PDP8 key (Was: Text encoding Babel.

On Sat, 1 Dec 2018, Guy Dunphy via cctalk wrote: Are you sure that it's not an "XX2247"? (Widely used on MOST PDP8's, and pretty much all keyed alike, unless there were major needs to rekey to a different key) If so, there are a number of people on the list who have them. In fact, currently, there are TWO listings on eBay for that particular key! ($25) https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=x… If you prefer, the tool that your locksmith uses is readily available, even on eBay. there are a couple of minor variants, including different diameters. It would seem that you can make a better quality one than most of the cheap (Chinese) ones. (particularly if you need a rationalization for continuing your machining of it) https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.T… I made such a pick half a century ago, with no knowledge that there already was such. At that time, they were called "UNPICKABLE". (until you had an appropriate tool. On some locks, there is a special "jiggling" needed, rather than "just shove it in". And, occasionally, you need to just use it for torsion, and feel the pins while sliding each slider in and out manually. Once the pick is set to the lock cylinder, it is straightforward to measure the depths. SOME duplicators can copy from the pick tool, but some will knock sliders out of place. Or, if you prefer, I can dig through some old posts on this list, and tell you the depths of the cuts for XX2247. It has been widely discussed a few years back. -- Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com