Note: All of the information below is for stock factory locks - many lock changes were made by local two-way shops at the request of individual radio system owners to improve site security.   Chicago Lock and Key also made ACE locks in a wide variety of barrel lengths, including two that happen to fit the front and back doors of Moto station cabinets plus a third that fit the front of a Motrac... I know this as I have seen several rekeyed cabinets (including one with a standard household Schlage deadbolt mounted in the door!) plus I have a six foot Motorola base station cabinet that has ACE locks front and rear plus a Motrac mobile with an ACE - all of which are keyed alike (fortunately I have the key).   The ACE lock was a pick-resistant tubular lock similar to what you see on some vending machines.   Click here for a photo of an ACE lock.   In comparison, here's a photo of a double-bitted lock, the Chicago Lock and Key "H" blank.

And if you need a key made, look in your local yellow pages phone book for a "real locksmith" and not the key booth at your local Lowes, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Home Depot, etc.   Those folks are "key butchers" not locksmiths.   The locksmith shop I patronize has been in business for over 70 years and is owned by the grandson of the original owner... And I have no problem with paying a little more there, as they have a huge shelf stock, don't mind placing special orders for me, and only once (since 1965) have I had to go back and have a key recut.

Note also that this web page was created by a person who spent one summer in the 1970s working three afternoons a week for a locksmith friend of my dad.   I learned a little, I can copy a key, I can pin a Kwikset or Schlage cylinder, I can cut Schlage keys from code, but I claim zero professional knowledge of locks.

Note that some of the keys listed below are cut on some key blanks that are not in the shelf stock of every locksmith.   I have provided blank information when I have it so you can call ahead and see if the locksmith has the blank in stock before you drive across town.   Some of the keys are not in the code books, or there is no code book, or the locksmith can't afford the code book for the increased amount of business he would get from having it (i.e. the locksmith might have the specialty key blanks and not the code book, some of which are over USD$250 for something the size of a Reader's Digest but half as thick and printed single sided and double-spaced).   In these cases you'll need to borrow somebody elses original key to have it copied.   My first radio key ring was generated in about 1969 or 1970 by my bribing a two-way tech to join me at a locksmiths, hand his key ring over the counter, and wait while eight keys were copied.   He got a steak dinner, I was able to open CMU-15s, Pre-Progs, CarPhones, 80Ds, GGTs and base station cabinets.   I still have those eight keys...but the key ring itself has been replaced twice, and now it is three times larger in diameter!

Note that the keys in the photos are only representative - if you order one from Moto/GE/whomever or get one retail (from Toro/Ewing/whomever) it may look different. For example, I've seen at least six different heads on CH751 keys from various sources (Motorola, Generac, Johnson, Ewing Irrigation (the Toro key), the local RV shop, etc).

I'd like to thank Maurice Onraet AA3YK for the photos of many of the keys.

From an email to repeater-builder:

The Motorola keys can be ordered directly from Chicago Lock Company… all you need to do is identify them. If they aren't stamped with the number (i.e. already a copy) this can be done with a actual-size-silhouette book that most every locksmith has. Just place the key over the silhouette and when you find the one that matches exaclty… that’s it!

Now you can order it precut by the number directly from Chicago Lock. I've been told that they will do small quanitites, but I don't know if they will do just one or two.

I used to carry all of the Harley Davidson keys that same way. I think that there were only six.

The double sided Chicago Lock keys are a bugger to copy. Very close tolerance as the key (master) is actually placed into the lock and then the tumblers are cut with mechanism that resembles a hole saw.

Hope this helps!

Keys for Motorola Radios How to order from Motorola: Call 800-422-4210 to order, navigate through their voice-response menu; they take credit / debit cards.   Unless you need to order something else at the same time, it's probably cheaper to go to your local locksmith and have him cut the key or keys you need from the code book.   The web page on How to order from Motorola might be of interest.
Key number	What it fits	Key Blank Information	Moto Part Number	Comments
1684	Station cabinets	??	55-851487	These are the really, really old (pre 1960s) station cabinets.   Most had a black crinkle finish.
2007	Paging system cabinets, trunking equipment cabinets	"H"	NLA see note	No Longer Available from Motorola Parts. This key was specified to the Moto "Nucleus" paging system but was also used in other Moto system cabinets.   It also fits a big percentage of the self-serve Coke and Pepsi soda fountains found in Southern California (probably elsewhere in the country too) fast food chain outlets and movie theaters - any that have a key switch on the side or under the plastic hood (the 2009 fits some of the rest of them...) Click for fountain photo. If your locksmith can't cut one for you, one source of this key is a company that sells parts for or repairs soda fountains.   Your local mom-n-pop fast food place can probably point you at a soda fountain parts house or repair service (don't bother asking at a big chain outlet like Seven-Eleven, Jack-In-The-Box, Carl's Junior, or McDonalds - 99.99% of the employees and 85% of the general managers are completely clueless and just call their company field service guys, even if it's a franchise store as opposed to a company owned store). Click for key photo.
2135	Mobile radios, and more, see comments.	"H"	55-893872	This is the Motorola mobile key, price is $2.04 from Moto (early 2006).   It fits almost all of the key-lock mobile equipment made since the early-1950s - the pre-Motrac tube-type mobiles in 10" wide housings (e.g. the GGV / GGT series), the Motrac, Motran, Mocoms, Business Dispatchers, Micor, Mitrek, etc.   It also fits most of the table top base stations - those labeled "Consolette Station", "Super Consolette Station", the compact floor mount cabinets ("Compa Stations") and more.   This key also fits some in-building wheelchair lift key locks, as well as the daily / sunday price change control on some newspaper racks.   Any Motorola two-way radio shop that advertises in your local Yellow Pages probably has a bunch of these lying in a desk drawer somewhere - Moto shipped two with every mobile radio and usually the radio shop installers kept them (sometimes they gave one to the vehicle owner, but not always).   If you can't find one from a Moto dealer you might check your local Yellow Pages for a local dealer of Toro brand commercial irrigation equipment (i.e. golf courses, city parks, vineyards, orchards, commercial nurseries, horse racing tracks, etc) - this key was used in some of their control equipment cabinets. One source is Ewing Irrigation, (pronounced "You-ing") a nationwide chain that has over 150 branches in 20 states and does mail order. Click for key photo
2141	The key switch in IMTS mobile telephone control heads	"H"	55-820001	This is a rarely needed key.   Trunk mount tube-vintage mobile telephones had a key switch in the control head faceplate that allowed the vehicle owner to disable the mobile telephone - for example in a situation where he left the vehicle at an auto mechanics (the radio itself used a PA-235 or a 2135).
2154	Suitcase repeaters	"H"		Maybe others, but definitely the Motorola P43SXS VHF suitcase repeater. For more details click here.
2159	Suitcase repeaters	"H"		Model numbers of these units include P1820AX and P1821AX
2252	The key switch in MTS mobile telephone control heads (including the Secode heads)	"H"		This is a rarely needed key.   MTS units were pre-IMTS trunk mount tube-type mobile telephones (the radio itself used a PA-235 or a 2135). Click for key photo (which is courtesy of Jim Kirkpatrick WB7BUP).
2395	See note...	"H"		Something Motorola... probably a Special Product of some sort. The tech that had this one had all his Moto keys on one key ring, all his GE keys on another, and everything else on a third. This was on the Moto ring....
C2418	Moto Computer Cabinets	"H"		These cabinets are bigger and deeper than the standard six foot tall radio cabinet - generally found in computer aided dispatch systems, computer controlled paging systems, among other applications. When the site agreement specifies "one cabinet", but doesn't say how big, then this is the one to use since you can mount twice as much equipment in it... one set on the rack rails just inside the front door of the cabinet and the other set on the rails just inside the rear door... And the side panels pop off in minutes so you can get to the back of both sets of equipment.
MOT-1	Converta-Coms	Ilco 1041-N	5505821D02	This key fits most of the mobile handheld drop-in chargers... the MX series, the MT1000, the MT500(some, but not all), STX and many others. Price from Moto is $2.08 (early 2006) One trick to this key: the MOT-1 key has the exact same cuts as found on a 2135 key, but it's made on a different blank.   So if you need one, and don't have one to copy, just have the locksmith copy your 2135 onto the Ilco 1041-N blank but use the comparison photo to get it rightside up.   Thanks to Robert J. for this tip. Click for MOT-1 photo
2552	Converta-Coms and MTS	"H"	55-820002	Mobile handheld drop-in chargers Also fits some of the old Mobile Telephone System (MTS) control heads (the radio itself used a PA-235 or a 2135).
2553	Indoor station cabinets	"H"	55-837339	This is the large base station / repeater cabinet key, price is $2.08 from Moto (early 2006).   It fits almost all of the indoor base station and repeater cabinets made since the mid-1960s (back to the tube-type "BR series" vintage table top and "BY Series" 6 foot and 7 foot base station cabinets).   Any Motorola two-way radio shop that advertises in your local Yellow Pages probably has a bunch of these lying in a desk drawer somewhere - Moto shipped two with every station cabinet and the installers / service men usually kept the keys. Click for key photo
6K11	Motorcycle radio locking mounting rack	??	55-851487	"Transistorized Dispatcher" series
AN-125	Older tube-type mobiles	??	55-857665	Tube mobiles from the 1950s
AU-234	Older tube-type mobiles	??	55-87144	Some pre-Motrac tube mobiles such as the FMTRU-5V with separate RX and TX housings
CH-751 or CH751	Outdoor (weatherproof) station cabinets		55-837361 (two keys)	This key fits, among other things, the so-called "J" cabinet (a late tube era outdoor / weather-resistant heavy steel cabinet about 5 and 1/2 feet tall) plus some newer stations.   The J-cabinet is the most common weatherproof / outdoor cabinet that will be found at hamfests.   It can be identified by the square corners, the air vent at the lower right side, and the rain gutters over the doors.   I've also seen one custom tall outdoor cabinet made by cutting the top off of one J-cabinet and the bottom out of another and welding them on top of each other (well, if the site owner charges by the horizontal rack space or by the horizontal square foot then where do you put the highband duplexer if you can't sling it from the cable trays? You hang it upside down (shorter cable length) in the upper cabinet.) This key also fits some Comco radios, some EFJ (Johnson) mobile units and the early EFJ weatherproof cabinets, some Federal Signal brand equipment (i.e. police car and fire truck sirens), some Cummins, Onan and Generac generator cabinets, some Toro commercial irrigation systems (i.e. golf courses, city parks, etc), some pickup truck shell and RV locks, some computer / network equipment rack cabinets and some file cabinets. Most RV dealers / suppliers and Generac parts houses usually have this key in stock, as well as the Toro commercial irrigation dealers which will probably have the 2135 as well (see "Ewing Irrigation" mentioned above).   Note that the Moto part number above is for a pair of CH751s, and they will ding you for about $6 (early 2006). Note that this key is made by several manufacturers and some call it a CH-751 and others call it a CH751 (without the dash/hyphen). Click for key photo
PA-235	Some 15" mobile housings		55-890568	Later pre-Motrac tube mobiles in the 15" wide housings Click for key photo
66B84690C01	Moto Systems-90 cable connectors	(special)	66B84690C01	I've heard this referred to as "the Micor head pin tool", "the Charlie tool" or as "the Charlie-zero-one tool" (from the part number).   This key is stamped from flat stainless steel sheet metal as as a pin extractor for the Systems 90 connectors.   See the photo.   It's available only from Moto Parts, or your friendly neighborhood Moto two-way shop (one was shipped with every Micor, Syntor and with every Systems 90 control head). The key is 0.030 inches thick and the tang at the end is 0.050 inches across and roughly 0.150 long.   The shaft is 0.110 wide, and the head is 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide. You can take a cheap awl from the local hardware store and grind or file the tip down and get the same functionality. Click for key photo
6680947W01	MaxTrac/M-series/GM300 accessory connectors	(special)	6680947W01 But you can't order this part number (see text)	This is the little flat black rectangular metal key that releases the locking tang on the pins that fit into the plastic accessory plugs on the back of many mobile radios including the MaxTrac, MaxTrac 50, MaxTrac 300, M100, M120, GM300 and some CDM series. It is documented in the GM300 article in the Motorola MaxTrac section on this web site and is shown in the MaxTrac accessory plug data sheets as part number HLN9491.   The actual key is stamped 66‑80947W01. Neither the HLN9491 number listed in the accessory sheets nor the 66‑part number stamped on the key is listed in the Motorola-On-Line data base, so either it's been replaced with something else, or it's not available as a separate part.   I've seen them sold on eBay separately and it is included with some of the radio accessory plug and jumper kits. This key is made from thin spring metal. One could probably be filed or ground down from an old clock spring or the flat part of a dull hacksaw blade. The key is 0.020 inches thick and the tang at the end is 0.035 inches wide. If you are just getting started in MaxTracs or GM300s the simplest way to get one of these keys is to order a HLN9242A kit (about $8 in late 2007) as you get a connector body, 16 loose pins, 9 pre-ended wires, and the 66-80947W01 pin removal tool.   Then as you use the parts you order additional ones from DigiKey or Mouser (part numbers are in the MaxTrac article) Click for key photo - and the keyring doesn't come with it!
Note: The abbreviation "H" in the "Blank Information" column means Chicago Lock and Key "H" series blank.   Ilco - a big supplier in the locksmith's trade - calls it a 1041-G blank, and most larger locksmiths have it in shelf stock.

What you really need on your key ring: As far as the Motorola radios that you will see in the field or at the hamfests/swap meets, you need a 2135 (mobiles and tabletop cabinets) and a 2553 (base station and repeater cabinets).   Add a MOT-1 if you are into later mobile handheld chargers (and since you can cut a MOT-1 using a 2135 and a different blank, why not?), and a 2552 for the earlier ones.   A CH751 wouldn't hurt and will open most of the weatherproof cabinets you see at hamfests plus some other things as well.   Add a 2007 only if you have one of the cabinets that uses it, or if you may run across one that you need to open (and you never know what will be around the next corner at a hamfest or swap meet).   Add a Charlie tool if you play with Micor, Syntor, Syntor X, Mitrek or other mobile radio that uses that style of cable connectors.   Add the MaxTrac tool if you want.   The rest of the Motorola keys listed above are special interest stuff.

Keys for GE / Ericcsson / Com‑Net Critical Communications / M/A‑Com / Tyco (whatever their name is this month) Radios How to order:   (The author of this web page is not as familiar with GE as he is with Motorola. Can somebody provide ordering info similar to what is listed above for Motorola?) Thanks to Jeff Workman for the GE part numbers.
Key number	What it fits	Key Blank Information	GE Part Number	Comments
BF-10 or BF10	Progress line, TPL line and some others	Yale, Curtis, Ilco Y14		This one looks like a short BF-10A The Y14 blank is long but shortening a blank is a trivial thing for a locksmith to do. The Progress Line was an all-tube trunk-mount radio, the TPL was a hybrid mobile with the transistorized receiver built into the oversize control head and the tube transmitter in the trunk. Click for key photo
BF-10A or BF10A	Mobile radios, some Desk-Mate cabinets, some handheld vehicular chargers and some station cabinets	Yale, Curtis, Ilco Y14	5491682P4	Most mobiles in the Mastr-II, Mastr-Exec and later series, and some other items.   This key also fits a lot of the door locks in old Studebaker pickup trucks! See the above note about the Y14 blank. Some keys are labeled BF10A (without the dash/hyphen). The BF10A was also used on some GE circuit-breaker panel door locks installed in the early 1980s.   If you need one and the local GE dealer doesn't have one ask any old-time industrial or commercial electrician if you can copy his. Click for key photo
BF-11A	???	Yale	5491682P27	Does anybody have any idea what this fits?
1000GE, 1000-GE, GE1000 or GE-1000	Station cabinets	Yale or Ilco or Chicago see note	19B209539P3	Despite the fact that the factory key is stamped 1000GE, don't be surprised if you hear folks call this a GE-1000.   The real Yale blank is rare but the Ilco 101AM, also known as an "AP1" blank, will work just fine (it has an additional, harmless thin groove on the side of the blank).   Chicago's key blank code is "K101".   Call ahead and verify that your locksmith has either the Ilco or the Chicago blank as they aren't in everybody's shelf stock. Click for key photo.
H2002, H2023, H2035	???	"H"	19B209276P5	The GE part number is for a set of one each of the three keys. According to Dave WB8APD, "These fit the old GE Manual IMTS Control heads used with the GE CC56 series MTS manual mobile radios. I think I still have some of those keys..."
LL-47	early vehicular chargers for the PE45 and PE46 portables, and some Progress Line indoor station cabinets	Yale	5491682P17	These are the old black vehicular chargers (the modern ones that use the BF-10 are ivory / brown). Thanks to John Holden N7IQV
LL-201 or LL201	Progress line mobiles	Yale	The Y14 will work.	Also fits some "Desk-Mate" (Mastr-Pro vintage) base station cabinets.   This cabinet was about the size of a deep two-drawer file cabinet. Click for key photo. According to Jim Kirkpatrick WB7BUP (who provided it) "the photo of the LL201 is of a copy, not an original key, so I'm 'only' 95% sure that's what it is".
LL-802 or LL802	Pre-Progress line mobiles	Yale		Also fits "VO" series six foot tall station cabinets
242	Older station cabinets
188, 288, 161 and 261	Phoenix mobile locking brackets
GE 004, GE-004 or GE004	Delta mobile locking brackets	Hudson	19B800004P3	Click for key photo
GE 1133, GE-1133 or GE1133	Ranger mobile locking brackets		B19 / MPDM01167
01129B or 0L129B see note	special - see note			The first three characters of the key number might be zero-one-one or zero-L-one. This key was used in the power on / off key switch on the custom control head GE made for a special order of several thousand UHF Mastr II E-case radios for the Southern California Rapid Transit District busses in the early 1980s.   The source of this info said this key was also used on a number of other GE special order radios and  / or control heads.   There are no markings on the blank except for the stamped-in key number.

What you really need on your key ring: As far as the GE radios that you will see in the field or at the hamfests / swap meets, you need at least a BF10A and a 1000GE on your key ring.   Add an LL201 since Desk-Mates are nice cabinets for base stations and link radios and depending on the vintage they use a BF10A or an LL-201, and I've seen a Mastr-III station in a DeskMate.   I've also seen four DeskMates bolted into a single stack at a radio site (well, they were stacked, I hope they were bolted...).   A CH-751 wouldn't hurt and will open other things as well.   A GE004 and an GE1133 would be nice if you are into Deltas and Rangrs.   Everything else is special interest stuff.

Manufacturers other than GE or Motorola
Key number	What it fits	Key Blank Information	Part Number	Comments
761	Harris RF transceivers	"H"		Possibly C761 Click for key photo
2059	Aerotron indoor cabinets and most mobiles	"H"		Thanks to Marshall KØADM, who has had an original factory key since the early '80s. Mark N7TYJ reports that the same key fits the mobiles. Lance N2HBA claims that it fits all Aerotron radios.
MRCA	RCA mobiles			Despite more than one person stating that the "M" in "MRCA" stands for "mobile", this key fits a lot of the RCA station cabinets.   I do not know what key fits the others.   This key also fits a lot of the locks on Kelvinator refrigerators from the late 60's and early 70's (yes, they had a cabinet lock mounted in the door and it functioned similar to an automobile door lock in that it locked the refrigerator door handle).   Thanks to Rich Osman, N1OZ for that tip. Click for key photo
C273A	Later EF Johnson cabinets	possibly Y11		This key fits the 30 inch, the 42 inch, and the 75 inch indoor cabinets and the locking synthesized mobile units. The earlier mobile units used a CH-751. Thanks to K4REL for the correction (I had it as a C237A)
C415A	EF Johnson cabinets, also see note			EFJ base stations and tube mobiles, plus equipment racks sold by Control Data Corporation to house their Network Processing Units (high speed serial lines, pre-ethernet) around the late 1970s and early 1980s.   They are also found on some HON brand file cabinets.   They were also used on electrical equipment rack cabinets for GE industrial motor-generator and conveyor belt control  equipment (timers, contactors etc.) in the late 1960s and possibly early 1970s.   Digital Equipment Corp used the same keys on the VAX computer cabinets.   They will open some jukeboxes.   They will let you open and tamper with Diebold AccuVote election machines (yes, do a Google search on diebold c415a and read the Slashdot article about how easily your vote can be tampered with, and why several areas have gone back to a paper ballot that can be recounted if necessary).   This same key will open some hotel mini-bars (so after you tweak the voting so your candidate wins, you can celebrate back at the hotel with a scotch on the rocks?).   If you need one, find a E. F. Johnson dealer, or check the various web-based office supply companies or web-based jukebox supply companies. Click for key photo
	EF Johnson cabinets	National D8785		1970s vintage cabinets D8785 is a National brand key blank number, not the cut information
M7002	EF Johnson "Rydax" mobiles	Corbin		Rydax was a post-IMTS / pre-cellular mobile telephone system that worked very, very well but was not marketed properly and died.   Fewer than three dozen systems totaling less than a couple thousand mobiles were installed nationwide.   If you can find a Rydax base you will have a nice continuous duty 100w UHF duplex base once you disconnect the control shelf.   Add an external repeater controller like an Scom, NHRC, Link, Arcom, etc. and you will have a very nice UHF repeater system.
92380, 702	Tait cabinets
544, 557	Systcom mobile phones			MTS and IMTS era briefcase phones and mobile phones

Unknown and special interest keys These are keys that have been found on various two-way technician's key rings over the years but for which both the tech couldn't remember or had no clue, and I was unable to figure out anything on my own as far as the two-way industry in concerned (the keys might fit somebody's rekeyed radio cabinet, a shop burglar alarm system key switch, a toolbox, a padlock, or a motorcycle helmet lock for all I know...) I'm listing them because something here may be of use to a radio enthusiast. If anybody wishes to contribute, I'd be happy to list the info.
Key number	Key Blank Information	What it is known to fit, and other comments
2040	"H"	Often used in elevator panels and/or security/alarm panels, both of which may need to be accessed to get to a building penthouse mechanical room to work on a repeater... Click for key photo
2055	"H"	Something Motorola, but also fits some Bobrick brand bathroom paper product dispenser locks(!) See also CAT74 below Click for key photo
92304
C2132	"H"	Among other things, the Texas Instruments 960 and 980 series minicomputer front panel key switches and the cabinets they were in (mid 1970s).   I have heard that there was a paging equipment company that used TI 980 computers as paging system controllers... Click for key photo (which is courtesy of Jim Kirkpatrick WB7BUP).
BP649
CAT30		Also found on some furniture cabinet locks Click for key photo
CAT60		Some electrical panels and Fenwall fire alarm panels, possibly other items?
CAT74		among other things, Bobrick brand washroom products locks(!) The CAT74 is used on the low-end, the 2055 on the high-end products Click for key photo
E114		American Specialties Inc. washroom products
HL263
MELMK	ALCO	The key had "Alco" cast into the brass, and "MELMK" stamped into it... and was on a Moto tech's keyring.
SR251 or NSR251		AC power panels made by "Square D" company.   Some keys are labeled with SR, some with NSR Click for a SR251 photo
As mentioned above in the Motorola section the abbreviation "H" in the "Blank Information" column means Chicago Lock and Key "H" series blank (an Ilco 1041-G blank).

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This page originally posted March 2002

Comments, additions, corrections, updates, complaints, attaboys, etc. on this writeup are welcome.
Send them to Mike Morris WA6ILQ at (callsign) at repeater dash builder dot com
Please refer to the "Two way radio keys page" in the subject line.

This web page, the contents, and the hand-coded HTML is Copyright © Michael R. Morris WA6ILQ March 2000 and date of last update.

This web page, this web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors.   All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.