon I hate leaving typos! (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 This is one of our early Citroen keys- very plain other than the Doubke Chevron on one side, and the key manufacturer’s name (Ronis) on the other, including the keyway code. Later Citroens like our 1971 D-21 Safari wagons and ‘72 SM with steering column interlock had a much more intricate design and larger size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 Pretty certain this is a Ford T key.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintage1 Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 How about these BMW keys with dimples instead of cut blades 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 ☺️ Kaiser and a Henry J key. I have 16 bags of keys.. and a shoe box.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 my nos gold Pontiac Chief keys and key pouch. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 On 7/12/2022 at 11:30 AM, Larry Schramm said: 1915 Buick Was going to post this myself. You beat me to it Larry. 😁 Show me a more unusual end than that gear. Dandy Dave! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted July 14, 2022 Share Posted July 14, 2022 1916 Maxwell Key Howard Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 54 Ford a fraternity brother had at college in the sixties. He could never figure out how people were using his car. 2 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Also can be used as a trunk key. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cudaman Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 (edited) Here is the key for the Splitdorf coil box on my 1912 Flanders. It serves no electrical function, it just links the front and back plates of the switch together so that the back section will turn with the front section. Edited July 15, 2022 by cudaman (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 On 7/13/2022 at 10:42 PM, keiser31 said: Pretty certain this is a Ford T key.... Yes. It is a Model T Ford key. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now