Help in identifying this key.

8675309

I’ve been looking for a few days now, and I have no clue what type of key this is.
I know it’s a “Yale” key. The weird thing about it is that it has a joint in the middle with a spring, allowing the key to bend at the center in one direction. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

oldbiscuit

The key was designed to lock onto the lock so that the key wouldn’t fall out when the lock was opened. I remember reading something about these keys some time ago. I can’t remember if it was a padlock or a cylinder lock.The key’s not rare as you see them come up on ebay quite often

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

The key is a lockout key designed for and used by the US Post Office on rental boxes when the user hasn’t paid his rental fee. The Yale cylinders used on those boxes typically have the pin chambers drilled from the bottom of the shell and that leaves a hole for the spring loaded part of the key to lock into. The keys were inserted into the keyway from the rear of the lock and that prevented the user with the operating key from inserting it from the front. The keyway of that key should be what locksmiths typically call the ‘Yale 8’ key as the proprietary keys for the US Post Office are the reverse keyway. Making Post Office keys is prohibited by the US Criminal Code.
BBE.

Dean Nickel

Thank you for letting us know about that. I have wondered what this key was…. I have one too.

8675309

"According to my grandfather, our shops founder, It’s a specialty key Yale gave out as a promotion. He said he didn’t dare cut it for fear of it breaking. He apparently got 5 or 6 of them when he taught at ALOA conventions.

So according to him there isn’t a lock for this key its just a promo. Id hold onto it its pretty cool."

That is what I was told elsewhere…conflicting stories…

I will say that it does appear to be uncut so I don’t think it went to any lock(Maybe that info would have helped from the beginning, sorry)

Paul Prescott

In this case I woud go with the post office key. BBE spent many years working for Yale and has great knowledge of the companies history and product line so I expect he has the greater knowledge i this field.

Tom Gordon

It wouldnt be cut because it is a lock out key, inserted from the rear merely to block rather than open.