MTFCA Forum

I am going through a lot of original keys and ran across this one
Ford Script but on the other side where number should be has TOEPFER or TOEPPER HARD TO SEE, ANYONE EVER SEEN ONE LIKE THIS? Bob
sorry photos are not clearer

Bob.......Got some keys marked this way also..............

Robert,

The second photo shows a very unusual keyway slot that is wide at the tip and narrows toward the top. The key bittings (notches) in the shaft appear to be similar to a #58 key. On each side of the top of the keyway slot there appears to be the remains of the ends of the diamond symbol which would indicate it is a Clum Manufacturing Company Key. Clum was one of the authorized companies to produce keys for Ford. Clum keys nornally have the keyway slot on the reverse side, not the obverse/front side as seen on this key. The rectangular number boss that contains the letter stamps is correct for Clum keys. Other Model T key manufacturers used round, oval and rectangular with rounded corners key bosses. Very interesting key to say the least.

Don

Robert,

I am going to add something along with my good friend Don's response.

As Don states, Clum never had a key with the slot cut on the obverse of the front of the key. This slot does not look like something the manufacturer would have made do to the taper and the length - and appears rather home made on a stamped key that had not had the groove cut yet. It is also cut far up into the Ford insignia which I have not seen before. This would allow a blank for key number 62 to have the groove cut on front in order to fit a number 58 switch. Other manufacturers cut the slots on the front or back to make blank keys work for a specific key number when they did not have a full set of blanks. The key does however look period correct and not a late new source reproduction. A Clum key from the manufacturer with the slot on front would be collectible. Although the key seems altered it is still unusual for find the letters (which did exist instead of the number).

I have seen in references of the major key manufacturers those letters that you have described - I just don't recall the specifics without referencing my information. I will need to look through my references when I get back home late this week to provide you more information on this.

Kindest Regards,

Stu

May solve the letters and could be a special key they made https://toepfersecurity.com/our-history/
Perhaps a key blank was modified for a special lock, not for a car --
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https://toepfersecurity.com/