Help on cabinet keys
Andy Jones
regarding cabinet keys.
Presumably when a machine is located it is not allways the case
that it has all of its keys.
How do you get in it to check it if its locked?
Are cabinets allways unlocked at auctions?
Are cabinet keys all the same/of limited types/all different?
If anyone can reveal the accepted practices involved with keys
and getting a look in cabinets then the help would be much
appreciated.
--
Andy Jones
Warren Ernst
>I'vs checked the buying FAQ's but been unable to find anything
>regarding cabinet keys.
yup. Its an omission.
>Presumably when a machine is located it is not allways the case
>that it has all of its keys.
yup again.
>How do you get in it to check it if its locked?
Well, if you tug at the coinbox or coinmech. door and it wont budge, its
probably locked! ;-)
>Are cabinets allways unlocked at auctions?
Well, in my experience (which pales in comparison to some here),
coinmech. doors are frequently unlocked, so sneaking a peek inside isn't
difficult. Frequently, however, the back of the cabinet is locked and
bolted/screwed shut, so you can't easily get in without tools. Most
auctioneers aren't wild about you poking around the BACK of machines
anyway, since if a game was sabotaged into inoperation, its price would
drop dramatically. Coinmech. doors are usually left unlocked, obviously,
so you can give yourself credits to test play the game before bidding starts.
Frequently, you will find tghe keys (note the plural) on a little rin
hung up on a little wire hook just inside toeh coinmech door or bolted to
the inside of the case. Frequently, operators will put the coinbox or
back lock's keys here, so they only need one key to bring to the game to
gain complete access.
>Are cabinet keys all the same/of limited types/all different?
Keys can be completely different between different games from different
sources. It seem to me that operators put on whatever locks they happen
to have on hand. I think it would be very convenient if one key unlocked
all three locks on a game, but this isn't the case.
>If anyone can reveal the accepted practices involved with keys
>and getting a look in cabinets then the help would be much
>appreciated.
Hopefully, once you take the game from the auctioneer's hands after
winning the bid, you SHOULD recieve a complete set of keys. If you don't
or if they are unavailable, you should consider the cost of dealing with
them, which can be substantial. "Regular" locks (with keys that look like
those to your front door, that is, with "bumps" on eone side) can
relatively easy to pick with experience (check out alt.locksmith for
information about technique and tools). Double edged locks are trickier.
"High securoty" locks (with the circular keys) are way beyond the picking
ability of the hobbyiest locksmith (and most pro's) and must be drilled
out using special bits. Last week, it cost me $55 for someone to come
over and drill it out. New locks can be bought at most hardware stores
for less than $5 - obviously, they come with keys too.
Virtually,
Warr
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Ken Blair
>I'vs checked the buying FAQ's but been unable to find anything
>regarding cabinet keys.
The first game I ever bought was a Mario Bros., and after I bought it
I was pretty much on my own as far as fixing it up and finding
parts, etc.. Anyhow, the only lock open was the coin panel on the
front. Because the game was an original Nintendo cabinet, I was able
to buy a "Nintendo" key which was supposed to fit all the Nintendo cabinets.
Luckily, they key did fit the back, so I was able to get in the cabinet.
Unfortunatly, this key didn't fit either of the locks on the front, so I had
to drill out the locks and install new ones. It took about 10 minutes to drill
them (and I ruined a $3 drill bit, no big expense), and then I installed two new
locks which cost $4 or $5 each.
--
Ken Blair - blair...@dt3.dt.uh.edu
Arcade Collector
Since I'm a collector, and not an operator, I don't really care about getting
into the coin box, but the backs can be a problem. I had to take off the
Marquee on Yie are Kung Fu, and go in with a 10 inch screw driver and unscrew
the back lock off from the inside to ge the back off. On other games I wasn't
so lucky, I had to pry the locks off with 2 screw drivers using them as
wedges. Unfortunetly Keys seem to be a rarity at auctions. Your lucky if you
get any at all. And even then, your not always set. I have a set of keys that
came with one machine that must have gotten mixed up, because it doesn't
unlock ANYTHING in the machine.. oh well ..
cccaaa
>or if they are unavailable, you should consider the cost of dealing with
>them, which can be substantial. "Regular" locks (with keys that look like
>those to your front door, that is, with "bumps" on eone side) can
>relatively easy to pick with experience (check out alt.locksmith for
>information about technique and tools). Double edged locks are trickier.
>"High securoty" locks (with the circular keys) are way beyond the picking
>ability of the hobbyiest locksmith (and most pro's) and must be drilled
>out using special bits. Last week, it cost me $55 for someone to come
>over and drill it out. New locks can be bought at most hardware stores
>for less than $5 - obviously, they come with keys too.
$55.00 ????, drill it out yourself. I drill out "high security - circular
locks" all the time, using regular drill bits. I start small and keep using
larger bit, until it rips the lock apart, and falls out. Does not destroy
any part of cabinet. DO IT YOURSELF!!
7/8th locks cost
single sided 2.50
double sided 3.50
high security 6.00
If any one needs name of lock supply houses, drop me a note.
CHARLIE (ccc...@tiac.net)