Thu May 14, 2015 12:22 pm
Keys and a cool Best lock!
So the local General Electric/ Regal motor plant was having an auction today, ( moving to Mexico 
) and amid all the huge machinery and motor parts, I saw 1 thing I knew I had to have, problem was, it wasn't in the auction and it was locked to a door!
A Royal McBee padlock! This factory was originally Royal McBee, they made typewriters in the 50's to 60's. when they closed, General electric moved in, and apparently this lock was left over.
There were still a handfull of GE employees working, so I asked one of them if there were any more padlocks like that, as I collect them and my mom worked in the GE plant in the 70's. He asked me to show him the lock, as he'd never seen a Royal McBee one still in use, so I showed him, and he tells me that the door it's on was a second entrance to the women's restroom, but being right off the break room, people could see in, so they locked it.
The first employee asked his coworker if his keys fit, they didn't, so he asks if there are still bolt cutters in the tool room, nope! (he was going to cut the hasp, not the lock) The second guy grabs a pry bar and a hacksaw, and after 10 seconds of prying, the hasp breaks and the lock hits the floor! He says, "there ya go, Merry christmas!" and that's that.
The keys were given to me by the other guy, when he heard I collect locks and keys, there's a Best key in there, but it doesn't fit the lock. The padlock is NOT for sale, period. (you too, Riy
)
) and amid all the huge machinery and motor parts, I saw 1 thing I knew I had to have, problem was, it wasn't in the auction and it was locked to a door!A Royal McBee padlock! This factory was originally Royal McBee, they made typewriters in the 50's to 60's. when they closed, General electric moved in, and apparently this lock was left over.
There were still a handfull of GE employees working, so I asked one of them if there were any more padlocks like that, as I collect them and my mom worked in the GE plant in the 70's. He asked me to show him the lock, as he'd never seen a Royal McBee one still in use, so I showed him, and he tells me that the door it's on was a second entrance to the women's restroom, but being right off the break room, people could see in, so they locked it.
The first employee asked his coworker if his keys fit, they didn't, so he asks if there are still bolt cutters in the tool room, nope! (he was going to cut the hasp, not the lock) The second guy grabs a pry bar and a hacksaw, and after 10 seconds of prying, the hasp breaks and the lock hits the floor! He says, "there ya go, Merry christmas!" and that's that.
The keys were given to me by the other guy, when he heard I collect locks and keys, there's a Best key in there, but it doesn't fit the lock. The padlock is NOT for sale, period. (you too, Riy
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