Expert: Terry V Andreasen (Andy) - 2/9/2012

Question
QUESTION: Hello -
I recently lost the only key to my Victor floor safe. Tried to get the key I had copied several times, but people kept telling me it was "too old" to copy.
This safe has a Yale oval cylinder type lock.  
Any information on where I could get a serial number or information for getting another key made?
Can't find anything on the safe or lock itself.
Thank you very much.

ANSWER: Janine,

They may have indicated, or meant that it was "TOO WORN" when they said too old.  My recommendation would be to take the key AND lock to a local locksmith shop to have them fabricate a NEW, original key for your lock, THEN you will have one that is not worn to make copies of.

As far as info on this company:

Victor Safe & Lock Company 1885 until 1927 when it was acquired by Remington-Rand (Rand-Kardex).  In 1955 Remington-Rand was acquired by the Sperry Corporation which had closed down all of the safe making divisions by 1957.  So if your safe has the Victor label with a Sperry logo, it would have been made between 1955-1957.

Yale was the lock manufacturer.

If the locksmith can't help you out in making or fabricating a new ORIGINAL key for the lock, then they probably aren't that good, and you should look for a different company that can.

Hope this helps,


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello, thank you for your time again, and THANK YOU for the additional informatio on my safe.

The first sentence in my e-mail said that the key was "lost."
It was, actually, a very good condition older key, not worn as suspected.
They just didn't have the blanks for that type key.

Sooooo.....since I don't "have" the key, I can't get a copy made of it no matter where I go.
Thanks again.

Answer
Janine,

Ooooops, my bad, I must have read right over the "lost" when I was reading the post originally, and assumed that when you indicated you had tried to get the key that you had copied, that you still had the key.

So, getting back to square one - I'm assuming that the container is locked up.  Serial numbers don't really do anything for anyone EXCEPT the factory.  They never publish their records and once they go out of business the records are generally lost for ever.

This leaves you with a couple of options:
1.  You can force it open, but chances are you are not going to find a replacement lock.
2.  Have someone pick the lock open, and then make keys for it.

Note:  While option #1 will save you money, you may need to get a replacement container.

Unfortunately many of the locksmiths in the industry now days, are not much more than "trained monkeys" - "take broken part off, put new part on"!  They don't have a clue how to pick locks or fit keys to locks by hand.  I would recommend that you have the work done by someone who has worked on locks for 30 to 40 years and knows how to perform what should be, regular locksmith work.

If you can't find a good locksmith in your area, let me know where you are located (zipcode) and I'll see who I know in your area.