Spanish Popout Ignition Key Replacement

macdonge

macdonge

Senior Member
I bought a 1930 Standard Roadster about a year ago. It came with only one ignition key that was already cracked. Worried that it would break off inside the switch, I started looking for a replacement while I was replacing all the old wiring, rebuilding the distributor, etc. Somewhat new to the history & finer technical aspects of the Model A, it wasn't long before I deduced that my ignition switch was one of the Spanish repro's and found that (it seems) nobody handles key blanks to suit these. After many fruitless trips to hardware stores far and wide looking for the right blank and someone who could cut it, I was about to throw in the towel and buy a new repro switch assembly. Yesterday however, I finally found a sharp, young locksmith that quickly identified a blank that "might do" and cut me two keys that work famously! For anyone with the same problem, the blank was a Cole B53. The lad had to shorten the blank a bit and file it just a hair thinner.
 
Thanks Jeff. Just what I need too. Hopefully these blanks are available in NZ
SAJ in NZ
 
J FRANKLIN. Thanks for the reply, but I am unsure what you are suggesting. I don't know who "the seller" is. Are you suggesting I get a blank posted to me in an envelope from the USA?
That makes sense, but I have to find out who has blanks in USA first. And many USA companies are not interested in sending to NZ. Particularly on Ebay, if I can find a ColeB53 there.
I will research all this on Google and hope to come up with a blank.
Thanks again and sorry if I seem a bit dense!
SAJ in NZ
 
SAJ said:
J FRANKLIN. Thanks for the reply, but I am unsure what you are suggesting. I don't know who "the seller" is. Are you suggesting I get a blank posted to me in an envelope from the USA?
That makes sense, but I have to find out who has blanks in USA first. And many USA companies are not interested in sending to NZ. Particularly on Ebay, if I can find a ColeB53 there.
I will research all this on Google and hope to come up with a blank.
Thanks again and sorry if I seem a bit dense!
SAJ in NZ
Click to expand...

I believe thats what he meant - or a friendly fordbarner mail you some blanks :P

Theres always a key blank available for any lock - as OP discovered it takes the right person to spot one and or want to take the time to make/modiy one.
 
Is there any way to identify a Spanish unit. I have one that is shorted and I wondered if it was one of these.
Terry
 
Sometime it takes a while to locate the proper key blank, especially if it is not a common blank. Most store employees will not spend 15 or 30 minutes looking for a blank and will tell you they do not have it after 1 or 2 minutes of looking.
Click on the link to download a 400 page chart with several thousand key blanks that you can search to find your blank, and take the number with you to the key store.

https://www.imlss.com/images/pdf/KBD12.pdf
 
The Made in Spain popout ignition switches can be identified by a number on the lock cylinder right where you put in the key. In my experience I have found the numbers run from 0 to 9. Original Ford popouts do not have a number in that location.

I have 2 of the Spanish pop out switch and cable assemblies for sale, both work properly, both have 2 keys, one has keys number 0 and the other has keys number 3.
 
For me, the dead giveaway was "SPAIN" stamped on the key. Some time ago, I tried wading through the chart '1930 coupe' posted but my head soon started spinning! ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top