New stuff

These arrived today, courtesy of my new membership to a Locksmith forum and therefore being allowed to buy from businesses doing trade only with my industry.

I don't think I'll take these to work - have to play a bit first to see what they are like, but I have become rather very attached to my initial set of picks, they serve me well and I am getting excellent mileage out of the auto picks now too.

These seem to sit very well in the hand but have many shapes and designs which are ... interesting ... to the point of possibly "cool to have but not to use", sort of thing? I hope they have endurance though, they are very finely machined and feather-light.

mmm

mmm

mmm

Pics

The new set of Auto picks - man, totally worth it. Has picked many an ignition on my bench now, absolutely totally worth it. Cup of coffee - also mandatory.

An ignition on my bench awaiting picking in order to make keys to it - these people who bring in ignitions without keys and expect them to be turned around in under an hour - seriously? How's the old porn star t-shirt (hand wiping cloth) for a bit of colour, eh? I can't believe I used to wear that to Uni. LOL

This is a SARGENT locks sign that my friend and I spotted in the crazy antiques store in Parramatta. Shame it wasn't for sale, it's fairly awesome.

Thank you for the welcome

A quick hello and thank you to Eric at the Locksmith Trader forum for the personal welcome! It's nice to be welcome. Man this is all a far cry from the bollocks of trying to work in the industry in England!

Also, if you appreciate old locks, keys and the like - see Restraints Blog for some eye candy of said items, particularly padlocks - this guy sure knows how to find em.

The book. That day.

I am also hoping to buy this book on eBay as it's damned near impossible to find

I didn't realise it's a Shire Classic - ha ha.

This is the book that started it all, that fateful day I spent lazing at my friend's place, suckin down beers on the balcony in the shade on a 32 degree summer's day, having just picked my first padlock. I flicked through this simply illustrated book and was truly (I mean *TRULY*) fascinated.

Nothing's changed except how much romance I am allowed to engage with in relation to locks and keys. My only regret is not finding my career til I was 29yrs old.

Still, between reading this book at my friend's place in my hometown of Sydney and starting work in the industry over in England with no experience and a big serve of brave was only 4 months. I'm pretty proud of that bit, glass ceilings and all ....

eBay strikes again

So.

Bid for and "won" this item on eBay. I wanted the whole thing, case and all - I liked the idea of having a display case, even though I don't have anywhere to put anything at the moment - maybe that's why the display case appealed, so it *wouldn't* be in a box under my bed...

Then after talking it over with a friend, decide to opt out of the display case to save on postage. I had a very relieved seller replying saying that's for the best and they'd refund what I paid to have the case shipped with it - he was glad I'd changed my mind and gone for the cheaper option because UPS quoted him US$599 to get it to me here in Australia - that's not a typo for $59, that's US FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE DOLLARS. I paid US$86 - I guess he would've been up the creek if he'd had to honour the sale's postage!

Mmph. Now I'll be owning even more old locks and no frickin storage for them - so, I'm on the hunt for a nice jeweller's case/display case similar to this.

If any of these locks or keys are interesting to you, comment. I may even consider swapsies. My avid lock-collecting friend already has dibs on one of the padlocks!

A few pictures April 2010 - August 2010

The diversity of my few months as an indentured apprentice.... In pictures.

A range of stuff on my bench one morning, lined up for the day.

Pinning red Abus 83/50s to the NMB key, a Mazda lock with customer's key (common request "Make this lock work with my key" = take it all apart and rekey it), a customer's Holden key.

The Post Box - retired, like it's owner I think. SunSafe in foreground awaiting it's new second home.

Ah. Not one I could pick. It turned out to be an Emhart! Those in the know will know picking it was not really an option. Boss got one of the two out in tact for the keeping - anyone know where one can buy them new? Made by Corbin Russwin.

Rekeying a new Holden Commodore ignition to suit the customer's existing key

The "Jesus" lock (heh). Customer was a local church, this lock was used to safeguard the cups and other things used for mass for the wine/blood. I felt like I needed to be extra careful with this little job. It meant so much to the customer.

I do a lot of auto now - who would've thought! Cars are for boys.

The awesome jig. Yesss.

Mortice lock in fresh wood? No problem.

The biggest problem was the doors were literally painted 10 mins before we came along needing to fit new locks and we were told to do them anyway.

Pinning part of a Master-Keyed system (E V V A DPS)

The "Modified Locking Bar" - Seriously.  How long did this dodgy workmanship last...

The refurbed SunSafe - hours of fun. *coughs*

A Sunday Afternoon

I went to the Glebe Antique Fair today and after that back to Justin's place for some serious ogling at his impressive collection of locks, keys and other interesting things of similar nature.

Can anyone tell me if they've seen a key like this before?

I can't imagine quite how the sides having different cuts on them would actually function in a lock, but there is no question this in authentic key.

Any ideas?



Man it's that time of year where I wish I was going to LockCon. Although I was invited to go to the safecracking party held by Barry Wels (TOOOL & BlackBag Blog), that was when I lived in Europe and now I am back in Australia, that's one of the many forfeits I make in order to live here again - not being able to go to one of their awesome safe opening parties. 24+ hrs on a plane seems a bit much travel.

A $2 key

Rush tidy up of blog due to new link from Restraints Blog - Thank you for the mention!

I bought this flat key for only a couple of dollars at one of my local antique and bric-a-brac shops on the weekend.

I bought it because it actually has a profile/broach rather than being a straight flat key - and it has cuts on the underside of the length of it too, something a bit different for this type of key.
At first I thought they were signs of wear, but actually it's cut in to the key deliberately and neatly, something I've not seen on these types of keys before.

Any one got one of these and if so what is it used for?

Sorry for the shitty mobile phone camera pictures - I'm still awaiting the new battery charger to arrive, I bought it on eBay a few weeks back. Til then, my good camera remains without power!
Also in one of the photos I've attempted to draw the profile of the key as if looking from the tip to the bow.

You know you're a locksmith when ...

For my birthday this year I received a little Slaymaker combination padlock (combination unknown, I'm working on it) from my dear friend Justin, and two tools to remove circlips with. Circlips - we are still not friends.

Here's the padlock.

More later.

New/Home Country. New Job. Thank God.

Wow it's been a long time since I was happy. Now I'm back in Australia, I have a job in the industry and I am grateful for the roof over my head. I miss everything I left behind to move to England with my husband, I miss my husband. But I am getting on with things, a man known for his teaching and patience, a community man of standing, owner of a long-running Locksmith business has picked me up when I was so close to staying down. This time, it's proper. Australians should be fucking grateful for the Apprenticeship schemes we have here, it's nothing but a load of bullshit in England, bullying and bullshit.

I guess since I made it through that, and with someone having faith in me here, I should make progress, finally :-)

It is like learning a new language though, like the last two years havent counted for much. PE3000, NS2000, MFL, PD, 530, 570, 590, 8350 - all these codes that mean a specific product here ... and I know them as anything but those numbers or combinations of letters! It's like having to translate everything I do know in to some language I am not proficient at. Makes me look even less experienced than I actually am, if that's possible.

More as it's worth updating. I started here 19 April 2010. I travel over an hour each way to get to and from work (on public transport), but I am GRATEFUL. I love my job. I love my industry. And I'm striving to be good, then better, then competent and finally - worthy of paying. One day I will have the time for students like me. That day is a long way off and must be earned.

I have a great deal of respect for my current Boss. I just hope he has the patience required, I'm not a difficult student but I am a late starter.