Old car lock?

Bigcypresshunter

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Dec 15, 2004
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I found this in some old trash, not with a MD. Some kind of old trunk or glove box lock maybe. The automobile design on the key is interesting. The first side resembles an old Studebaker, but the other side is a car of the future design. What is this????
 

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bigcypresshunter said:
Goodyguy said:
Come on you guys It's a lock to lock your spare tire onto the spare tire carrier like on the back of a van.

That's why it doesn't fit a lug.
Buddy~

Call it solved I had a van with one exactly like it.
What year? What model?

It was an aftermarket accessory spare tire carrier. I bought in 1968
 

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Goodyguy said:
bigcypresshunter said:
Goodyguy said:
Come on you guys It's a lock to lock your spare tire onto the spare tire carrier like on the back of a van.

That's why it doesn't fit a lug.
Buddy~

Call it solved I had a van with one exactly like it.
What year? What model?
It was an aftermarket accessory spare tire carrier. I bought in 1968
Thanks. That was my guess but I didnt know for sure. This is an old post and I was always wondering what it was. Did your key look the same as well?

I found a similar lock online.
 

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bigcypresshunter said:
Goodyguy said:
bigcypresshunter said:
Goodyguy said:
Come on you guys It's a lock to lock your spare tire onto the spare tire carrier like on the back of a van.

That's why it doesn't fit a lug.
Buddy~

Call it solved I had a van with one exactly like it.
What year? What model?
It was an aftermarket accessory spare tire carrier. I bought in 1968
Thanks. That was my guess but I didnt know for sure. This is an old post and I was always wondering what it was. Did your key look the same as well?

I found a similar lock online.

I misspoke when I said exactly I should have said similar.
Here is one similar. I tried to find mine because I saved the lock but no luck so far.
 

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OK its definitley a spare tire lock. Maybe aftermarket. This is the closest I can find, a Mercury Woodie Wagon. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1940....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:543|65:12|39:1|240:1318

I can see now how it works. There is a part missing that is shown in this pic. I would imagine you could lock any wheel (not just the spare) with this missing part. Thanks Goodyguy and Angelo for pointing me in the right direction.
lock wheel.jpglock wheel with part.jpg
 

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bigcypresshunter said:
OK its definitley a spare tire lock. Maybe aftermarket. This is the closest I can find, a Mercury Woodie Wagon. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1940....c0.m245&_trkparms=72:543|65:12|39:1|240:1318

I can see now how it works. There is a part missing that is shown in this pic. I would imagine you could lock any wheel (not just the spare) with this missing past. Thanks Goodyguy and Angelo for pointing me in the right direction.

Looks damn close if not it! Unfortunately that the site does not have a good picture of the key.

And Goodyguy should the cigar on this one

Tony
 

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Possibly the spare tire lock to the Studebaker Avanti. It has a very similar look to the car shown on the key.
 

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It looks like the lock more or less has been identified. As to the key, I don't think the engraved cars represent any one brand, but instead was a logo used by the key manufacturer itself. I've seen the pattern used on this site for Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln.

http://www.key-men.com/cars/mercury.html I'll bet if one looks at enough vintage key sites, probably find other brandss that used that same key blank.
 

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GpSnoopy said:
It looks like the lock more or less has been identified. As to the key, I don't think the engraved cars represent any one brand, but instead was a logo used by the key manufacturer itself. I've seen the pattern used on this site for Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln.

http://www.key-men.com/cars/mercury.html I'll bet if one looks at enough vintage key sites, probably find other brandss that used that same key blank.
No thats it! You found it Snoopy! ;D http://www.key-men.com/shopping/show_key.php?catnum=1125G-OEM2
At least the image on one side is an original Lincoln/Mercury 1949-50. I doubt that a key manufacturer would be allowed to copy an original Lincoln/Mercury key logo. It even says made in usa the same. I think its amazing ...only at TN's "What Is It?". 8) But what is the other side?
unknown key back.jpgunknown key.jpg
 

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Actually, reading through the information at the linked site, they sell mostly period aftermarket key blanks. This one is not made by Lincoln Mercury, it is an aftermarket blank for Lincoln Mercury. The pictures are the manufacturers fantasy car logos, not any real car. Yours is an aftermarket item as well.
 

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l.cutler said:
Actually, reading through the information at the linked site, they sell mostly period aftermarket key blanks. This one is not made by Lincoln Mercury, it is an aftermarket blank for Lincoln Mercury. The pictures are the manufacturers fantasy car logos, not any real car. Yours is an aftermarket item as well.
This is what I am reading: These are examples of both original Mercury key blanks and a few period aftermarket key blanks that we stock. Some of these are shared with Lincoln and Ford cars of the time.

And on the page of this particular key it says original Lincoln/Mercury 1949-50. ...and they do not all say original but if you can copy and paste or point me to what you are reading that says this key is an aftermarket design, because I dont see it. Thank you.
 

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OK, I was at least partly wrong, wouldn't be the first time! www.key-men.com/shopping/show_key.php?catnum=1125g-oem2 underneath the picture it says HURD , hurd is the key manufacturer. Hurd was a supplier of key blanks and locks forLincoln Mercury cars as well as others. The one pictured is an OEM key, but they also made keys and aftermarket locks for many other applications. Yours is definitely a Hurd key, it has the right markings but does not have the Lincoln Mercury logo. Hurd still makes automotive locks today. So yours is definitely a Hurd lock, but could go to anything.
 

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If I were to guess, I would have said aftermarket as well, but Im beginning to wonder. The closest match I can find is 49-50 Mercury Woodie Wagon spare tire lock. The only mystery is one side of the key.
 

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Maybe Hurd supplied them to dealers to offer as optional equipment? Who knows, but what other hobby can get you into research of something you would never dream of!
 

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Ive had this thing for 3-4 years and couldnt figure out how it worked or what it was. This lock has little value even if it is OEM. But TN is an interesting learning experience, get to meet nice people and you never know when the next piece of junk will be valuable.
 

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How about one of the early Lincolns with the continental kit? First came out in 1942. Just a guess. Monty
 

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bigcypresshunter said:
Ive had this thing for 3-4 years and couldnt figure out how it worked or what it was. This lock has little value even if it is OEM. But TN is an interesting learning experience, get to meet nice people and you never know when the next piece of junk will be valuable.


I see OEM in parts catalogs alot, i just gotta ask, what does the letters O E M stand for?
 

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dozer dan said:
bigcypresshunter said:
Ive had this thing for 3-4 years and couldnt figure out how it worked or what it was. This lock has little value even if it is OEM. But TN is an interesting learning experience, get to meet nice people and you never know when the next piece of junk will be valuable.


I see OEM in parts catalogs alot, i just gotta ask, what does the letters O E M stand for?
Original Exact Manufacturer
 

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