Identifying filing cabinet key from lock front number

[David]

I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.

There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.
I assume that you would need a key to take the lock out of the drawer
front to investigate further.

I can't at the moment find anything on the filing cabinet which indicates
a manufacturer.

The first two key replacement sites I tried gave me multiple options, so I
am not keen on spending abut £5 a pop (including postage) for a variety of
keys.

Any tips on how to identify?

I would like to recycle via charity rather than just sling it.

Cheers



Dave R

[Jethro_uk]

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.
I assume that you would need a key to take the lock out of the drawer
front to investigate further.
I can't at the moment find anything on the filing cabinet which
indicates a manufacturer.
The first two key replacement sites I tried gave me multiple options, so
I am not keen on spending abut £5 a pop (including postage) for a
variety of keys.
Any tips on how to identify?
I would like to recycle via charity rather than just sling it.

Google lens ?

In my last job, I inherited a load of locking cupboards that were missing
keys. There was a second hand office furniture outfit the company had
used before. Guy came round (they were literally down the road) and he
knew *everything* about furniture locks. Was able to order spares on the
spot.

[David]

Post by Jethro_uk

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.
I assume that you would need a key to take the lock out of the drawer
front to investigate further.
I can't at the moment find anything on the filing cabinet which
indicates a manufacturer.
The first two key replacement sites I tried gave me multiple options,
so I am not keen on spending abut £5 a pop (including postage) for a
variety of keys.
Any tips on how to identify?
I would like to recycle via charity rather than just sling it.

Google lens ?
In my last job, I inherited a load of locking cupboards that were
missing keys. There was a second hand office furniture outfit the
company had used before. Guy came round (they were literally down the
road) and he knew *everything* about furniture locks. Was able to order
spares on the spot.

Thankfully I have now found a label on the side of a drawer.

The cabinet dates from 2000 and is Samas No 14 Roneo.

I've emailed a key supplier with the photos so we shall see if they can
identify the lock and supply a key.

Cheers




Dave R

[David]

Post by David

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.

<snip>

Post by David
Thankfully I have now found a label on the side of a drawer.
The cabinet dates from 2000 and is Samas No 14 Roneo.
I've emailed a key supplier with the photos so we shall see if they can
identify the lock and supply a key.

First key supplier doesn't stock that key.
I've now emailed a second one.
Eventually I'll just get fed up and sling it - offering it free in the
first case.

Cheers



Dave R

[Scion]

Post by David

Post by David

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.

<snip>

Post by David
Thankfully I have now found a label on the side of a drawer.
The cabinet dates from 2000 and is Samas No 14 Roneo.
I've emailed a key supplier with the photos so we shall see if they can
identify the lock and supply a key.

First key supplier doesn't stock that key.
I've now emailed a second one.
Eventually I'll just get fed up and sling it - offering it free in the
first case.
Cheers
Dave R

This guy https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/2277malcolm has never let me down.

[Andy Burns]

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.

Would you remember if it looked like this?

<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354948265884>

[David]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.

Would you remember if it looked like this?
<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354948265884>

Remember?
As in memory from around 2000?
Absolutely no idea.

It should have been in the lock or in the top drawer.
But wasn't

Cheers


Dave R

[Chris Green]

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

[David]

Post by Chris Green

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

Cheers


Dave R

[RJH]

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

Agreed, they might need a key. But list it on Freecycle or similar and I'd say
there's a good chance you'll find someone who'll take it.

[wasbit]

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

They come up fairly regularly on free sites, no mention of keys.

Look for your locale.
Freecycle - https://uk.freecycle.org/
Freegle - https://www.ilovefreegle.org/
Gumtree (search for freebies) - https://www.gumtree.com/

[jkn]

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

That's silly - find another charity. Plenty of them will accept filing
cabinets without keys.

[fred]

Post by jkn

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

That's silly - find another charity. Plenty of them will accept filing
cabinets without keys.

Contact your nearest seller of used office furniture. He'll have the answer

[charles]

Post by jkn

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need. I am told
that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

That's silly - find another charity. Plenty of them will accept filing
cabinets without keys.

Indeed. Some charity shops are very fussy. I once took a desk to one, the
desk had a slight water stain on one drawer. They wouldn't take it.

Anyway, drill a small hole just over the snap lock and the cabinet can then
be opened by pushing a small rod into the hole.

[fred]

Post by charles

Post by jkn

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need. I am told
that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

That's silly - find another charity. Plenty of them will accept filing
cabinets without keys.

Indeed. Some charity shops are very fussy. I once took a desk to one, the
desk had a slight water stain on one drawer. They wouldn't take it.
Anyway, drill a small hole just over the snap lock and the cabinet can then
be opened by pushing a small rod into the hole.
--
from KT24 in Surrey, England - sent from my RISC OS 4t้ฒ
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

That is not necessarily true. There are variations in filing cabinet loks

[David]

Post by charles

Post by jkn

Post by David

Post by Chris Green

I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need. I am told
that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).

How odd, I have several filing cabinets used for storage of (mostly)
electrical and plumbing supplies, never needed the keys.

I don't need the key.
The next owner might.
I've asked and you can't donate it to charity without a key.

That's silly - find another charity. Plenty of them will accept filing
cabinets without keys.

Indeed. Some charity shops are very fussy. I once took a desk to one,
the desk had a slight water stain on one drawer. They wouldn't take it.
Anyway, drill a small hole just over the snap lock and the cabinet can
then be opened by pushing a small rod into the hole.

Noting that this cabinet is not locked.
It just required the ability to be locked and unlocked.

Cheers


Dave R

[Nick Odell]

Post by David
I have a 4 drawer filing cabinet which I no longer need.
I am told that nobody wants one unless it has a key (sell or donate).
I've had it so long that I have no idea where the key went.
There is the number 0815 on the front.
I can't see any other identifying marks.
I assume that you would need a key to take the lock out of the drawer
front to investigate further.
I can't at the moment find anything on the filing cabinet which indicates
a manufacturer.
The first two key replacement sites I tried gave me multiple options, so I
am not keen on spending abut £5 a pop (including postage) for a variety of
keys.
Any tips on how to identify?
I would like to recycle via charity rather than just sling it.
Cheers

That looks to me as if it might be a Lowe and Fletcher (L&F) key
number. In the past, L&F supplied the locks to the vast majority of
office furniture and filing cabinets made in the UK and beyond and
since they are still in business they possibly still do.

If it's what I think it is, there will be a master key for that lock
series so if you can't find what you want from L&F or one of their
distributors, the master key might get you out of trouble.

Good luck.

Nick