Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[peter scott]

In a recent edition of Classic Motor Monthly there was a small feature on a mystery boot lid handle. I recognised it as that used on my own car and most of the pre-war SS Jaguar saloons.

The thing that especially attracted my attention was that the CMM handle was complete with its original Wilmot-Breeden "Bilfix" key. After a bit of head scratching I remembered that not long after buying my car I had needed to replace the lock barrels on the driver's door and the boot lid handle. Whilst there was no barrel in the door lock, the boot handle did have a barrel but I couldn't figure out what type of key was required.

On receiving my new barrels the door lock was fitted without difficulty but the boot handle was incompatible with the modern barrel. These handles are available as reproductions that are designed to accept modern barrels and this was the route that I took at the time.

After reading the CMM article I investigated my old boot handle and sure enough it was fitted with a Bilfix lock.

GB Patent 391043: http://tinyurl.com/Patent-391043


As you can see the Bilfix keys don't have the saw tooth serrations that we are more used to seeing but instead have wavey slots down each side that engage with the little pins that you can see on the tumblers (inset). Apparently these locks are rather more fragile than the MRN and F series types and were only fitted for a short time.

Does anyone else here have a car that uses or used Bilfix locks?

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Austin-sixteen-Cornwall]

I dont know anything about Bilfix locks - a bit before my time - but the keys with 'Wilmot Breeden' on them that everybody associates with them were not actually made by them but were subcontracted out to specialist companies in the black country.

Cheers Arnold

[Rick]

The only possible candidate here was the Daimler, but the door locks are normal MRN pattern, and the one on the side-hinged bootlid uses a small toothy key, similar to those found on old suitcases (although it is missing).

RJ
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[Penman]

Hi
That type of key is a similar idea to some of the modern ones, except for the pointy bit at the end, which are double sided.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Mog]

Keys and locks made in the UK were always far better than any thing the Japs. could make.