Pure Dumb Luck

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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Harry Potter fans will remember a line from the Sorcerer’s Stone when the boys brought down an Ogre in the rest room.  They were awarded five points each, “for sheer dumb luck”, whereas they might just have easily been killed.

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Yesterday I ran into a job in which I was awarded my five points for “pure dumb luck”.

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I was to go across town and make keys for a 2008 Dodge Ram truck and program the keys.  There had been no mention the door lock had been attacked by a screwdriver or that it was impossible for a key to enter the driver side door lock.  Dodge, like so many other manufacturers, has seen fit to limit exterior door locks as a cost cutting measure so if the driver’s door lock is damaged you’re options are limited to how to make an ignition key.

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After studying the damage I decided to remove what was left of the weather guard to see how much deeper the damage went.  That took almost no time and, before doing anything else, sprayed the lock with a good lubricant.  I grabbed a key from the discard box to check the lock to make sure the wafers moved up and down, “So far so good”; isn’t that what the secretary on the 30^th floor heard from the man as he sailed past her window on his way toward the sidewalk below?

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Not only did the key enter smoothly, the lock seemed to give a little to each side as if it wanted to turn.  Without forcing it; but guessing it had been quite some time since the lock had been used, I applied a little extra pressure and the lock actually operated as if it had the proper key.

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Having seen this before I figured the tumblers had all been crushed from the screwdriver attack and anything would turn the lock; but the lock turned more easily each successive time and the key didn’t seem to be bound up.

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I wondered…could it be?

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I put the key into the ignition, an ignition switch that had not been damaged; it turned effortlessly.  Pure dumb luck; I’d picked up a key from the discard box which had the exact combination.  This would be a good time to purchase a Lottery ticket.

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This article can also be found at TFStern’s Rantings, a personal blog that has been up and running since January of 2005.

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A Cooling Down Period

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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Early last July I wrote an open letter to anyone involved in the locksmith industry and followed that up by sending a copy of the letter to the Department of Public Safety/Private Security Bureau (DPS/PSB).  It was sent certified mail so I’d have a signature proving they’d received it; which they signed for on July 13^th, a full 10 days to read my letter and plenty of time before the quarterly meeting on the 23^rd of July.

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I wanted the DPS/PSB board to address my concerns regarding journeymen locksmiths being required to take basic remedial courses to obtain the mandated State Continuing Education hours to secure their licensing requirements.   According to a letter I got back, a letter dated July 29^th, the board didn’t get a chance to review that letter in time for the July 23^rd meeting.  John E. Chism, Presiding Officer, Texas Private Security Board, claimed they couldn’t act; but let me quote directly from his letter:

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“I will furnish copies of your letter to the two locksmith associations that attended this meeting for their information.  In order for the Private Security Board to consider changes to Board Rules concerning licensing fees, continuing education, or any other Board Rule, the proposed changes must appear on the Board Agenda.  Any proposed Board Rule changes must be discussed publically with input from the regulated industries and the citizens of the State of Texas.”

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I started to write my thoughts down immediately after receiving this artfully crafted line of crap; but remembered some advice from long ago, “Take a deep breath and cool off before you say something you’ll regret later”.  While that’s good advice, and certainly worth following; it doesn’t fit my personality most of the time, I like to jump right in with both feet securely in my mouth.  (I was once suspended from the Houston Police Department for 40 days, insubordination; but that’s a whole other story)

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So here I am, several months later writing down my thoughts on why the DPS/PSB should stay out of the free market system.  I don’t think I’ve cooled off enough; but here goes…

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Mr. Chisum mentioned he’d given a copy of my original letter/proposal to two locksmith associations; but I’d already sent them copies well in advance of the July 23^rd Quarterly meeting.  My suggestions were ignored; gee I wonder why?

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The two locksmith associations mentioned in Mr. Chisum’s letter are the Texas Locksmith Association (TLA) and the Greater Houston Locksmith Association (GHLA).

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The TLA established the original locksmith industry legislative package and sent it off to Austin, legislation which mandated locksmith licenses in order to protect the public from unscrupulous fly by night operators.  The package sent to Austin was not the same legislation which locksmiths had been shown and worked on; instead it was a package which the Alarm Industry had suggested in order to regulate locksmiths, a long standing economic feud which the Alarm Industry eventually won; not exactly water under the bridge.

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I happen to be a member of GHLA and find it interesting they are listed as one of the few recognized official schools which locksmiths may attend to obtain State mandated Continuing Education hours in order to remain licensed.  Remarkable that GHLA wouldn’t propose a rules change that would affect a cash cow like mandated Continuing Education, even for journeyman locksmiths who could easily teach courses in basic locksmith work.  Don’t hold your breath waiting for this topic to come up in front of the DPS/PSB.

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I found a copy of Ronald Reagan’s speech, A Time for Choosing, given while he was supporting Barry Goldwater’s bid for the presidency.  Reagan expressed the principles of self governance clearly and succinctly; a reminder and a warning that is timeless.

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“This idea — that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power — is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man. This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.

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You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream–the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, “The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.”

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The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing.”

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Those serving on the DPS/PSB board have little or no understanding of the American concept of a nation ruled by self governance.  God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are just words on a piece of paper waiting to be sorted out and issued to the people via some sort of mandated entitlement which must first be earned by jumping over fences, through hoops and landing on the indicated mark as set down in a manual created to provide a safety net for the uninformed, easily fooled public.
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The DPS/PSB board needs no permission to alter their own arbitrarily mandated rules; they write them with or without the consent of the governed.

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My dad used to tell a joke which ended with the line, “…and that goes for the horse you came in on”.  Some folks might think I wasn’t joking so I won’t include that line while addressing the DPS/PSB.  I wonder what the time frame is for a cooling off period.

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This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.  It was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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Did You Lose Your Key?

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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The phone rang a while ago and I answered, “T. F. Stern & Company, Locksmith, Good Morning”.  The woman on the other end could have cared less what had just been shared as she began introducing her company as some kind of media outlet intent on finding out what kind of toilet paper we use, what kind of breakfast cereal we purchase or some other waste of my time.

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Before she could get started I asked, “Did you lose your key?”

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“Huh?”  You could tell she wasn’t prepared to answer my question.

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“I asked, did you lose your key?  Most folks who call a locksmith need a key made; so, did you lose your key?”  There were a few moments of silence followed by the funny sound our phone makes when the caller abruptly ends a conversation, a little digital gurgling noise like a musical note drowning in a pool of water.

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I used to get annoyed and say ugly things into the phone when unsolicited callers would interrupt my solitude; but that showed a lack of character on my part.  I learned from listening to others how to deal with “spam callers”; waste their time asking them questions, it seems to work.

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The best one I heard was a recording made by a fellow who’d become quite adept at “jerking the chain” of unsolicited callers.  He’d spent hours upon hours developing various replies that would stop unwanted callers in their tracks and put the intruding caller on the defense.

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He’d waited for the introduction to be completed and then announce that he was Detective Soandso from the police department investigating a homicide.  He then went straight for the jugular, “How well did you know the deceased?”

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There would be silence on the other end of the phone, a clearing of the throat as the pollster attempted to extricate himself from the conversation.

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“Please don’t hang up, the call has already been traced and it would further implicate your involvement in the crime.”  This line of attack would go on for several minutes, “We’ve learned that the victim was a homosexual; were you his lover or just someone he picked up at the local gay bar?”

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I’m going Google search this to see if there’s a copy of that somewhere.  In the mean time, if you’re planning to call my locksmith business phone, try to remember, I cut keys; I don’t like to waste my time doing interviews about what brand of soap my family uses.

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This article was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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A Career Vehicle

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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Every now and again certain vehicles make their way into my life; for lack of a better description they might be called “Career Vehicles” since the cash register never seems to stop ringing due to repeated “issues”.  Sometimes it involves an individual who misplaces his/her keys regularly, has a poor memory or too many irons in the fire and can’t keep up; what ever the reason I get to make second, third or even fourth time service calls to replace the same key.  I’ve learned to keep good notes so the second time around is much easier; just click my computer on.

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A long time back I ran a lock out call for a fellow and used a fancy tool made just for that model; had his vehicle open in quick order.  I jotted down the key cuts and asked if he’d like a spare key to keep in his wallet to prevent his being locked out again; but he was in a hurry and declined.  An hour later the same fellow called, sheepishly he explained how he’d locked his only key in the car.  This time he was a mile further down the street.  I did cut him that spare key and used it to open the car.  Life supplies interesting moments, doesn’t it?

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This morning had one of those interesting moments.  A small car lot that specializes in repossession sales called to have me make a door key to an Impala.  I’d made keys for an Impala at that same lot about a month or so earlier and recorded the information; a good thing since the door key was different than the ignition which had been changed out in a rather crude and unprofessional manner.

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Going back on the calendar to a week ago; the door key information came up on my computer and worked perfectly; but the ignition switch had been changed out yet again so the information I had wasn’t any good.  Their mechanic decided to take out the ignition switch and replace it one more time with one from the local auto parts store.  I offered to change the combination of the new ignition switch so that it would match with the door key; basically it would be the way it was when it came from the factory, one key fits all.

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I didn’t charge them for the extra labor and handed the ignition switch to the car lot owner and explained how much simpler it would be having to keep up with only one key instead of two.  I’d already made keys for that unit a couple of times as it was and a little “good will” with a regular customer never hurts.  He would later give that ignition switch to his mechanic to put it all back together since the dashboard looked like a bomb had exploded.

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That gets us back to the present when I got called out to make a door key for an Impala.  I asked a couple of questions before heading over thinking it must be the same car, it was; but they insisted the key they had didn’t work in the door.  I pulled up the information on my computer and cut the door key which worked perfectly; but was not only different than the ignition key which they handed me, it was also different than any “old” ignition keys I’d recorded.

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It turns out the mechanic didn’t want to “waste” money on the new ignition switch which had already been purchased and matched to the door.  He decided to take that switch back for a refund; but he left the only key for that car in the returned ignition switch.

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He then took the beat up ignition switch, the one left over from the bomb detonation, and took it to some locksmith shop down the road where a key was fashioned for it.  That key worked; but didn’t spring back from the Start position the way it should and so I looked at the way the key had been cut hoping it might enlighten me as to why.

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There’s a “maximum adjacent cut” rule for General Motor keys which states there are not supposed to be more than 2 cut differences on adjacent cuts because the shallow cut’s landing surface will be narrowed to a point where it becomes non-existent.  The key which had been fashioned for this ignition appeared to violate that rule in a couple of places.  In the middle of the key were a pair of One Cuts (same a No cuts) adjacent to a pair of Four Cuts on either side.

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One of two things had happened; either the key machine used to cut the key was way out of adjustment and the Four Cuts were actually Three’s or some interesting things were going on inside that ignition switch.  I cut a replacement key with my hand cutter, which cuts a near perfect factory key based on probabilities and it worked; but still did not spring back from the Start position.  My guess is the cuts to match the wafers had not been “read” properly and one or more of the cuts were off; but it did work, not great, so the ignition switch would not be removed from the dash board.

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I handed the secretary my bill along with an explanation so she could justify one more locksmith expense to an already long list of repairs for that unit.  When the owner signed the check I gave him an explanation of what was going on as well.  This is when I found out the mechanic had returned the brand new ignition, the one I had matched to the door at no charge.  He just shook his head and accepted the fact that he had a minimum wage mechanic; you really can’t fix stupid.

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I added the latest key information to my existing list of keys that have at one time worked on that vehicle.  After all, this Impala has become a career vehicle and will eventually find its way onto another work order.

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This article was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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Society of Professional Locksmiths

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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About a month ago I had a chance to talk with a fellow locksmith from up north in Yankee land, Tom Lynch.  He’d come across some articles posted on Fiercely Independent Locksmiths of America’s web site and wanted to know more about us.  Mostly he wanted permission to re-print some articles as they fit in with the philosophy of his organization, the Society of Professional Locksmiths.

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A week or so later he called and asked me to take a look at their on line magazine, SecuritySentinel (April 2012 edition), where he’d posted one of my articles.  I have to say the ego trip was worth having to buy a larger hat size; their publication matches or exceeds that of ALOA’s magazine, Keynotes.

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Interestingly, the article Tom Lynch selected had been offered for publication in other locksmith trade magazines, to include Keynotes; but was rejected without explanation.   Could my Open letter to all locksmiths have been turned down because the article questioned the motives of locksmith licensing and never ending bureaucracy which now has taken over the locksmith industry, the very agenda pushed by ALOA.  These trade organizations claim to be open minded; yea, right…that and seventy five cents might get a cold can of soda out of the nearest machine.

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I’ve butted heads with national and local trade organizations for years and been ignored for holding a different opinion regarding licensing of our industry.  That’s why Fiercely Independent Locksmiths of America was started in the first place.  It’s refreshing to find a well organized and professional group of like minded locksmiths up and running; one which I can refer fellow locksmith to as an alternative.

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You don’t have to throw your ALOA membership in the trash as an act of defiance as I did.  After paying dues to ALOA for over 30 years they don’t even acknowledge my long standing “RL” status; as if they were the only authority in the industry.

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You might have noticed the letters “GSP” after my name when articles were published.  That started off as a joke, something to take the place of “RL”.   Not too many folks know what “GSP” stands for; well you’re fixin’ to find out as they say around these parts.

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When I was starting out as an apprentice I worked for free, obtaining only knowledge and skills as payment for labors at the shop.  Jim Reed, the locksmith who took me under his wing, would throw me a “bone” at the end of my Saturday training; a job he knew I could handle as incentive.  Reed’s daughter Patty, also an accomplished locksmith, would chide me for taking the “easy jobs” and, since I was still employed as a police officer for the City of Houston, she called me a Gravy Sucking Pig and waited to see if it would offend my delicate nature.  It did not; actually her words sounded like a compliment to my warped cop sense of humor.

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I recommend individual locksmiths get behind and support the Society of Professional Locksmiths; become a member, pay your dues or contribute in some way to build up this association.   In the not too distant future, as in the past, being a member of a large well funded organization will mean the difference between being able to apply your skills as an independent locksmith or finding you’re no longer permitted because some lobbyist manipulated a bureaucrat and regulated you out of business.  It’s your choice.

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This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.  It was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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Trick of the Trade for GM Tele/Tilt Column

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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This morning started out with an antique; got to make replacement keys for a 1989 Cadillac that had a telescoping/tilt steering column.  The car was in reasonably good shape considering its age; still had the original ignition switch while the glove box lock also matched the door and trunk lock.  These vehicles use a variation of the standard “Saginaw” column and require additional skills and tools; not recommended for beginners or “shade tree” mechanics.

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Something worth knowing about this particular steering column is the way the horn makes contact via a rather clumsy looking spring assembly on the back of the steering wheel.  The base of the assembly which holds the steering wheel lock plate is covered by a plastic insulator which must be removed.  Unfortunately this piece of plastic becomes brittle with age and often breaks into pieces upon removal.  Most times it will come out in two or three large chunks.  Don’t despair, keep all the broken pieces; they can be salvaged.

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“This insulator was used on vehicles with telescopic steering column from 1976 through 1990. The plastic star shaped horn insulator protects the spring contact from touching anything metal in the column, allowing the horn contact in the steering wheel to ground properly.”

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The ideal solution would be to have a brand new spare horn insulator and replace the old one; the part sells for about $ 30.00 depending on availability.   Availability, now that’s the kicker; try to find one locally and listen to the parts counter representative’s standard line, “We show to be out of stock on that item; but can have one in a couple of days”.

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Here’s an old trick that works most of the time and saves you $30.00.  As you start to tear down the steering column, start chewing a piece of gum.  You’ll want to chew until the flavor has lost its appeal which means most of the sugar has been removed.  At that point the gum becomes very sticky, enough that it will adhere to the broken plastic pieces of the horn insulator.

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While putting the steering column back together, having already fit the key to the ignition switch, secured the turn signal assembly, telescoping column shaft, locking plate and managed to return all these parts to their working position and locked them into place with the “U” clip; carefully place the horn insulator pieces around the steering column post as if it were one piece.  Now take the chewing gum and mash it around so that it holds the broken pieces together.

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When you place the steering wheel back onto the shaft, carefully guide the horn activation spring into position.  The base of the spring will hold all the pieces of the horn insulator together and the horn will function as it was intended.  This might not be “kosher” or “by the book”; however, it does work and will continue to work for many years.   When you explain to the customer that he/she won’t have to wait a couple of days for the part, which you will mark up to cover shipping and handling; also mention how your work is guaranteed for ten thousand miles or ten minutes, which ever comes first.   Make sure you wink and grin at the same time or this joke falls flat.

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In all seriousness, I’ve had to perform this trick many times over the years and have never had to go back and replace a chewing gum repaired horn insulator.  You can try Super Glue; but it doesn’t work as good as chewing gum, go figure.

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This article can also be found at TFStern’s Rantings, a personal blog that has been up and running since January of 2005.

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GM Six Cut Door/Trunk Locks

By T.F. Stern, GSP

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Being an “Old timer” I sometimes forget how the newer generation automotive locksmiths might not run across the Six Cut GM Door/Trunk lock all that often.  This morning I was reminded of this when I had a chance to show a fellow locksmith how to generate a key for a 1995 Camaro door lock that he’d already pulled out of the door cavity.

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He asked what was the best way to generate a door key so I explained how there is a storage compartment in the back of the car, much like a glove box.  The lock is easily removed and has 4 of the 6 wafers from which to get started.  Once those cuts are known the last 2 cuts can be determined via a simple progression series which eliminates the remaining cuts; no more than 3 key blanks are used and it is time efficient.

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Since the lock had already been pulled and the car was not readily available the next best way to generate a key would be to field strip the door lock.  I use a  Gator Tool ® to remove the cap so it can be re-used rather than have to use a replacement cap; if done properly it looks more professional and fits better.  Once the cap has been removed make sure to keep track of the weather guard and two small springs which keep the weather guard in place; put them off to the side until the lock is ready to be reassembled.

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The GM door lock is a side bar lock and requires “mild” pressure on the side bar while picking for the wafers to remain in the picked position.  I recommend inserting a blank key prior to picking, glancing at the relative position of all six wafers when they are at the “no cut/one cut” position within their respective slots.  By doing this a comparison can be made once they have been picked.  Another “trick” to reading these wafers is to lightly “score” the top of each wafer with a sharp instrument so it reflects light more easily; often times these locks have considerable oxidation which makes it more difficult to see them, especially on deeper cuts.  Rake the wafers until the side bar drops and then read the depths of each wafer to determine the cuts.

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There is a simple rule to remember on the older GM Six cut keys; “The sum total of all the cuts will add up to an EVEN number”.  This rule makes it a bit easier in figuring out those cuts which are hard to see.  If the first 5 cuts are fairly certain; add up the cuts you already know, if they add up to an even number then the unknown cut will also be an even cut so that the total will come out even.   If the first 5 cuts add up to an odd number then the unknown cut should be an odd number as well.  This rule, while not written in stone, applies to 99 % of GM Six cut locks.  (There are a few odd balls out there; most notably after market replacement locks made in South America.

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There are several ways to cut the GM Six cut key; but I prefer using the  Pak-a-Punch hand held cutter.  For years I used Curtis’ “14 Cutter”, then their “15 Cutter”; but the Pak-a Punch has become my favorite.  Other locksmiths use electric code machines and there are some very nice ones out there; Framon and HPC come to mind as quality machines that are popular.  Which ever machine you pick it should fit the type of business you are most comfortable with.

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As I mentioned earlier; the first choice would have been to figure out the cuts to the “auxiliary” lock or glove box lock.  Once the first 4 cuts are known and have been placed on the proper key blank then finding the last 2 cuts is a “piece of cake”; just don’t say that too loud or the “Billy Crystal Curse” might rare up and bite you in the butt.  The principle behind elimination of the last 2 cuts is dependent on these locks being Original; if at any time these locks have been replaced then they likely won’t have been matched up to each other.  I use a hand held cutter because it is the most efficient way to eliminate those last two cuts in the field.  I’ve heard others praise the use of electric code machines, that they are just as efficient; each to his own.

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I’ll take a moment to include the GM Six cut trunk lock at this time.  While it is basically the same as the door lock; the trunk lock requires the plug to be turned in order to disassemble.  There are a couple of ways to accomplish this; drilling an access hole directly over the side bar has worked well and does no significant damage to the housing so it can be reused rather than thrown away.  (Use a small drill bit, 1/8^th or smaller)

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Once the drill bit clears the lock housing it is important not to keep on drilling into the side bar; a gentle hand is required.  This is all done after the face cap has already been removed so you can feel the plug move without being “pinched” while being clamped in your vice.  Insert a small nail set or wire into the newly drilled access hole in order to apply “mild” pressure on the side bar while picking.  Once the side bar drops, and you can feel it drop with just a little practice, then turn the plug and remove it from the housing.  Fit the key as explained above under GM door lock.

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One last item on the GM Six cut trunk lock.  You will want to clean up the side bar channel from any burrs created by drilling the access hole.  This is accomplished by pushing the blade of a small flat blade screw driver along the channel until it glides without resistance.  If this is not done the side bar may not drop sufficiently and the lock will not function properly.

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The wafers on GM Six cut locks sometimes refuse to glide up and down the way they did when they left the factory.  Any number of reasons, age, dirt, abuse or attempted force can damage the wafer of the slots in which they ride.  If the lock requires a complete tear down; remove the spring cover cap, springs and wafers as needed.  These can be replaced; but if you were unable to figure out the combination it is important to carefully remove and note the position of each wafer so as to determine the combination.

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It has been recommended that a new spring cover cap be used when putting the lock back together.  This rule could easily be extended to the springs; replace all the springs and know the job was done properly.

There are some “professional” locksmiths who believe that any alteration of the original lock design constitutes a lapse in National Security.  The Russians and Chinese armies are waiting at our borders waiting for some locksmith to throw away one of the six wafers setting off alarms and whistles in a bunker deep inside a mountain where Norad monitors lock assemblies.  Then again, do what is called for “under the circumstances”, your eternal soul hangs in the balance, in all probability you won’t spend the eternities in outer darkness.  (Hope you can read between the lines).

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Replace the weather guard, springs and face cap; keeping everything in place with a screw driver gently placed on the weather guard until the face cap is seated.  When putting the face cap on place the entire assembly against something sturdy like the base of your shop vice.  Use a small ball peen hammer to gently push the edges of the face cap back into their original shape; avoid getting in a hurry and most folks couldn’t tell the cap had ever been removed as it will appear “round”; not like the replacement caps which tend to look like “stop signs” with an angular appearance.

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Most of the information shared here can be applied to other locks which use a side bar; GM Ignitions, Ford Ignitions and some Dodge Chrysler locks as well.  Believe it or not, GM actually stamped code numbers on door locks until about 1971; times were simpler then.

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Don’t Do Anything Stupid

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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Years ago, don’t think I’m supposed to start off a sentence like that; but years ago a few of my close friends at church would end the Sunday meeting block by saying to each other, “Don’t do anything stupid”.  We each knew how easy it was to make mistakes during the work week so we’d give this light hearted warning to each other.  The list of stupid things was wide open to our imagination; much like the scriptures that tell us to avoid sin, just be careful out there.

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This afternoon I called one of my old buddies to let him know he should have called this morning with that warning, “Don’t do anything stupid”.  He immediately broke into a deep laugh while asking, “Okay, Stern, What’d you do this time?”  I then told him and remarked that perfection had yet to grab hold of me as he continued to laugh at such a prospect.

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A Ford dealership called me out to make and program a set of keys for a 2001 Mustang which they had sitting on their entry drive.  The customer was waiting and a little upset that a Ford dealership couldn’t make the keys; but the car was ten years old and  Ford had already dumped the key codes.

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Once the mechanical key was completed and turned in the ignition to set up the programming of the new transponder keys it was determined the battery was dead.  Subsequent to hooking up a set of jumper cables from my truck the after market alarm kicked in; seems the alarm system had been going off for quite some time and drained the battery.  The customer didn’t have the clicker and the bypass switch didn’t shut the noise maker off while the programming took place, wonderful!

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The customer was present the whole time and watched as I explained how the old key (s) that were either lost of stolen would no longer be authorized or start that vehicle; she seemed relieved at hearing this information.  I then programmed the two new keys and demonstrated that they did indeed start the vehicle; the after market alarm sounding each time the key was turned.  I advised her to take the vehicle to where the after market alarm had been installed to acquire another clicker; but she said it had come with the car when she bought it and didn’t know where the alarm had been installed, believing it was a Ford alarm system.

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I told her that she could cut the wire going to the sounding horn and still drive the car; but it would be better in the long run to have the after market alarm system removed.  I handed the bill to the service writer and got my purchase order.

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About half an hour later I got a call, “Who’d you give the keys to”?   I’d made sure Not to hand the keys to the lady who owned the car; my customer was the Ford dealership service people, the folks who were paying me.  A sinking feeling came over me as I realized the keys were in my pocket and I’d driven ten miles across town.  After all these years of training myself to make sure the customer handled the keys last, make sure they felt the key turn in the lock, make sure they liked the job; I still screwed up.

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Eating Humble Pie once in a while is healthy for mortals; just wish I didn’t get to eat it quite so often.  I suppose I should be grateful, could have been a lot worse; the customer might not have accepted my sincere apology for having done something dumb.  Here’s the message, “Don’t do anything stupid”, isn’t a one time reminder.

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This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.  It was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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There is nothing like a DAME

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By T.F. Stern  GSP

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Stealing a line from the hit show, South Pacific, seemed like an appropriate way to start today’s article. Far from home in the middle of the war thousands of men reminded of the fact…

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“…There are no books like a dame,
And nothin’ looks like a dame.
There are no drinks like a dame,
And nothin’ thinks like a dame,
Nothin’ acts like a dame,
Or attracts like a dame.
There ain’t a thing that’s wrong with any man here
That can’t be cured by pullin’ him near
A girly, womanly, female, feminine dame!

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But that’s not what the article is about; sorry to have led you down the garden path. This past weekend the Greater Houston Locksmith Association (GHLA) had Harry Sher down to teach an eight hour DAME class. DAME is the acronym for Defense Against Methods of Entry. The class covered areas of the industry which I seldom if ever venture into, my being an automotive specialist. I needed eight more hours before the end of August to keep my locksmith license up to date; don’t get me started on mandated continuing education .

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Harry Sher’s been a locksmith since the 50’s and has forgotten more about locks than I’ll ever know; not that he’s forgotten much. His presentation was fast moving as he showed how to defeat one lock system after another using sophisticated audio visual tools which were all linked to his laptop computer. Some of the tools looked like they’d fit in a James Bond movie, real “Holy Crap! You mean someone actually makes a tool that can do that?”, kind of stuff.

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At the half way mark, when it was time to go for lunch, Harry wanted to make sure the building would be locked up; all that fancy equipment being left with nobody to watch over it. I turned to the locksmith sitting next to me and laughed out loud, “Yea, like that’s gonna’ stop anyone”; having observed Harry defeat every lock on display.

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Here’s the message, don’t bother locking your door, file cabinet, safe deposit box or safe. If Harry wants in they won’t do any good. I watched him defeat a UL listed lock in 20 seconds; UL listing means it’s supposed to resist picking or manipulation for at least 15 minutes. As for the rest of us, regular everyday locksmiths it might take “a while” longer; but there isn’t a lock made that can’t be defeated.

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Rest easy, the average thief hasn’t got the smarts to use techniques Harry Sher referenced in his DAME class; for that matter, very few locksmiths could claim to be as proficient.

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“There is nothin’ like a dame,
Nothin’ in the world,
There is nothin’ you can name
That is anythin’ like a dame!”

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This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.  It was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.

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An Open Letter to the Locksmith Industry

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By T.F. Stern, GSP

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June 21, 2011

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Texas Department of Public Safety

Private Security Board
6100 Guadalupe, Building E
Criminal Law Enforcement Building
Austin, Texas 78752

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Subject: Locksmith License Renewal Requirements

An Open Letter to the Locksmith Industry

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Honorable John E. Chism, Honorable Howard H. Johnsen, Honorable Mark L. Smith,

Honorable Albert L. Black, Honorable Charles E. Crenshaw, Honorable Brian England,

Honorable Doris F. Washington

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Hopefully you will appreciate the efforts within this correspondence, efforts to contain my contempt for most everything done by the DPS/PSB; well intentioned attempts to “safeguard” society from unscrupulous or improperly equipped locksmiths. In the past letters sent to the DPS/PSB have gone unanswered; almost as if the concerns of an individual locksmith had little if any importance or weight in formulating rules and regulations which govern the locksmith industry.

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“Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well meaning people who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own…the harm done by ordinary criminals, murderers, gangsters, and thieves is negligible in comparison with the agony inflicted upon human beings by the professional ‘do-gooders,’ who attempt to set themselves up as gods on earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others.” (Henry Grady Weaver, The Mainspring of Human Progress pg 40-41)

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My locksmith license (B12254) comes up for renewal in September, a license which is mandated by the State of Texas in order to do business in what used to be a free market system. Licensing will remain, water under the bridge; the legislature determined licenses were needed to safe guard the citizenry from unscrupulous or improperly equipped locksmiths. They left the nuts and bolts of how to implement that legislation to the DPS/PSB; the term for such transfers of power actually has a name, the Intelligible Principle .

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According to a Supreme Court ruling made by Chief Justice John Marshall many years ago such shifting of authority is constitutional under certain guidelines which have become blurred to the point of irrelevance.

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“Marshall explained: If Congress delegates quasi-legislative powers to another body, it must provide a “general provision” by which “those who act” can “fill up the details.” In other words, Congress cannot give an outside agency a free hand to make law, but it can authorize the agency to flesh out the particulars of a law Congress has already shaped.”

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{…}

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“Not surprisingly, with such open-ended authority, the power and discretion of agencies expanded rapidly. In recent years, the Court has refused to limit agency power whenever the statute is silent or ambiguous on delegation and the agency’s regulations are based on a “permissible” interpretation of the statute. In practice, the vast majority of regulations are now deemed permissible.”

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This does not erase the issue of government having usurped authority in the Utopian desire to protect the general citizenry at the expense of individual constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is not the purpose of government to sacrifice individual God given rights in the name of public safety; to do so turns individual citizens into subjects of the state.

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Members of the DPS/PSB are charged with coming up with rules and regulations for the security industry. Locksmiths by virtue of carefully worded language are included; their every activity defined. Locksmiths were conscripted; forced to abandon what had been a free market system. Acknowledging duties which are assigned to the board, I must remind you all that government here in America answers to the people; not the other way around.

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“Each of us has a natural right – from God – to defend his person, his liberty, and his property. These are the three basic requirements of life, and the preservation of any one of them is completely dependent upon the preservation of the other two. For what are our faculties but the extension of our individuality? And what is property but and extension of our faculties?” (Frederic Bastiat, The Law, p.6) (emphasis added)

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“Since God created man with certain unalienable rights, and man, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that man is superior to the creature which he created. Man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around. Even the non-believer can appreciate the logic of this relationship.” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Proper Role of Government)

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Benson added:

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“The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess. So, the question boils down to this. What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form?”

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The State of Texas, or any other state in America has no powers except those granted by its citizenry; this is at the very heart of today’s correspondence with you, the DPS/PSB. You each have the responsibility to carefully consider the consequences of each and every rule or regulation imposed on individual members of the locksmith industry or the security industry as a whole.

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According to the rules and regulations mandated by the DPS/PSB each licensed locksmith must re-qualify via continuing education credits in order to maintain the ability to work in his/her chosen field. By licensed locksmith I’m referring only to individuals who have already presented themselves before the State of Texas, provided sufficient proof of integrity or standing in the community, passed criminal background checks and have a track record of serving the public in a professional manner.

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The rules are all encompassing and do not take into consideration a number of pertinent factors. These rules presume that all locksmiths are interested in addressing a wide range of security related fields or that each locksmith intends to move forward and expand upon his/her skills in order to stay current with changes in the industry. By writing mandates around such presumptive goals the DPS/PSB has marginalized a portion of legitimate locksmiths.

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At one time I was a general purpose locksmith; involved in safe installation, putting in dead bolts, rekeying residential structures, master keying industrial structures and picking up automotive locksmith work too. Over the years I found I had little desire to work on anything other than automotive locks and refer customers to other qualified locksmiths when they desire work on anything other than automotive.

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Does this in any way diminish my being a qualified locksmith? The answer is no; but when looking for continuing education credit courses the list is insulting at best. I can pay $150.00 to take an 8 hour “hands on” class offered by one of my competitors through the Greater Houston Locksmith Association where I’m a member in good standing. It would cost me one day of work in my own business. The State authorized instructor, Stacy Hetchler, is a great automotive locksmith; but it’s insulting for the State of Texas to have a journeyman locksmith take basic automotive classes simply to meet the mandates of the DPS/PSB.

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I did notice some classes offered by Elite On Line services, “Automotive Key Generation – Ford Vehicles”, “Automotive Key Generation GM Vehicles (1- 8)” and “Tips and Tricks for Automotive Locksmithing (1 – 5)”. Here’s the course outline for the Ford class which would give me 2 credit hours to my now mandated 16 hours.

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“This is the first in Elite CEU’s Automotive Key Generation series. This two hour video course focuses solely on Ford automobiles for the benefit of all technicians, salespeople, and managers within the security and low voltage industry, but is especially geared for those in the locksmith industry. By addressing the specifics of key and security issues with Ford vehicles we will cover valuable ways to becoming more proficient and profitable with the car locksmith and security business. Real-world examples will be demonstrated which will allow you to see firsthand the do’s and don’ts in how to deal with Ford vehicles.”

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Pardon my saying so; but I’ve been an automotive locksmith specialist for the past 35 years and either I’ve learned it by now or never will. I make keys for a variety of cars; some which require transponder technology, others which might be considered antiques by today’s standards. I don’t wish to work on certain vehicles, either I didn’t invest in the expensive transponder program for that vehicle or otherwise have no inclination; those vehicles I refer to other qualified locksmiths. The State of Texas has no business dictating what avenues of locksmith work I need to “brush up on” or expand my level of proficiency, such issues are strictly between the locksmith and the customer.

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There is no consideration in the rules and regulations for experience gained over a lifetime. It must be the assumption of the DPS/PSB that locksmiths have little if any ability to remember from year to year the tricks of the trade, all those tasks which he/she use on a daily basis. Why else would there be an all encompassing mandate for basic skills, continuing education courses which do nothing other than add to the cost of doing business.

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An argument has been presented that “professional” locksmiths would want to constantly improve their skills in order to provide the highest level of service to the community; a fine suggestion, a repressive mandate. Do you on the board see the difference between a suggestion and a mandate?

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In my particular business I carefully weigh the benefits of purchasing expensive automotive key program updates against the likelihood of getting my investment back. Why learn to work on a vehicle that you might see only once or twice a year?  On some cars the best answer is, “That’s a dealer only item”; which means I don’t know other locksmiths dumb enough to open that can of worms either.

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The public has been offered an empty promise of “security” by virtue of locksmiths having a State issued license along with mandated continuing education; however it is reprehensible for the state to restrict legitimate business or free trade by imposing Lilliputian standards on an individual’s constitutional rights. It is one thing for a trade organization to impose minimum requirements for membership; yet another for the state to limit an individual’s ability to earn a living.

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Not too long ago (about a year) the President of the Texas Locksmith Association stood before the board and suggested the DPS/PSB increase the number of mandatory continuing education credit hours from 8 to 16; that suggestion was turned into a mandate. I sent a letter to the board expressing my opinion; a letter which either never was read or not considered important enough to reply to.

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I respect other locksmith’s desire to improve the public’s perception of the industry. If the President of the Texas Locksmith Association wishes to require additional standards for membership in that organization so be it; however, as an independent business owner/operator in the locksmith business his opinion is left at the door upon entering my business as is the State of Texas DPS/PSB. My skills and services are the sole concern of my customers; not my competitors and certainly not the State of Texas.

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At the risk of being redundant, Ezra Taft Benson pin pointed the argument best:

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“The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess. So, the question boils down to this. What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form?”

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The DPS/PSB does not have any inherent powers, only those powers which have been given the board by the citizenry. The DPS/PSB may not over ride individual inalienable rights through the “will of the people” as expressed by a majority or any appointed representative of a recognized professional organization, regardless of their numbers.

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Simply put, if the President of the Texas Locksmith Association knocked on my door and demanded I start using Brand X, take a refresher course in master keying or began measuring the size of letters and numbers at my shop I’d laugh at him just prior to throwing him out into the gutter. He is free to run his locksmith business any way he likes or even require members in TLA to follow his guidelines; past that he has no authority or power.

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In our carefully structured society, a society dependent on the rule of law and individual protections afforded under our constitutional government, individuals, not government agencies determine the daily conduct of commerce.

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In closing I’ll leave you with one more quote from Bastiat, a more civilized string of words than I was tempted to address the DPS/PSB; but quite to the point.

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“Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don’t you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough.” From Frederic Bastiat’s, “The Law.” We need more of his righteous indignation at the socialistic egotists who want to rule us all.”

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T. F. Stern
T. F. Stern & Company
15707 Autumnbrook Drive
Houston, Texas 77068

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This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.  It was originally posted to T F Stern’s Rantings, a blog which has been up and running since January of 2005.