Skeleton key. A skeleton key is NOT a master key, although it kinda functions like one. In the pre-tumbler/pin days marked by Schlage, Dexter, et al., a key gate was installed in the mortise beneath the door handle. The key had cuts (indentations) in the flag shaped end that would clear the key gates. A skeleton key was a super-skinny key that had a very small flag piece on the end of the key - and with wiggling and jigglin one could use the key to open most locks of the same genre. A true master key is one which has its own preset cuts common to all locks under its command -- a typical key has five pins with cuts that match the specific lock; another set of pin cuts matches the master key. A skeleton key is not a master key, by strict definition. It may function as one, however. A pin type of lock, either (and/or) operating the handle lock or the deadbolt, may be on the master key system. # # # I add this explanation to my list of things said that cause me to run screaming into the darkness, like: > safety deposit box (there is no such thing; its safe deposit) ; > hot water heater (water heater, insofar as people dont heat hot water); > avid reader (has anyone ever met a non-avid reader???) > primary colors are NOT red, yellow and blue ... primary colors in light and seen by the cones of the retina, are RGB - red, green and blue; primary colors in pigment cyan, magenta and yellow -- each of which is translucent... and black is added (solid, non-translucent) to perfect a final issue. How do they relate? Write RGB in a column on the left; write CMY in a column on the right. If one were to place a Red filter in front of the RGB light source, red cancels red and you have G and B, which is Cyan in pigment! If one placed a Blue filter i front of the light primaries signal, the remainder would be R and G, since blue cancels blue -- R and G equals Magenta in pigment! > Yes, I had lunch with the late Buckminster Fuller in 1980 at Eckerd College. > The area of a rectangle (or its relatives) is base times height. The area of a right triangle is 1/2 of this - or one half base x height -- because its half of a rectangle! (Use a multidisciplinary approach... art and mathematics, chemistry and sociology, anthropology and biochemistry particularly brain chemicals (neurotransmitters.)) > Scissors v. Shears. Scissors have equal matching finger holders at the non business end of the tool; shears have different sized and shaped handles -- once again, the business end is not relevant for the device name! > The T, R and S on telcom stuff means Tip, Ring, and Sleeve. It matches up with the telephone plug, or old time cord switchboard. T was the end of the 3 part telephone plug -- current flow was positive; R was the next connector and known as ring and was the negative wirel S was sleeve of the connector and was the chassis ground. > Those little rooms next to the SAFE deposit box are called Coupon Booths. They always had envelopes with large plastic windows so that contents could be seen -- and the rooms had, on a chain, a pair of coupon shears. One clipped the coupons twice a year, placed those interest-due coupons into the envelope and took the envelope to the collection and exchange window or certain paying and receiving tellers for credit to the coupon owners account. Coupons appeared only on non-registered bonds; registered bonds semi-annual payments were made by check sent to the deposit holder. > The Bible was written in three languages, not two (assuming we are using the oldest texts available. Hebrew was used in the O.T., Greek in the N.T. and Aramaic in the second part of the book of Daniel. It was there that King Nebuchadnezzer saw the handwriting on the wall and the change in language foreshadowed the capture and carry off to Babylon. (Bugs Bunny noted that folks there subscribed to the Temple Bell telephone company and made Persian to Persian calls. Oh, the handwriting on the wall was mene mene tekel Upharsin, and translated roughly to your nation has been weighed in the balances and found short or wanting; ergo, your country shall be divided between the Medes and the Persians. > I have a number of FILE cabinets at my house -- they are not FILING cabinets insofar as I have yet to see the devices FILE anything, and my overflowing inbox if proof! Thus ends this chapter of The Insomniacs ..... ZZZzzzzzzzzz... Journal! --30--
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:29:38 +0000