Cotterill-Wilson Patent Climax Detector Lock

Huw Eastwood · 2013-09-10T16:33:45+00:00

This was a very lucky find with both original keys intact. Nice example with the ‘detector’ guard in the lock cover, and marked both Cotterill’s Patent and Wilson’s Patent. The ‘nine slides’ always seems a bit of a mystery as these locks only ever appear to have 8!

Doug MacQueen

Nice job Max. Did you really inlay gold on that? And what is a key saw? Doug

Adrian Weber

You are clearly a man of the machines Max, reminds me a bit of the key master that still makes the Protector keys at Lebtig/Kromer. That was also very interesting to observe.

Huw Eastwood

Thank you very much guys- Doug- no it’s not actually gold- just a gold effect- I’m not that rich or generous- I think taking things that far would be wasted on these- nice lock and keys but not that nice. The key-saw I used to cut the slot is the one on the vice in picture 6 of the second group. You’d recognize it if you saw it I’m sure. It’s probably just a different name you’re used to - some call them file-saws, abra-files (one of the branded versions), key-way saw is another as they are sometimes used to cut keyways on small shafts by hand etc. can’t think of anymore right now but there are other names I’ve heard. It’s a very heavily constructed frame with only about a 5 or 6 inch throat, usually cast or machined from solid. The cutting blades are a square section and available in all sizes and grades of cut down to about 1mm square. They’re great for radiusing the cuts on keys, slotting, chamfering and for cutting bridge ward keys by hand. Don’t know why but I can’t start new paragraphs on here anymore- enter/return key won’t start a new line. Not much luck with pc’s or internet lately- Adrian you’re right- I’m not one for micro electronics and anything you can’t physically diagnose and physically repair- I prefer good old fashioned mechanical stuff any day- as for my machines- they keep me sane. Well, almost :o:

Warren63

I’ve always wondered why somebody doesn’t make and sell these protective key covers and when i’ve now seen the work involved I understand. You truly are a master craftsman. I probably have about 100 safe keys in my collection and only one F Whitfield key has a cover. Whenever these or the warded type of keys come up for sale the price goes through the roof if they have the protective covers. Being disabled and unemployed they’re out of my price range. Thanks for showing all the skill involved in making copies..Mark

Huw Eastwood

thanks for your comments Mark- yes they’re very time consuming to make them in steel and in that style. Also, the fact there’s countless key sizes and variations, often with differing degrees of wear, means they have to be made to fit the actual keys in question for a proper fit. I also made some in brass with ball-ends which were quicker to make, but theyre still made to fit each key.

Warren63

These are superb. Don’t know which ones I prefer to be honest. The cap types are more true to the originals but the ball ends have ticked all the boxes for a classy ornamental look. It’s times like this when I wish I had took a greater interest in what my metalwork teacher was saying. Keep up the good work and thanks for showing us the fruits of your labour.

Warren63

Huw Eastwood

Thanks Mark- same for me, the steel caps are more correct but the brass ones seem to suit the style of the keys better

Richard Phillips

I’ve not handled an original old key dust cap.
I could suggest that an easy way to make them industrially is by the process of ‘cupping’. This is used to make cartridge cases. A blank disk of ductile material (brass) is pushed repeatedly through a series of holes, progressively becoming a thin-walled tube with a blind end which is then cold-headed.

Those who live in countries where pistol ownership is not restricted to criminals, might find some small calibre cartridge cases of suitable sizes to fit some keys. With a slot cut for the bit, squeezing the tube would make it a springy fit on a key.

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