picking locks

[Scott Stevens]

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 23:29:51 -0800
jim stephens <jwstephens at msm.umr.edu> wrote:

> 
> 
> Eric Smith wrote:
> 
> > Scott wrote about picking locks:
> > > I haven't had very good luck with paper clips. A better tool is a
> > > used dental pick, because this is tempered and holds up when you
> > > put stress on
> 
> The MIT Lockpick guide recommends going out after a street sweeping
> machine has been by and look in the gutter for the bristles that break
> off the brushes.
> 
> New bristles are not as good as used ones, because the metal wears
> down thin just before it breaks off.  It is very hard and ideal for
> the material to fab the picks from.
> 
> this is just from reading.  I never pick locks, I go around to the
> back door, which is usually unlocked and go in there.
> 
> Jim
> 
The back door here (our house) has a skeleton key lock.  That was the
only lock on the back door.  At least, that's all it had when we moved
in.  Now it has a slidebolt, and a big scary black dog inside.

You can still buy skeleton keys out of the bins at most hardware stores.
 There are a few different types.  The ones for our house were there.

(to bring this back on-topic) Do people feel it is 'damaging' to the
credentials of a classic machine if the keylock is disabled or replaced?
 Are there sources for the keys?  My ancient RS/6000 has the lock
'sprung' so that any screwdriver will turn it.  My SparcServer 1000 has
the lock intact (and I have the key).

-Scott

Scott