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  2.    exp121260 reacted to a post in a topic: Mortice keys not matching manufacturer's spec
  3. Chris @ IKS
    Eurospec Big Brass Mortice keys - We keep both genuines and copies and there is half a gauge difference between the two. Many of our customers keep both and just match the customers original (ie if the customer brings in a copy then use a copy). Always found it a bit bizarre.
  4.    CDTL reacted to a post in a topic: The 5p challenge
  5.    St.Am92 reacted to a post in a topic: watch link removal
  6. cowers lane 583

    Key id please

    cowers lane 583 replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    The keys didn't look quite like standard yales, but all the branding pointed to yale, that's why I went with 1A originally. Thanks for the photo of the key, can update my book, so as not to make the same mistake again.
  7.    St.Am92 reacted to a post in a topic: watch link removal
  8.    Youngcobbler reacted to a post in a topic: smart pro for sale
  9.    Youngcobbler reacted to a post in a topic: smart pro for sale
  10. grahamparker
    Fair enough it might be good for you but my third job this morning was to cut 26 Ultion keys, 10 minutes over £200 + vat profit. Paul my employee spent 15 minutes yesterday afternoon last job of the day cutting 40 keys for a local caravan site again well over £100 + vat profit on that job. Last job this morning was to assemble a ford bonnet lock kit for a local garage 5 minutes no materials at all £20 + vat profit Shoe repairs, zips, patching do not even come close and never will.
  11.    Bren reacted to a post in a topic: The 5p challenge
  12. Bren
    Can't agree with this Graham. My Singer generates more profit for me than any other machine apart from the cylinder cutter. Yesterday i did a job replacing a 26 inch zip and got £37 for it. Took me an hour and cost about £4 in materials. With the change in weather, this time of year sees all sorts of stitching jobs coming in. Buckle elastics at £14, zip runners £10, golf and fishing bag repairs etc all generate healthy profit as the main cost is my time. Fair enough if you're busy with other stuff and don't have time for the fiddly stuff but with the drop off in 'proper' repairs we see in summer, patching and stitching keeps the till ringing.
  13. abababa

    Key id please

    abababa replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Got one here... let's see what fits this version... Results ... ya1e doesnt fit in the lock. Ul1 works perfect. Its a 6 pin key. The keys do look different to a ya1e at first glance. They look and feel cheap.
  14. exp121260
    I Still have lots of issues with this big brass key, is the SKS Chubb 373 the solution for this key?
  15.    simon1 reacted to a post in a topic: The 5p challenge
  16.    cowers lane 583 reacted to a post in a topic: The 5p challenge
  17. Mick Friend
    Yes I have to step back a bit and look at the things I do and work out what at my age will continue to give me pleasure, earn a crust, not be overtaken by cowboys charging huge prices for half a job and I conclude- keyboard warrior it is
  18.    Mick Friend reacted to a post in a topic: The 5p challenge
  19. earlsdoncobbler

    Key id please mobility scooter

    earlsdoncobbler replied to earlsdoncobbler's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Phoned customer last week still not come back to the shop
  20. Simes
    That’s the sad truth. I would love to be able to justify investment in new shoe repair equipment. But there is zero financial benefit that I can see. It would make my job easier, it would result in improved repairs, but in reality as much as I would like to believe otherwise I might never get the money back, especially at my age But I am going to educating my customers on the merits of good shoes and getting them repaired and maybe, just maybe demand will increase and things will change. We live in a world where recycling is the hot topic. Shoe repair is one of the oldest forms of recycling. The Goodyear welt was invented for the sole (forgive the pun) purpose of making shoes daily recyclable/ repairable
  21. grahamparker
    In a lot of cases if we didnt cut keys there would be hundreds even thousands less repairers still going today for most shoe repairs are now a sideline no matter how good you are. Even what i would call craftsmen would struggle to survive today by just doing shoe repairs only as 'easy money' makes the world go round especially with what has happened since the market crash back in 2008. If you invested say £35k in new machinery for shoe repairs or £35k in key cutting machinery (Triax + Unocode) i can guarantee the second will make you the most money in a lot quicker time and you will still be operating for many years to come and employ more people.
  22. FFHDW FFHDW joined the community
  23. Yesterday
  24. da miller
    as always only those that can repair bought machines that do the job that,s the decline in our trade we forgot about it because keys and watches were easy money and less hassle and less cost
  25. cowers lane 583

    Key id please

    cowers lane 583 replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    lifted this off Google, it was identical to this. Like I said, yale 1A would even fit, but universal worked a treat. I don't think it had anything to do with the railway.
  26. grahamparker

    Key id please

    grahamparker replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Was it 5 or 6 pin ?
  27. gavin

    Key id please

    gavin replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Hi this Yale pad lock, was it from British railway, as I been getting these for the last few month and can not find the blank myself. Any chance you can get a photo of one so we can all see it. if not as soon as I get ask again I will get a photo myself and post it here.
  28. mathews

    Key id please

    mathews replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Weird. I keep seeing ERA ER1 keys genuine looking things but on a Yale 1A profile. Has anyone else seen these?
  29. cowers lane 583

    Key id please

    cowers lane 583 replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Definitely not a laser key. It was for a yale padlock, he bought the padlock in.
  30. grahamparker

    Key id please

    grahamparker replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    We have seen quite a lot of Yale branded keys that are not YA1E at all. I believe these are done on the machines in B & Q, Asda and so on.
  31. cowers lane 583

    Key id please

    cowers lane 583 replied to urbantek's topic in Key Cutting - Sponsored by Charles Birch

    Had a quite clearly labelled yale genuine basic cylinder key in a few days ago, obviously cut 4 on yale 1As. Didn't work. Customer bought in the yale padlock, series YE1, cut four universals that worked very well. Didn't see a yale alternative in the blank book.
  32. simon1

    smart pro for sale

    simon1 replied to dvd diagnostics's topic in For Sale & Wanted - Sponsored by Find a Locksmith

    2001,50 cash waiting
  33. grahamparker

    smart pro for sale

    grahamparker replied to dvd diagnostics's topic in For Sale & Wanted - Sponsored by Find a Locksmith

    Just testing the water with an offer of £2000.
  34. simon1

    pault38

    simon1 replied to pault38's topic in Engraving - Sponsored by Gravograph

    If Silca Silca duo plus is much better You can cut ABUS and Abloy on it I confirm that dedicated machines are better But if you do not want to spend a fortune at the beginning Silca duo plus is the best choice
  35. Abars
    Prices and specifics please
  36. Abars

    smart pro for sale

    Abars replied to dvd diagnostics's topic in For Sale & Wanted - Sponsored by Find a Locksmith

    I'm pretty sure you have to stipulate a price here but, I'd say it's unlikely that anyone other than a dealer want's the whole lot, the only way would be if it was so cheap it was irresistible, My advice have a look at individual used prices and list individually somewhere near there, bear in mind that prices for S/H gear from shops carry a guarantee whereas a purchase from you would not so the price should reflect that and unless you are selling with a VAT receipt you can't include that value in your wanted price... one point would be that you say you have a new smart pro, as new as it is, you have to describe it as used and state the purchase date.. GLWS
  37. robinh
    Slightly off topic but not by much. I have received a request from someone not involved with our trade who has asked if SOMSR can provide any information or statistics on the total revenue, number of shops, number of people employed specifically in the shoe repair sector. The information is to be used to help individuals or small businesses looking for entry into our trade. The onlyinfo I can find is from ibisworld (?) who reckon that the UK turnover in shoe repair shops is 83 million pounds. I am assuming that this figure, if accurate, includes the shoe repair figures from both independents and multiples ( whoever they may be) Does anyone have any more detailed info they would care to divulge? Robin
  38. Auto Key Wizard

    pault38

    Auto Key Wizard replied to pault38's topic in Engraving - Sponsored by Gravograph

    Agree also
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