Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

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Don D
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919 T
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Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Don D » Sat Jun 21, 2025 11:27 am

Assistance is needed to document what the key pictured below is used for, when it was introduced and who made it, if it was produced by an outside vendor. Thank you in advance for any information and have a great day.
Ford DF740 Style Keys.jpg
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RajoRacer
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by RajoRacer » Sat Jun 21, 2025 11:43 am

Appears to be a Model A door key.
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Cruby
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Cruby » Sat Jun 21, 2025 12:56 pm

Not Model A.
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Cruby
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Cruby » Sat Jun 21, 2025 1:00 pm

Not Model A.
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Mark Gregush
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Mark Gregush » Sat Jun 21, 2025 1:15 pm

Might it go to a padlock?
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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speedytinc
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by speedytinc » Sat Jun 21, 2025 1:41 pm

Looks familiar. I am thinking a spare tire lug lock.
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DanTreace
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by DanTreace » Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:05 pm

Shape of the key seems like 1931A sedan Crown door lock key, but is not that, the key is too stubby.

There are several on the web for sale, all have the "DF" prefix too.

Guess we need an early script Ford key expert ;)


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TRDxB2
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by TRDxB2 » Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:23 pm

I also found some others. The number range would indicate the need for a broad variation of different locks. One eBay questioned possible Tractor key but that didn't check out. The keyway looks stamped not cut. The search for an answer continues
Attachments
df keys.png
df keys.png (361.46 KiB) Viewed 735 times
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Loftfield
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Loftfield » Sun Jun 22, 2025 8:33 am

My recently purchased 1924 Fordor came with an after-market locking steering box at the top of the steering column. I have no idea what the key looks like, but it is just a thought.
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Don D
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Don D » Mon Jun 23, 2025 11:24 am

Thanks for all the responses so far. I checked two locking steering columns, not a broad sample, and these keys do not fit. The mystery continues!!
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Jerry VanOoteghem
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Mon Jun 23, 2025 1:30 pm

I have a key like that too. I seem to recall someone mentioning once that it was for a glovebox on later year Fords. Maybe... maybe not... Web searches don't seem to support this theory. For a tractor maybe?
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TRDxB2
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Re: Assistance Needed - Identify this Key

Post by TRDxB2 » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:23 pm

TRDxB2 wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:23 pm
 I also found some others. The number range would indicate the need for a broad variation of different locks. One eBay questioned possible Tractor key but that didn't check out. The keyway looks stamped not cut. The search for an answer continues
With a little help from AI (indicated that "DF" was a YALE series key code). So a search on YALE instead of FORD indicates in this link that it was a Door Key https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/8 ... 1256968161
Also there were other key codes for YALE locks used on Ford cars of that era
Attachments
YALE Key DF.png
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
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