You know, like one that opens all doors of the house, factory etc. Like you see in cartoons (Yeah I'll admit I still like to watch cartoons 'cause I'm a kid at heart ;) )
2006-09-14 14:27:35 · 7 answers · asked by Moon O 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
There used to be back in the old days when locks were big clunky things that had barriers inside them to keep out unauthorized keys. If you filed down the parts where the metal of the key hit a barrier you would eventually get a key that was as skinny as a skeleton and could get past the internal barriers.
Those old locks are pretty rare nowadays. Most locks have movable pins (tumblers) or slides (wards) that can be raised to the height that they clear the edge of the turning part and let it turn to open the lock. Locks that accept master keys have those pins in two sections so that they can clear the edge if their regular key or a key that is cut to clear the other common set of lengths is in it. In a really carefully set up building there can be a grand master that opens every lock and sub masters that just do one floor of a building.
2006-09-14 14:38:54 · answer #1 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 34⤊ 6⤋
skeleton keys are what were used to lock and unlock all the doors in a house, but haven't really been used since the 1800's.after the invewntion of the tumbler-type lock in the latter 1800's, they were slowly changed. now keys which open all the doors in a house or business are called master keys, and only a very few select people would be allowed toi carry one, such as the owner, or his representative. additionally, in large office buildings, any master keys are made from blank keys which only the key manufacturer can provide, and are not used for any other building.
2006-09-14 14:38:08 · answer #2 · answered by de bossy one 6 · 11⤊ 3⤋
Yes. But now they are collected. In the early days,when only some people could afford locks, most keys could unlock the doors.
2006-09-14 14:33:56 · answer #3 · answered by whataboutme 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Long long days ago they had them. My grandparents lived in a house that used skeleton keys.
2006-09-14 14:31:03 · answer #4 · answered by Chris J 6 · 5⤊ 3⤋
yes, I've always thought they were so cool- looking.
Don't we ALL love cartoons? I wish they would show some that I understand----like Betty Boop, and Casper, and Gumby, and Quickdraw McGraw, and Rocky, the squirrel, and, and, and,
2006-09-14 14:32:48 · answer #5 · answered by bettyboop 6 · 5⤊ 4⤋
Yes there is, I have one.
2006-09-14 14:30:39 · answer #6 · answered by skipped82451 3 · 5⤊ 6⤋
YES THEIR IS IT IS TRUE
2006-09-14 14:30:24 · answer #7 · answered by gerry22122 4 · 3⤊ 10⤋