Johnson Fare Box

bmarshall

Hello, I’m looking for information on the type of key needed for this Johnson Fare Box. I have seen other posts with the cross key, just never seen a double key.

Thanks
B

Timothy

Nice Fare Box. Remind you that Johnson Fare Box has all kind of differ lock for it The one you have may look more like this per attached but you need to measure the keyway top, bottom and width. If you can just take picture of front of the keyway so it will give some idea.

GregWhitney

I collect Johnson, Cleveland, Keene and Diamond fareboxes and have never seen one of those marked as such. It looks very much like a shop-built box from Milwaukee making it a fairly rare item. Does it actually have a Johnson tag on it? Does it look like this - http://www.johnsonfarebox.com/fare44b.jpg that was taken from http://www.johnsonfarebox.com/gallery4.htm

I’d be really interested in seeing more pictures of it. All of my Johnson, Cleveland and Keene boxes (that were constructed with keys) have the Cleveland 4-way key. Some like the Johnson “J” did not have a key nor did many of the Johnson “D” or Reg Lock boxes.

Sorry I can’t help with the key and I wish you the best of luck in getting that sorted.

GregWhitney

Here is another image taken at approximate the same angle as your picture. I believe you have a Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company farebox. Very nice find indeed!

https://www.facebook.com/RideMCTS/photos/the-milwaukee-farebox-was-built-in-1920-at-the-tmerls-cold-spring-shops-tbt-retr/10156593225150192/

Timothy

Are you locksmith or just collection the fare box. It the lock unlock to open it if not there some locksmith may be able to get it open for you so you can see the inside of the lock hardware. But he may have blank key for it that you have to shop around to see if any locksmith will or can do the job. Don’t let him drill the lock. I try to see if i can find more about it but only find two…..Timothy….

bmarshall

Thanks for all the information, I kinda thought it was a Milwaukee Electric but it doesn’t have a ID Plate. Not planing on drilling out the key, I want to keep as vintage as possible. Will look for a local locksmith in the Chicagoland area.

Regards,

Timothy

If you can take picture of the front of lock maybe can give some idea of what key it can be. Good luck finding someone to do the work for it but be sure shop around ask lot of question of what you want done and what going to cost…..Timothy…..

Timothy

Good Day to all. I found something giving more information on Johnson Fare Box in pdf. Got this from Electric Railway Journal. As far i know they do call it Cabinet lock they are make from Yale and Corbin lock. But by using differ cylinder for cabinet lock….Timothy…..

a-new-non-registering-fare-box.pdf

1MB

bmarshall

Thanks for this, sorry for the delay. I thought I posted this.

Pschiffe

Timothy wrote
Good Day to all. I found something giving more information on Johnson Fare Box in pdf. Got this from Electric Railway Journal. As far i know they do call it Cabinet lock they are make from Yale and Corbin lock. But by using differ cylinder for cabinet lock….Timothy…..

Interesting, thanks for sharing Timothy. I’m guessing these likely used a Yale 10-½ or Corbin Cabinet Lock 8632 4-pin blank unless they developed a restricted keyway for Cleveland Fare Box Co. Presuming they used the stock section, a competent locksmith should be able to impression a key without damaging or disassembling the lock.

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

Timothy

Pete you could be right about that as I was thinking maybe it take two keys to open this. But as I don’t have this lock on hand there no way to tell. I did blow the lock a little bigger to try to see it better. Can’t see what in the keyway whatever it pin or wafer cylinder. I was also think about this flat key blank i make up as the way it look at it. Let i said this it only a guess….Timothy….

Pschiffe

Timothy wrote
Pete you could be right about that as I was thinking maybe it take two keys to open this. But as I don’t have this lock on hand there no way to tell. I did blow the lock a little bigger to try to see it better. Can’t see what in the keyway whatever it pin or wafer cylinder. I was also think about this flat key blank i make up as the way it look at it. Let i said this it only a guess….Timothy….

Maybe something like this old Eagle 4034 flat steel 6-lever padlock key?

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]

Timothy

Was just checking going into this and wonder if you got it open or have a key make for that lock….Tim….

bmarshall

No, we haven’t worked on getting it unlocked or getting a key made. Just put it back on the display shelf for now.

Thanks for the follow-up.

Brian

Timothy

Sorry to heard about it. Anyway don’t know why but i keep thinking of something call 3-D printer to make key for it. It may be hard to find someone that have some idea of how to do it. I was thinking about making other key for any antique padlock but don’t know if it work or not. If i have a cut key for that lock was always thinking about make one out of brass but that going to take time to do it. This is only a guess and who know maybe some where long the line somebody may have better idea…Tim…

Pschiffe

Timothy wrote
Sorry to heard about it. Anyway don’t know why but i keep thinking of something call 3-D printer to make key for it. It may be hard to find someone that have some idea of how to do it. I was thinking about making other key for any antique padlock but don’t know if it work or not. If i have a cut key for that lock was always thinking about make one out of brass but that going to take time to do it. This is only a guess and who know maybe some where long the line somebody may have better idea…Tim…

See link for an interesting article titled The Story of The Johnson Farebox Company.

http://www.johnsonfarebox.com/

Pete Schifferli

[unknown]