Question re: old Corbin

[Neilau]

Hi all.

I have an old Corbin lock (no key) that has ball bearings at the end of all the pins (as far as I can see).

Can anyone tell me what is their purpose?

The only thing I can see that they would do is to make impressioning more difficult or to save wear on the pins, as they don’t make the lock difficult to pick – Half diamond pops it in no time.

Thanks in advance.

Neilau

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[MacGyver101]

I'm not sure if Corbin also had impressioning in mind (they may have), but their main purpose was preventing wear on the keys and pins.

Bonus question to ponder: if you're going to put balls under all of the key pins, what do you need to be careful to avoid (with respect to the rest of the pin stack)?

[GWiens2001]

Two concerns - first, that you do not put too buch pressure on the driver pin spring.

Also, make sure the inline bearings do not align causing binding

Gordon

[l0ckcr4ck3r]

well the first issue i see by using ball bearings in a pin stack is the decrease in available bitting depth... with a .115" ball and a 9 cut... you are gunna get close to having a key pin that resembles a master wafer, balanced on top of a shiny ball bearing... just asking for trouble! The second problem i see is the effective additional shear line you have just added to the lock... just like adding mastering to the lock. A nice comb type pick could probably lift all the balls to shear

[femurat]

The second problem i see is the effective additional shear line you have just added to the lock... just like adding mastering to the lock. A nice comb type pick could probably lift all the balls to shear

+1

It's very easy to find the additional shearline by picking the lock. The ball bearings could be lifted with a flat object, like a tension wrench handle.

Nice lock Neilau

[dmasters]

Useless trivia: Corbin used the BB's from about 1902-1960. They were intended for high-traffic locks (less wear), and allowed steeper adjacent cuts since the BB's could ride a sharper "vee" cut into the key which is how they were still able to get a decent size master-key system using them.

I will take Laminated Padlocks for $500, Alex...

[Logan]

Useless trivia: Corbin used the BB's from about 1902-1960. They were intended for high-traffic locks (less wear), and allowed steeper adjacent cuts since the BB's could ride a sharper "vee" cut into the key which is how they were still able to get a decent size master-key system using them.

That is indeed their purpose; although I thought they were available as an option a good deal later than the 60's (at least into the 80's. They were typically only loaded into the first two stacks and on top of being able to ride a sharper V in the key (like DM said) Corbin also wouldn't have to worry about them taking up extra space taking away from Mastering as they had their "Master Ring" cylinders for those requiring even more complex and still secure mastering. Old Master Rings are some of my favorite locks.
As far as picking. With the right bitting the bearings can definitely become frustrating (especially with spool pins and trying to break out of a false set) as the pick likes to slip of of them.
Pick that open, gut and re-pin it to a tougher bitting to see if you might make those balls a little more tricky. Also if the drivers aren't the offset spools that are often found in these old Corbin's, let me know I'll send you a few. I'm also curious to see if there really is a ball in every chamber as I've never seen one set up that way.

Or if you haven't learned gutting and re-pinning yet... if you'd like you could send it to me. I'd be happy to gut it, re-pin, throw in Corbin spool drivers (if not already so equipped), a few pictures, a youtube video of the project and send it back to you a bit more challenging and maybe (if one of my blanks or already cut Corbin keys fits it) with a key.

Have a good'n, Thanks for sharing the nice old Corbie and if I haven't said so yet, a belated welcome to KP

[Neilau]

Thanks dmasters.

Lock trivia is never useless !!!

I'm sure that more people than me learnt something new.

That's what this site is all about.

Cheers.

PS Keep up the trivia

PPS Logan. Your post just arrived as I was submitting this one.

I've never repined a lock. I'm sure that I can do it just am not set up to.

On careful inspection, I think you are right. The BBs are not in every stack just the first couple.

PM me re: your offer. I'm interrested.

Thanks.