VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1937 Exterior Door Handles

Can you get the lock fully apart so you can see the little brass pins in the holes? Be careful so you don't lose any of the little springs that hold the pins down when there is no key in the lock (I always liked to work over a piece of fabric when doing this). If you can get the lock this far apart, put the key in that you want the lock keyed to and see if you can rearrange the pins so there is at least a little of the pin sticking up out of each hole past the tumbler itself. If there is then you can file the little pins off even with the tumbler. Sometimes you can find a brass rod that is the size of the pins. You can use that to make a new pin or pins that stick up just above the tumbler and then file them off just to the top of the tumbler. If you do this, be sure to file a small cone shape at the end of the rod (pin) that will come in contact with the key before you cut it to length (use an original pin as a guide). You have to have a rounded bottom on the pin or the key will not slide in and out of the lock. Once you have the old pins rearranged or new pins made and filed down to the top of the tumbler, you are ready to put the lock back together and it should work fine. You might contact a locksmith to see it he has new pins that will work. I don't understand why a locksmith couldn't help you. These are very basic locks and anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of locksmithing should be able to rekey it. Good luck. Beamer

Beamer,
Thank you for the reply and information . I'm unable to get the lock cylinder out of its case I've cut a key according to the code on the handle and the cylinder will not release to get the tumbler out.If i could buy a new cylinder ,you could file the little bar to release the tumbler I've cut about four keys trying to figure out the combination .Could be this lock smith didn't want to be bothered?

Call around to area locksmiths & ask them if they have, or know someone who has, a set of old GM keys. They only used a certain number of keys and I've seen several folks in possession of a set. A bit of patients and you should turn up the right key. That's what I did on the trunk lock on my '38. My understanding is the key sets were originally only for locksmiths but as that general style of key (B10/B11) went obsolete many key sets made their way into the hands of the general public.

It could be the locksmith didn't want to be bothered or else maybe he never had any experience with old car locks and doesn't have the literature that would tell him how to get the lock apart. In any case, I would not file anything away as that would definitely ruin the handle. I would try other things first such as what Tiny suggested. In the meantime, keep trying to find someone familiar with your locks. If you go to car shows, ask around. Someone there might know a knowledgeable locksmith. Beamer

Look in the back of the G&D and then contact Jarvis.