PDP8 key (Was: Text encoding Babel.

[Fred Cisin]

On Sat, 1 Dec 2018, Guy Dunphy via cctalk wrote:
> And now, back to machining a lock pick for a PDP-8/S front panel cylinder lock.
>  http://everist.org/NobLog/20181104_PDP-8S.htm#locks

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=xx2247&_sacat=0


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.TR4.TRC2.A0.H0.Xtubular+lock-pick.TRS0&_nkw=tubular+lock-pick&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=tubular+lockpick&LH_TitleDesc=0

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