Handcuff Key?

[Garabaldi]

I dug this in Boston. The city had a section of the sidewalk removed and I went down early in the morning. Found a 1910 Wheat Penny and this Key. I am thinking it may have been a police officers who was walkign the beat and dropped it. You think its a handcuff key?
Ty,
G

 

[truckinbutch]

Possible . Could also be a call box key . Officers walking a beat after the advent of telephones were required to call in on their respective beats from locked phone boxes for which they were issued keys .

 

[AU24K]

I'm thinking it is more probably a furniture key, say to a china cabinet, etc.
Scott

 

[traderoftreasures]

maybe diary key

 

[Michael in SC]

I'm thinking it is more probably a furniture key, say to a china cabinet, etc.
Scott

Same here.


Michael

 

[mojjax]

I think it might go to a Brown's padlock

Patent July 4 1871

 

[bradyboy]

The key looks A bit decrative, simple keying, is there a hole i the shaft?
Thinking is a simple cabinet key
Brady

 

[Garabaldi]

I think it might go to a Brown's padlock

Patent July 4 1871

I think mojjax is onto it.
Yes there is a hole in the shaft Brady.

 

[mojjax]

Those padlocks came in many sizes .

 

[Monty]

I knew it wasn't a handcuff key right off. I never saw a handcuff key with a notched flat part, whatever it is called. I carried a set for many years with the key on my keychain. I always thought the key was so dumb as anyone with a bobby pin or a paperclip could pick the lock in about half a second. Monty