Parking Meter Locks

[Alan Hankins]

I'm trying to restore a Duncan Parking meter.  My first hurdle is the locks.  Took the meter to a locksmith who said he couldn't help because they are restricted and he can't get blanks for them.  He also said he couldn't replace them (which doesn't seem logical to me).  One lock is already open, but the other isn't.  I would think a locksmith could make keys for each lock, restricted or not.  What do most people do in this situation?  Get keys made (and by whom?) or replace the locks or something else?

Thanks for the help!!

Another question: the paint is chipped.  What's the best way to touch it up?

[slotsteve]

find a new locksmith

[ROCKET]

welcome aboard i see you recently signed on today .
PERHAPS ANOTHER FORUM WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET ..

the coincidence of a member of NLG"S who collects parking meters may have a offline chat with you ..
i never found talking to a mirror --that it answered back ???

[StatFreak]

You could always drill out the lock that won't open and replace them with standard locks, if they will fit. If locksmiths are giving you hassles about the device, just take your own measurements and go to the locksmith empty handed. Tell him that you want two locks of a particular sized and length barrel and with tangs of your measured length, and install them yourself. That's what I would do.

[channelmaniac]

Are they single sided keys? Double sided? Barrel type?

If they are simply single sided keys then you can pick them pretty easy. Use another paper clip or small screwdriver to put tension on the lock while you rake the tumblers with a second paper clip.

I learned that trick at a Christian college in Texas. Works great on tool boxes, arcade games, and other things you lose keys for.

Double sided locks and barrel locks get drilled out.

You can find some simple locks at Home Depot. Look for "mailbox locks" which work on many different types of games.

RJ

[StatFreak]

There is a tool for picking round, barrel type locks. They are actually easier to pick than straight locks when one has the tool. A search a couple of years ago found instructional videos on youtube and sites that sold the picks.

I have no idea about the legality of owning such devices and am not making any recommendations for or against.  
Readers will have to come to their own conclusions... 

[a69mopar]

They are called tubular lock picks, and most places will only sell to locksmiths, but perhaps on the internet.... who knows.  This type of tool shouldn't be carried around with you.

http://www.lockpickshop.com/TPXS-07.html


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/2HbnrHhhP80&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/2HbnrHhhP80&rel=0</a>


Thanks,
Wayne

[StatFreak]

I wasn't going to make it that easy for everybody. 

[a69mopar]

No problem Stat..  I did. 

W

[junkman]

You can pick them up at lowes. The locks just take the old one.

[johl77]

What model Duncan Parking meter?  My husband works for the city that we live in, they recently gave us all of the original Dancan Parking Meters and about 15 boxes of brand new mechanisms from our town (about 500 mechanisms and 200 full meters).  We are deffinatly looking for a way to get rid of some of these(well way more that some)... We do have a few on ebay but there is not a great demand and we have an over whelming amount!  If anyone is interested or knows someone that may be intersted, that would be great.  They are Model 50s which are from the early 40's. They were the second model that was made by the duncan company (as the first model kind of flopped) So they are pretty cool, any collector should have one 

[junkman]

Hey joh177 ill take five of them or more off your hands if the price is right. Send me some pictures and a price

[slot monkey]

@ johl77

private message sent

[PLUNGER BOY]

 I am also interested post pic or pm me thanks

[johl77]

I am excited to see some interest! I have been on the computer for days researching our overwhelming pile of parking meters, hopefully here I will learn something that I have not read yet!  We have the meters in a warehouse down the road from our house, I will go over there in the AM and take some pics and post them right away.  With having  so many meters and mechanisms we have not gone through EVERYTHING yet, but from what i've seen so far we prob. have about  50 "Miller Meters", which from my research seem to be the oldest, and well over 100 "Duncan meters". Some have just a quarter slot, some take 1,5,10 cents, some are 12hr and some are 2hr. 

[johl77]

Here are some pics of the "Miller Meter" front and back.

[johl77]

Sorry about the pics I didn't realize the were going to come out sideways.  So here is the "Duncan Miller" (has the same back as the Miller) and a 12hr .25 cent mechanism. These meters were in our town for well over 30 years and have been in storage for about 10 years, so these meters are not in perfect condition by any means.  At some point our town scratched off the .1 cent on the coin slot and on the back scratched off the info for the penny which I believe said something along the lines of - 12 minutes  for each penny, to maximum time on the dial.  Some one at some time has also taken apart about 30 meters so we also have TONS of parts.

[jhb]

do you have keys for the locks?

[donut31]

I'd be interested in the locks you are looking to get rid of as well, as I purchased a nice Duncan Miller meter that has an inoperable lock.  PM me when you get a chance.

[MuddyRiver]

Hi everyone, I just joined and this msg board is amazing, my question to johl77 or anyone else that can or has an answer to this. How did you get your city to give you all those parking meters? My city is so tight and unwiling to let them go, whats your secret? A little about me I live in Ontario Canada and I am into both parking meters and drive-in speakers. I am just starting to mess around with them and I was thinking about restoring some for myself and a few....well 3 close friends. Any info would be great. I have done the ebay thingy and, well shipping to Canada alot of times cost as much if not more then what I want. I am not looking to make this a business, just a few for friends, and any help for this newbie would be great. I see that there is alot of knowledge here.   

[emt232004]

What model Duncan Parking meter?  My husband works for the city that we live in, they recently gave us all of the original Dancan Parking Meters and about 15 boxes of brand new mechanisms from our town (about 500 mechanisms and 200 full meters).  We are deffinatly looking for a way to get rid of some of these(well way more that some)... We do have a few on ebay but there is not a great demand and we have an over whelming amount!  If anyone is interested or knows someone that may be intersted, that would be great.  They are Model 50s which are from the early 40's. They were the second model that was made by the duncan company (as the first model kind of flopped) So they are pretty cool, any collector should have one 

How much are you asking?

[johl77]

I am more than interested if they are model 50 Duncan miller parking meters.  I would love to talk to you more, my email is johl77@yahoo.com, please contact me on my email.  I would love if you could send me a few pics, and let me know the condition of the meters.  I am interested in meters that operate properly and meters that don't work, or keep improper time.  Hope to here from you soon

[cobrahd1999]

Does anyone have pics of the 2 locks setup that Duncan uses on there 60 & 76 meters. I am a newbie and getting my first meter sometime this week it needs locks and would like to know what I need to get to make everything work. I been seaching the net for some pics but no luck.
thanks for any help guys.