Paul Prescott wroteNo, All bramah keys have had a bit.
Most likely the ones with the bit removed were used to open low grade locks. I’m sure I don’t need to explain how that would be done.
Small fake bramah-looking padlocks were made in Willenhall through the 1930s, using fixed wards — no moving sliders. From the engravings I have seen in wholesalers’ catalogues they were keys with 4 slots. Presumably there was an upstanding cross on a plate which swivelled enough to release the shackle. There must have been some millions of little padlocks sold cheaply for some purpose, as they continued to be offered as cards of a dozen assorted patterns, many still stamped VR Pat, up to 1939. They surely cannot all have been for dog collars??
PRICE Treatise says such fake locks were also made as cabinet locks, but I’ve never noticed any.
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