Yale and ERA Tardis Key Research (Info for the 1963-present keys)

[Straker]

Plating won't round the edges of the key, but to remove the flashing they run it through a machine, and that tends to blunt the edges a bit.

When I speak of the edges being "Not as sharp", I'm not talking by a lot. You have to look VERY closely to see it. Adding any material in terms of plating will soften hard edges. It's minute but the edges are softened and the lathe marks are also filled in by the plating a bit. They definitely plated after the key was cut.

.
- - - Updated - - -

I don't know. I'm not even sure we can get blanks.

 

[MattMunson]

At the beginning of this video I show my keys and lock. LMK whatcha think.

Tardis Build Diary - Part 12 - YouTube

 

[Straker]

At the beginning of this video I show my keys and lock. LMK whatcha think.

Tardis Build Diary - Part 12 - YouTube

Nice stuff Matt. That Police Box looks amazing. The lock itself is very nice. All chromed out too. I don't believe the modern series lock was chrome but it looks really slick. What brand of lock and key did you use?

 

[Terrasolo]

Ask & you shall receive..

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/TimeyWhimyStuff/photo_zps932e7e32.jpg

Great find again TimeyWhimyStuff. Seeing your key there has made me break my rule of only havign keys cut to fit my TARDIS as they just seem to be a perfect match for the Tom Baker/Peter Davison key. Well done!

At the beginning of this video I show my keys and lock. LMK whatcha think.

Tardis Build Diary - Part 12 - YouTube

You did well on getting the inside lock to match Smith's so great job! But I do have to agree with Straker, Smith's outside lock was brass with a silver ring as seen here in Series 5 (the same for series 6):

Though admittedly I have not paid as close attention to Series 7, Moff has not been holding my interest that much plus I much prefer the Eccleston/Tennant box. That said, you and Ewan are doing a great job building the boxes yourself. Very impressive work for first time builders. I doubt very much I would have done so well my first time. Also, I met a friend of yours - Victoria - at Wizard World Philadelphia. It's a small world anymore!

EDIT: Forgot to add, if you did want to get brass lock to match the Smith style for your box you don't need to buy the whole set up. You can find new cylinder and key sets on eBay quite easily. Hope that helps.

 

[Terrasolo]

Ok just did a double check on Series 7, it may be blurry but it still is a brass cylinder with a silver ring.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Great find again TimeyWhimyStuff. Seeing your key there has made me break my rule of only havign keys cut to fit my TARDIS as they just seem to be a perfect match for the Tom Baker/Peter Davison key. Well done!

It is a nice key, I've still been on the MEGA hunt for a Yale like your 1st Doctor key. No dice.

 

[Terrasolo]

I have been too actually. I'd like another for my Susan key for consistency purposes. As it is my friend found three when he got his. They seem hard to find otherwise.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Mooncrest keys complete! I think I might try to take some pewter cleaner to one of the spade keys to differentiate them a bit more.

I also really wish they'd do an 8th key..

 

[Straker]

Mooncrest keys complete! I think I might try to take some pewter cleaner to one of the spade keys to differentiate them a bit more.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/TimeyWhimyStuff/-4_zps7e6f7f6f.jpg

I also really wish they'd do an 8th key..

Very nice and yeah I also wish someone would make an 8th Doctor's key. I always worry about doing anything with my 800-TREKKER keys because the pewter is so soft. Mooncrest uses a really tough pewter that holds up well to regular carrying use.


BTW, a bit of research for you guys. Purpleblancmange recently mentioned that the 2nd Doctor's key is visible in a close up in one of the War Games episodes, he thinks maybe 9 or 10. Might be worth a look for any of you guys with the DVD of that one.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Very nice and yeah I also wish someone would make an 8th Doctor's key. I always worry about doing anything with my 800-TREKKER keys because the pewter is so soft. Mooncrest uses a really tough pewter that holds up well to regular carrying use.


BTW, a bit of research for you guys. Purpleblancmange recently mentioned that the 2nd Doctor's key is visible in a close up in one of the War Games episodes, he thinks maybe 9 or 10. Might be worth a look for any of you guys with the DVD of that one.

I have a LOT of classic Who saved to an HD. Out of town for the weekend but I'll check it out when I go home Sunday and see if I can get some screenshots.

 

[Straker]

I have a LOT of classic Who saved to an HD. Out of town for the weekend but I'll check it out when I go home Sunday and see if I can get some screenshots.

Yeah that's one serial I don't own. I've mainly been concentrating on the 1st Doctor's era when it comes to classic Who.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

BTW, a bit of research for you guys. Purpleblancmange recently mentioned that the 2nd Doctor's key is visible in a close up in one of the War Games episodes, he thinks maybe 9 or 10. Might be worth a look for any of you guys with the DVD of that one.

Best shots are at the beginning of episode 10. Doesn't really show much but here ya go. Definitely not sanded of any sort.

 

[Straker]

Best shots are at the beginning of episode 10. Doesn't really show much but here ya go. Definitely not sanded of any sort.

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/TimeyWhimyStuff/vlcsnap-13442240_zps983b3f7e.png

http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/TimeyWhimyStuff/vlcsnap-13441808_zps0d3fb638.png

Great work! Certainly looks like a standard Yale key.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Great work! Certainly looks like a standard Yale key.

No prob, any other episodes you'd like me to research just lemme know!

 

[Straker]

No prob, any other episodes you'd like me to research just lemme know!

Will do. Too bad there isn't a better shot. So far it doesn't really look any different than the one seen in Spearhead. I can't see any detail above the hole at the top of the head so as far as I can tell it's pretty much just the same key, lol.

 

[Terrasolo]

Will do. Too bad there isn't a better shot. So far it doesn't really look any different than the one seen in Spearhead. I can't see any detail above the hole at the top of the head so as far as I can tell it's pretty much just the same key, lol.

I had always just assumed that his key was the one used in Spearhead as it was the first episode filmed right after. I know making an assumption like that really doesn't mean much as often times things change between productions but these caps do tend to lean that way. Which I kind of like to be honest. A bit of continuity. In my collection I have two of the same key in for Troughton and Pertwee because of this.

Nice work on the caps Timey, with all the downtime the RPF has had lately I missed these posts. Otherwise I would have tried for caps myself.

 

[Straker]

I had always just assumed that his key was the one used in Spearhead as it was the first episode filmed right after. I know making an assumption like that really doesn't mean much as often times things change between productions but these caps do tend to lean that way. Which I kind of like to be honest. A bit of continuity. In my collection I have two of the same key in for Troughton and Pertwee because of this.

Nice work on the caps Timey, with all the downtime the RPF has had lately I missed these posts. Otherwise I would have tried for caps myself.

Yeah that's basically my working assumption as well. I don't see too much evidence that the key was changed between the Toughton Pertwee changes.

Yeah the downtime has been strange. I'll just be going along and BOOM it's down.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

Nice work on the caps Timey, with all the downtime the RPF has had lately I missed these posts. Otherwise I would have tried for caps myself.

No prob, yeah it has been come & go with the site here lately.

This'll probably be my last post for a bit. Been a whirlwind packing for my move, you never realize how much junk you have until you move to a new house. :rolleyes

 

[Interceptor6]

Though I'm not an "avid" hunter of these, here's a few YALE (&Y1) Tardis keys I've gathered. Brass YALE on top, aluminum & alloy YALE on the 2nd row, and a few Y1 similar versions by other makers.

 

[Terrasolo]

Nice stuff! I'll admit that that one that says "Tockwood" nearly fooled me I like the first key on the first row. Very classic looking and beautifully aged.