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Yale-type TARDIS Door Key

Started by hb88banzai, Dec 27, 2012, 07:57 am

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hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 07:57 am Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 01:25 pm by hb88banzai
Besides the very weathered exterior and the new console room, it appears something else got a makeover for the 2012 Xmas Special --

Xmas Special 2012 Key 2.JPG

Xmas Special 2012 Key 3.JPG

Xmas Special 2012 Key 5.JPG

It would appear from these that the new key is for a 6-pin lock instead of the more common 5-pin variety used previously. Every key we've had a decent look at since Pertwee (those few clips I've seen from Hartnell and Troughton are inconclusive) were all to 5-pin Yale type locks with five cuts in the key (PARA/Y1 keyway). The new key has six cuts (making it a little longer) and also has the old style two ears/shoulders at the base of the keyway instead of the newer style one shoulder keys used thus far in the new series.

Since all the Yale type keys used so far have been those that actually unlock the various prop locks, this may mean that the TARDIS prop itself now also has a 6-pin lock cylinder.

slidin_sidewayz

Dare I say it? Pedantic!!!!  ;D

Scarfwearer

Enviable attention to detail. :)

Crispin

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 12:46 pm #3 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 12:59 pm by hb88banzai
Susan's key in "Marco Polo" --

marco_polo_susan_key.jpg

And "Dalek Invasion of Earth" --

Susan's Key Capture.PNG

Can't really count the cuts, unfortunately.

Pertwee's key in "Spearhead From Space" --

TARDIS Key-SpearheadFromSpace-ScreenCp.jpg

SpearheadKey-00003.jpg

Five cuts for a 5-pin lock. Also, you can almost make out the "Made in England" on the back above the hole. This is exactly how Yale branded blanks were marked on the back, so the key was likely a genuine Yale - probably the reason they were careful not to show the other side.

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 01:13 pm #4 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 01:19 pm by hb88banzai
In contrast to the new key, here's Matt Smith's key from "The Eleventh Hour" --

Eleventh Hour Key.jpg

Only five cuts (noting that the pattern of cuts is different than any of the Eccleston or Tennant era keys).

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 02:51 pm #5 Last Edit: Dec 31, 2012, 12:19 pm by hb88banzai
Eccleston era keys --

"Aliens of London" -
AliensKey.jpg

"The Long Game" -
Key-capture--the long game.jpg

"Father's Day" -
TARDIS Key-FathersDay-ScreenCap1.jpg

tardiskey2-fathers day.jpg

tardiskey1-fathers day.jpg

Note the different keys used in exterior vs. interior scenes in this episode.

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 02:57 pm #6 Last Edit: Dec 31, 2012, 09:58 am by hb88banzai
Tennant era keys --

"Blink" -
Blink Key.jpg

Blink Key-ERA.jpg
Note the glimpse of the key's logo in the above shot.

"Utopia" -
Utopia Key.jpg

"The Sound of Drums" chipped keys -
Sound of Drums Chipped Keys.jpg

"The Waters of Mars" -
Waters of Mars Key.jpg

hb88banzai

Behind the scenes shot of spares stored behind the TARDIS pillar taken some time in the Eccleston or early Tennant years --

tardiskeys-BBCpicOfSpares.jpg

warmcanofcoke

Dec 27, 2012, 03:06 pm #8 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 03:28 pm by warmcanofcoke
there are a lot of fine images of the Yale key there. does this mean if you had a blank and a key cutting machine you could make copies from the photos? .... I suppose that would be of value to the people of ebay...."get a key to the new series TARDIS" or I suppose you could just start collecting old keys. For cars I hear some manufacturers only have 20 different keys for the locks, maybe Yale did something similar with door locks.

*edit - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006042820722
keys_zps533bfa40.jpg
why doesn't the Guide mention them? - Oh, it's not very accurate.
Oh? - I'm researching the new edition.

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 03:24 pm #9 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 03:40 pm by hb88banzai
Yes, you could cut keys from the photos, obviously some pics being of more help than others.

Yale Y1/Y2 type keys use cuts numbered from 0 to 9 in increasing depth and numbered from the shoulder to the tip. Some combinations can't be used in adjacent cuts due to too much difference between them and some patterns weren't used because of lack of variation in depth (all the same number, for example), but that still leaves quite a range of cut patterns.

The number of cuts ranged from 3 to 8 depending on the type of lock and desired level of security. Rim lock/night latches like most often used on the TARDIS were usually 5-pin (though 6-pin rim lock cylinders could be obtained), while front door mortise and knob locks were often 6-pin.

You can take the key numbers to a locksmith and get a new key cut to them if they have the proper machine (not a simple key duplicate cutting machine unless they also have a full set of 10 pattern keys where all the cuts on each key are the same depth). A locksmith can also re-pin your cylinder to fit any key with the same keyway (cross sectional shape). With the right key specs as to spacing, depth, and slope angle you could also cut one by hand using a file, though this is a lot more problematic and requires a great deal of care to get useable results.

warmcanofcoke

Dec 27, 2012, 03:39 pm #10 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 03:44 pm by warmcanofcoke
Thank you hb88banzai - this is actually very useful information for me. I have purchased two separate antique Yale locks that I intend to use for my Tardis one of which looks nicer but has a key that looks like it might be easier to break. I could get One of the locks reset so that it will use the key from the other set.  ;D :D

Like wise if you can order new keys I suppose we could get it to also fit our favorite Doctor's TARDIS.

.... I wonder where I can get antique Yale blanks ........ that say made in England....
why doesn't the Guide mention them? - Oh, it's not very accurate.
Oh? - I'm researching the new edition.

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 03:55 pm #11 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 04:00 pm by hb88banzai
Quote from: warmcanofcoke on Dec 27, 2012, 03:39 pm
... I could get One of the locks reset so that it will use the key from the other set.  ;D :D

Like wise if you can order new keys I suppose we could get it to also fit our favorite Doctor's TARDIS.


Indeed you can. The cylinder keyway you are looking for is commonly called a Y1, Y2 or Yale type, while Yale calls it an E1R (PARA) keyway (PARA is the older designation). There are LOTS of different keyways, but Y1/PARA are quite common.

Here's what it looks like compared to other common Yale keyways --

Yale Simplex Keyways.JPG

A locksmith can also change the keyway of a lock cylinder as long as it is the same plug diameter and has the same number and size/spacing of pins.

hb88banzai

Dec 27, 2012, 04:07 pm #12 Last Edit: Dec 27, 2012, 04:10 pm by hb88banzai
Yale key cut specs (here for a 7-pin, but for fewer just leave off the unused positions on the tip end and use the appropriate length blank) --

Yale Key Cut Specs.JPG

warmcanofcoke

Thank you again.

before we stray too far off topic ....

Here are a couple more pictures of Tardis Keys.

Though on reflection they may not be very useful.

Four to Doomsday
42key00_zps0135f026.jpg
42key01_zps5f3d3c72.jpg

Black Orchid
bOr00_zpse561f8e9.jpg

Sarah Jane Adventures Death of the Doctor
tardiskeysjs_zpsa0953074.jpg
tardiskeysjs2_zpsba5242b1.jpg

bad shots of all of them and the last two are probably CG
why doesn't the Guide mention them? - Oh, it's not very accurate.
Oh? - I'm researching the new edition.

warmcanofcoke

it was just pointed out to me that The Visual Prop of the Key may not necessarily unlock the Tardis prop.

In Black Orchid for example In the Police Yard, Pete sort of moves his hand around in an unconvincing attempt to unlock a door, to let the Police in. ....

why doesn't the Guide mention them? - Oh, it's not very accurate.
Oh? - I'm researching the new edition.