Ignition key invented in 1949?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Unforgotten
martinu-2 — 10 years ago(October 16, 2015 01:55 AM)
The Irish forensic examiner says in episode 1 that "the ignition key wasn't invented until 1949 in America". Is that actually true?
Did cars before that not have a key to prevent the engine being started? I know it was common practice, especially during WWII, for drivers to immobilise a vehicle by removing the rotor arm from the distributor, but I always thought that this was in addition to the security provided by a key, possibly because keys were easier to duplicate and because there was the risk of bypassing the ignition switch with a hot wire.
Earlier cars (eg Morris Minor) had a separate starter button which just operated the starter motor, but surely even separate-starter cars still needed a key to turn on power to the spark plugs (via low-tension, distributor and coil).
I wonder if what was invented in 1949 was the combination of the key and the starter-motor, doing away with a separate starter button - which was an irrelevant change when it comes to dating a key.
(As a matter of interest, why did cars start to be supplied with a single key that operated ignition, doors and boot, as opposed to two keys, one for ignition and the other for doors/boot? I remember cars in the 1970s had separate keys but some time around 1980 all manufacturers more or less simultaneously changed over to a single key. I wonder what triggered the change?) -
edrisi — 10 years ago(November 12, 2015 04:41 PM)
The other part bit part lazy part also was .
The other key was also part for glove part in Neasden and in Ulan bator.
"Translated from the Lithuanian Classic-"Key technology for the mentally unhinged" by Konrad Flugerhorn 111rd -
Tweekums — 10 years ago(November 13, 2015 12:59 AM)
I suspect one reason for using a single key now is that there are more different keys back in the sixties there were certainly less different keys; my father told me he once drove off in the wrong car because it was the same model and colour and his key worked I can't imagine that happening now.
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jonnithomas — 10 years ago(November 14, 2015 04:20 PM)
Cortinas seemed to only have about half a dozen keys. you had to check it was the right car before trying to get in. lol
Vauxhall keys patterns wore off leaving you with a 'master' key that would start many of them.