Kaiser keys

[rialto]

I want to get a set of the new K keys that are available.  My 2 cars, a 53 Deluxe and a 54 Manhattan, both have 1 key fits all lock on the car.  I wonder why these new sets availbale have 2 different keys?

[Jim B PEI]

Because originally they would have had two different keys.

One thing many people have done over the years with older cars is just key all the locks to one key by adjusting the tumblers--it sure makes life simpler!!!

[Gordie]

My 1951 Kaiser seems to be fitted with one key from the factory as it still has the original K key and has low original miles.

[Jim B PEI]

But, as far as I know, I 'think' the two keys were like the GM keys, one with a hexagon? and one rounded?. My 49 has 3 keys--one for the gas cap as well.

[Fid]

From what I recall, there was only 1 key for 1951 cars and older. The two key, seperate one for trunk and glovebox, came about in 1952. My '52 Henry J vagabond has only one key for the ignition, door and trunk. This makes sense because a '52 Vagabond was a left over '51. The '51 Kaiser I had had one key. My '53 Henry J has two - one fits ignition and door, the other the trunk. This is consistent with what I'd heard but I can't remember where I heard it!

[joefrazer]

My 48, 49 and 50 Kaisers all used 2 keys, one for the door and ignition, the other for the trunk and glove box. My 51F convertible had one key that fit everything. I do not recall how many keys my 51K used.

[dusty]

Rialto, The K key reproduction started at the Salem Or. meet. Larry Barker motivated me with (you did well with getting the Kaiser upholstery reproduced ), how about Kaiser K Keys. both for the cars and ear rings for the gals. I have 2- 51s,1- 52,3- 53s 1-early 54 3 54s on the property for tests. additionally i had a 49 . the outcome was the 49 wouldn't work in anything else but 51-55 Kaisers and HJ's. The project took the 4 years to find a company to stamp,coin and mill the slots. so costs to produce limited how many I could have made and how many the club members would buy. Thats where we are today.

[rialto]

I checked my 53 owners manual. It says two keys were furnished with new cars, one for ignition and doors the other for trunk and glove box. So maybe they were changed like Jim B says. 

[pnw_oldmags]

I had a faulty Ignition switch.  When I took the new ignition in to have the lock smith transfer the tumblers from one switch to the other the original key did not work.  Locksmith said the key I was using did not match the tumblers.  That is why it would not work to switch into the ACC positon.  The original lock was not the correct key.  The warn switch let it work for everything but ACC.   May have been my original trunk key ... don't know --- that lock was missing.