Keys

Talk about the E-Type Series 1
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peters3103
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#1 Keys

Post by peters3103 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:32 am

Hi Gents
A key question.
I have two sets of three keys that came with the car (1961). The ignition is stamped FP725.
Both ignition keys are Wilmot Breeden, one has a round head and is stamped FP707, the other, also Wilmot Breeden, has a square head and stamped FS950. Interestingly they both work in the ignition. Does that mean the ignition barrel is worn? The door keys can be inserted into the ignition but won’t turn. The door keys are FP, (642 & 740) with a round head, are branded HD and are not keyed alike. I have two blank Wilmot Breeden FP keys to have cut for the doors. I was hoping to have the doors keyed alike - is that possible?
I also have a rectangular head Wilmot Breeden key stamped FS887 but this doesn’t turn any of the three locks.

Cheers,
Pete
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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Gfhug
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#2 Re: Keys

Post by Gfhug » Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:36 am

Pete, that certainly sounds like worn out keys.
As for keying alike, the barrels can be removed from door locks and with a bit of swapping around of leaves with spares from other locks of the same type you can make up new barrels with the same key. Not difficult, but an easier solution could be to drop by an old locksmith and let him do the work for a few pounds/dollars.
There are several posts on here of people doing this work.

Geoff
S2 FHC Light Blue
S2 OTS LHD - RHD full restoration

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peters3103
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#3 Re: Keys

Post by peters3103 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 10:03 pm

Thanks for your reply Geoff, do you know what shape key was originally supplied for the ignition and what shape for the door locks?

Cheers,
Pete
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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Heuer
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#4 Re: Keys

Post by Heuer » Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:23 pm

Everything we know about keys can be found in our Factory Fit thresd:
http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php?p=34688#p34688
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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#5 Re: Keys

Post by peters3103 » Wed Nov 06, 2019 11:50 pm

Thanks David, yes I did refer to the Factory Fit, as I always do, but it doesn’t specify which shape key head is for which lock, ignition or door. I have found information online to suggest that on an XK140 both ignition and doors used a round head key and the rectangular one was used for the cubby (glove) box. I wonder if this was standard practice on all models.
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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#6 Re: Keys

Post by Heuer » Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:51 am

A single Wilmot-Breedon key was supplied for both ignition and doors. Most 3.8's had the round head FP key but towards the end of 3.8 production and the 4.2's the square head FS was supplied.

I will add that to the Factory Fit thread.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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#7 Re: Keys

Post by peters3103 » Thu Nov 07, 2019 10:51 pm

Excellent David, thanks.
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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Philk
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#8 Re: Keys

Post by Philk » Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:30 pm

Heuer wrote:
Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:51 am
A single Wilmot-Breedon key was supplied for both ignition and doors. Most 3.8's had the round head FP key but towards the end of 3.8 production and the 4.2's the square head FS was supplied.

I will add that to the Factory Fit thread.
Hi David

If it assists in terms of cutover dates, my June '64 3.8 OTS came to me with a round FS key. Having checked with Jaguar Heritage, the key number matches that on the build ledger entry so I believe this to be original.
Phil
1964 S1 3.8 OTS

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Heuer
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#9 Re: Keys

Post by Heuer » Fri Nov 08, 2019 3:20 pm

Thanks Phil, that information is useful.
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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Robbiee
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#10 Re: Keys

Post by Robbiee » Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:35 pm

Hi
Here’s a picture of my two original FP keys (ignition)
March 1962 RHD OTS
My door locks are different...they still have the ‘lock/unlock’ writing on them
I have removed the barrels to clean them
Is it possible to get a locksmith to alter them to match the ignition key??
Robbie
Image

Image
Robbie 1962 3.8 Coupe OSG 1962 OTS ODG

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Gfhug
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#11 Re: Keys

Post by Gfhug » Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:41 pm

See post 2 above
S2 FHC Light Blue
S2 OTS LHD - RHD full restoration

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Herblay
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#12 Re: Keys

Post by Herblay » Thu Nov 21, 2019 12:29 am

Is there any UK Company making Wilmot Breeden reproduction keys? I mean, copying an existing ignition/doors key into the appropriate WB model
S1 FHC 3.8

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Sarthe72
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#13 Re: Keys

Post by Sarthe72 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:48 am

We were in Croatia on a rally and for the life of me I could not find my keys in the morning. My trusty Swiss Army knife came to my rescue though. The barrel is so worn I was able to start the car with the scissors! The keys were found later; they had slipped under the reinforcing base of the - Jaguar of course -squash bag I used for overnight things. It still amuses people when I start the car and then take the keys out.

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#14 Re: Keys

Post by peters3103 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:01 am

I bought 6 new pre-cut Wilmot Breeden FP keys recently off eBay. £3ea.
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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tim wood
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#15 Re: Keys

Post by tim wood » Fri Nov 22, 2019 8:49 am

I’ve purchased keys from this uk based seller. He will send outside of the uk

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-car- ... xy~dBRG5yG
Series 1 FHC purchased 40 years ago. Courted my wife in it.
Series 1 2+2 when the kids were small now sold.
Series 1.5 OTS in opalescent maroon, Californian car. My retirement present.

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#16 Re: Keys

Post by peters3103 » Fri Nov 22, 2019 9:28 am

Yep that’s who I bought mine from.
Pete
61 E-Type FHC Opalescent Golden Sand
69 XJ6 4.2 MOD Old English White - one previous owner
16 XE R Sport 25t Polaris White - shopping trolley
63 MGB Roadster Aintree Green - my dads from new

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#17 Re: Keys

Post by tonyabacus » Sun Nov 24, 2019 9:35 pm

Pete
You can get Wilmot Breedon keys from many sources including a lot of autojumbles and some car shows, all you need is the number of the key you want.

As to which key went where and what shape they may have used, could possibly be answered by this excellent detailed article below. Whilst it deals specifically with the XK120,140,150 it breaks down all those sort of facts with added diagrams of the different key profiles, the key Series data including the number sequences for each type, so for FP,FS,FA,FR,MRN etc.

I suspect that as it deals with the XK150, it is likely that Jaguar carried the same system over to the E Type which is borne out to a degree, from a previous posting showing an FP key for an ignition barrel, which the chart included in the article verifies as being the same used on the XK150. I don't know whether there is anything similar on the Net for E Types, but I noted somewhere that Dud Marston in the US is writing an article about keys to go in hand with his excellent book on keyrings. David probably has more info on the current situation with Bud.

When you know how easy it is to get a fairly worn key to open your doors and start your engine it certainly focusses the mind on the need for a good security/tracker system.
Tony

http://www.bobine.nl/jaguar/12-body/wil ... -and-keys/

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