Hi, At the link below is a pic of a key that belonged to my late father. I'm wanting to learn what type of door/cabinet/safe normally uses this type of key, and any comments about the date-range. Visible markings are "Independent Lock Co.", and "Fitch[burg]...". I understand this is ILCO, but from an earlier time. The key should be pre-1975, and may go back to the 1950's or so. I'm not a locksmith, but I understand some basics of lock types and such.
According to what I found, this is either for an entry door or a padlock.
However, I cannot find any key blanks in KBD12 that have those notches in them. Possibly could be for a safe deposit box. In any case, it looks like a low security key, meaning that it probably went to a padlock in my opinion.
Thanks Jeff! I didn't want to 'bias' the conversation, but I should mention that based on Dad's career, I expect it would be for a room or file-cabinet or safe that would be found inside a secure government facility. A lockable filing cabinet (or safe-deposit-type box) from the 50's would be my first guess (without any real data on my part). As for security, it perhaps would NOT need to "stop a bad guy", but rather to prevent other personnel in the facility from getting into something if they didn't have the correct key in-hand. I have a bunch more random keys from Dad's things. I'm going to see if there's another of the same style that still has the original markings on it.
I found the "KBD12" doc online. For the cross-section shape, the Yale 998ZG is very close (but no dimensions are given). In other ways, it looks like many of the safe-deposit keys. FWIW, mine is 2mm thick, and 8mm wide. And 28mm from the tip to the base of the head. The deepest cut is about 2.5mm.
Pete
As a locksmith who specializes in antiques it looks more like a higher quality steamer trunk (like the one sold here
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