dmv1066
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Registered: 12-2011
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Thoughts on The Key
Here is the little I could piece together so far. The Eagle Lock company of Terrysville, co made padlocks until 1956 when they go out of business. The Niessen Brothers Fair Oaks, CA made replacement keys for Eagle locks. And they go out of business sometimes in the late 1950s. The Catalog #10 of 1935 notes a line of keys which the 612a is one. That gives us a time bracket of 20 year for manufacturing. The Schlage lock company had a factory in San Francisco across the road from Candlestick Park. In the 50s they produce the A-series (inv.1925) Plymouth 605 with a Primus 20-500 Series cylinder.
Eagle Lock Company made keys for their locks which had the harp and ring of beads we all know so well. So when Niessen designed their keys it had the same form factor so it would be recognizable as a mated to whomever's Eagles Lock.
If it is a replacement key their is good new and bad news
1. A discontinued lock means boxes of blanks never opened
2. A replacement key would be on someones ring of key
3. If some public institution bought a lot of Eagle locks somewhere are possible a lot of replacement keys.
The bad news all this happened half a century ago. Any locksmith would have removed them from their stockroom and that would have happen no later then the 1970s which is 40 years ago. Anyone who dealt with them in a business setting is not alive today or not in the business. We can only hope on their grandkid's discovery.
What I'm going to search on is Eagle Locks with the dim hope a Niessen key is inside it.
It is not beyond belief the someone's garden gate is lock with a 50 year old lock
AND they have the replacement key in a draw in a farm house in Iowa. <sigh>
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1/2/2012, 5:48 pm
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ABQPROPGUY
Prop and Set Master
Registered: 01-2009
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
There is some truth to a lock that old still being used! I have lock that was my dads and he bought it in the 50's.....I was still using it until last September when the lock itself broke! Those guys on American Pickers have probably walked right past a bucket full of keys!!
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1/2/2012, 6:46 pm
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Chucklbunny
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
I bet a crapload of Niessen keys have gone to the wayside before we came on the scene !
Chuckles
--- Chucklbunny - OA, RMC
The Founder of The Collectors
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1/2/2012, 8:44 pm
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dmv1066
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Registered: 12-2011
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
A new wrinkle in searching for The 612a. As a reminder the 600 series of keys are duplicates for eagle locks. We may not be looking for a padlock, it might as the link below point to, a car door lock. The key on ebay look very close to the Nieseen 611
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-EAGLE-LOCK-COMPANY-Key-Patented-July-26-1898-/260931246333?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc0b6d8fd
This Eagle Lock Co. key is for car door locks they made and
were used in several different cars that were closed cars. That is according to Don Stewart's Collectors Guide to Antique Classic Narque Car Keys.
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1/11/2012, 11:26 am
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Spikosauropod
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
Excellent research dmv.
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1/12/2012, 2:33 am
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dmv1066
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
Took a pilgrimage to Fair Oaks. Meet some folk who knew the Niessens. One a man of 93 actually bought blanks from the man [sold them 40 years ago]. Went to the site of where there were manufactures [will post photo]. New owner had no idea there once was a key factory on his property
Spent time at local Museum. Got to read the actual Catalog #11 it had a date of April 30th 1960 inside. At the historical society got the name of local locksmith Marty Kent who gave a group of blanks to the Historical society. Hoping he might have more blanks. A guy at the Fair Oaks Hardware store said the man has buckets of old keys.
Held the 610 in my hand, working on a trade with the historical society for some Niessen blanks made for Chicago Gumball Machines. Took some photo of the 610. I know that the goal is getting a 612a, but getting close helps feed the seeking. It is my belief that each new fact no matter how small or disconnected from the actually physical object may prove useful in the search.
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2/13/2012, 12:16 am
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Jintosh
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
One word. Dedicated.
--- Jintosh, The KeyMaster, OA, RMC
Prop Replicas at http://www.TheLostRoom.org
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2/13/2012, 1:35 pm
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thelydays2
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Registered: 11-2014
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
I am new but did a search on this key I found and your Web posts came up..this key I have never seen. On one side it has Niessen logo I assume and Fair Oaks , Cal USA around key and 472A Stamped in it on other side only thing there is P.S. BIBLE stamped in it...any thoughts?
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11/11/2014, 12:54 am
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Jintosh
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
quote: I am new but did a search on this key I found and your Web posts came up..this key I have never seen. On one side it has Niessen logo I assume and Fair Oaks , Cal USA around key and 472A Stamped in it on other side only thing there is P.S. BIBLE stamped in it...any thoughts?
There are many different Niessen keys. The P.S. thing was likely stamped afterward.
I have a 612 Niessen stamped "Huff's A14" on the back. Business' can have their own metal stamp made and you just strike it with a hammer to put a custom print on your key.
--- Jintosh, The KeyMaster, OA, RMC
Prop Replicas at http://www.TheLostRoom.org
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11/11/2014, 1:00 am
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thelydays2
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Re: Thoughts on The Key
Thank you. .
So is it a keeper? Is there anything special about it? Someone told me to hang onto this key. Again sorry to bother but any expertise is very appreciated.
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11/11/2014, 1:24 am
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