Ziptide February 2019

Feb. 4, 2019

Key Code Questions

In the last three weeks, we have come across a key for two different sound systems.  And apparently the equipment is in Hoffman enclosures.  Both have the same code, B399A, but different heads.  What is interesting is one has the "windmill" on it and rather than having the words 'Wind Danburg,'  this one has the words 'Wins-Newtown.CT.'   Newtown is new to me.

I have attached another Bauer handle with a code.  The key I made for it is very similar to that info in Genericode but different.  Genericode has it  as 13323 and my key was definitely 33232.  Am I missing something here?

Timothy Boyea

Security Plus

Greenfield, WI

Hi Timothy:

1. The J codes were previously collected one at a time from locksmiths. I now have a complete set of original J series keys. Our latest program agrees with you except for the last cut. Probably either a 2 or 1 will operate.   I just measured my J343 key again and it is a “1”.

2. WIND is a new lock manufacturer in New England and uses a windmill on their keys.

3 CompX owns Fort and Chicago. Many code series formerly used by CompX (National) are suddenly showing up with variations on the Y11 keyway.   When somebody asks for a CompX code, I never know if it is CompX or Fort. You just have to try a blank in the lock to see what key blank to use.

4. Manufacturers like Hoffman Enclosures send out bids when they need a new stock of locks. It appears that WIND won the bid and copied the original CompX  key series.

-- Gale Johnson

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