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Joined: Jul 2018
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Backyard Mechanic
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OP
Backyard Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 217 Likes: 3 |
Does anyone know when keys delivered with a new vehicle began to be nickel plated? I know that very early keys after 1935 were plain brass and not plated. If anyone has original keys from 1935 to early 1950's, please let me know if they are plated or plain brass.
Thanks for any information you can share!
Jeff
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Hall Monitor ChatMaster - 7,000
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Hall Monitor ChatMaster - 7,000
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The keys I got with my 38 are silver, can't say nickle or other plating. I also can't say whether they're the keys the car was born with or not for sure but I believe they are.
VCCA Member 43216
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
1938 HB Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan
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Joined: Dec 2019
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ChatMaster - 1,000
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The key I got with my '46 truck is a Briggs & Stratton and brass colored.
Can't say if it's the original key either, but it's sure worn smooth.
Ole S Olson
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Joined: Jan 2002
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ChatMaster - 25,000
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ChatMaster - 25,000
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I had the original two sided keys from my 1934 and they were plated, Also had some new keys of that type and they were played and had the letters BOSCO ( i think that is correct) on them indicating they were Briggs ans Strattom.
Any keys not plated, B&S or others are replacements.
Around 1948 and 1049 the cars came with the same keys but looked like alumnum amd mot plated.
The same keys numbers ranging from 8000 tru 9000 were used in ALL GM cars from 1935=1066.
f the keys cAME WITH THE CAR THE KY NUMBER WILL BE IN THE OPENING AND IF PUNCHED THE OPENING WILL BE A LARGER TRI ANGLE
IF A REPLAEMENT KEY IT WILL NOT USUALLY BE PUCHED AND WILL NOT HAVE A NUMBER.
1935 KRYS WHER PLATED.
Last edited by Chev Nut; 09/29/23 06:32 PM.
Gene Schneider
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Joined: Dec 2019
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ChatMaster - 1,000
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On looking closer...
It appears my key MAY have been plated originally,
but the plating on all but the deepest parts of the engraving/stamping is worn away.
The key has "BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP" and "MADE IN US" on one side,
and "GENERAL MOTORS CORP" and "GM" and a 4 digit number on the knock-out (which is still in the key) on the other side.
Some of the words like "CORP" are nearly worn away as well.
All that said, I can't say for sure what color this key was originally, but it looks to be as old as the truck. 🙂
PS
The number on the knock-out falls within the range given by Gene above.
PPS
I really can not say for sure whether there is plating left in the low spots between the letters,
and the overall color of the key is a very "whitish" brass, not the distinct darker brass I see on some keys.
Last edited by Stovblt; 09/29/23 07:10 PM.
Ole S Olson
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 217 Likes: 3
Backyard Mechanic
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OP
Backyard Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 217 Likes: 3 |
Thanks for all your responses. I thought that very early 1935 and up keys were not plated. I have a box of Briggs and Stratton key blanks with knockouts in a very old looking, tan box that are brass. The BASCO (Briggs And Stratton Company) keys are before 1935 and the key numbers stamped may not be the same as after 1935 which were the same up to 1966. My thought was also that during the war appearance was not important so to save cost they were not plated. A tank would start just as well with a bare key as with a nickel plated one.
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