Apparently you didn’t get the patent number, that might have helped a great deal. In any event, based upon the information provided, I’m guessing that the machine is a Cole National, rebadged as Graham. Graham did indeed have a branch office in Cleveland back in the mid twentieth century and Cole National was located there as well. I think it is possible that Graham, who was once one of the largest manufacturers of key blanks; may have provided private label keys to Cole National who never made their own. Perhaps Cole then furnished key machines which were sold under the Graham marque.
Your first image, which shows the “Keys While You Watch” globe atop the carousel appears to have the old “Mr. Key” icon used by Cole in those days barely visible on both sides. I forwarded your latest two images to James Hawkey, proprietor of Hawley Lock Supply; who deals in new and used key machines and parts and he feels 95% sure that it is indeed a Cole machine.
I further suspect that there may have been some connection to Curtis, also located in Cleveland. Parts of the machine closely resemble their carriage design and Cole National and Curtis were under the same ownership for a time back in the day. Graham also sold “Key-Matic” machines, according to their Cleveland letterhead; and this was a term apparently used by Curtis to describe theirs. I hope this may be helpful in determining the origin of your mystery machine.
Pete Schifferli
