Keys ignition and door.

[Tim]

I'm after a bit of information about keys

Does anyone know what series of keys were used on early cars? I'm trying to work out if the locks on my January 1961 Traveller are original or have been taken from something else. Both the rear and driver's side door locks are marked 709 on the square shafts and the lock barrels. A bit of online research suggests 709 fits into Wilmot Breeden's FP series of keys. One source suggests that FP series was used up until 1960 when it was replaced with the almost ubiquitous FS series. As I understand it, both FP and FS used the same internal mechanism, just the cross section profile of the key differs. The door looks have no internal profile, i.e. they are just rectangular in section and will fit either an FP or FS series key.

The ignition switch is dated 1964 and is marked FS 898 which would make sense for that period but clearly isn't original. Did the really early cars use FP series keys?

Tim

[Spider]

Tim, get in touch with Ian (Shorty), 99% of his business is just this sort of stuff. He was here on a few minutes ago, you could have asked in person!

[Andrew1967]

My Nov 60 has FP keys. 709 sounds like FP as FS are normally 800-900 numbers, I think.

Might be able to help you out with some if you need any ?

[Tim]

This is good, it sounds like I have the correct door locks, so now all I need to do is track down the correct ignition lock, or barrel and get a key to fit the doors.

Thanks for the offer Andrew, I'll get in touch with 'Shorty' and see what he can suggest, but I might need to come back to you.

I don't suppose you (or anyone) has a usable ignition switch dated late 1960 or January 1961? How about an FP 709 ignition switch barrel?

thanks
Tim

[Andrew1967]

I've got a couple of early ignition switches, different key numbers though. Will check on dates and if I have any 709 keys

Andrew

[Andrew1967]

Tim,

No FP709 keys (loads of others which is typical !)

The 6/60 dated switch is FP727

Andrew

[Tim]

Thanks very much for looking Andrew, the switch is a bit early. If I'm getting anoraky about dates I may as well go the whole way! It's not desperately urgent, so hopefully the right one will turn up.

Cheers
Tim

[Andrew1967]

No problem Tim,

If I find the other one I'll check the date

[surf-blue-850]

My '61 uses FP keys. Door lock has the pimple.