The KeySafe
Key Lock Boxes from Kidde (formerly GE/UTC Supra) are
essentially small vaults to store a few (from 1 to 5 or so) keys or access
cards. They are designed to simplify the
job of managing individual keys.
The original KeySafes were invented by an
Oregon real estate agent named Delbert
Williams in the early 1950s. He had
grown tired of finding his keys when he wanted to show a house to prospective
clients. The invention of this key box lead to the founding of Supra Products, which was later bought by GE.
These key lock boxes easily attach to a door, wall or fence post close to
the lock that the key(s) fit. They are
perfect for realtors, rental property managers, vacation property managers,
facility managers, construction sites and just about anyone else who needs to
keep keys handy but locked up. And who
don’t want to keep making copies of their keys whenever someone else needs
access.
They are also ideal for homeowners who want the security of knowing they can
never be locked out of their house (as long as they remember their
combination).
The key boxes are available in 3 basic styles:
·
The permanent mount style,
·
The door mount style and
·
The portable style.
KeySafes for vehicles are also available as either permanent mount or
temporary attachment styles.
The
permanent mount type
is just what its name implies. It is
designed to be permanently mounted on a wall or fence post close to the
lock. In fact, one of the two original
KeySafe Lock Boxes is the Slimline model, which holds up to 2 keys and mounts
on a wall, fence post or other wooden structure with the included mounting
screws. Of course, it can also be
mounted on a metal surface with your own hardware.
The permanent mount style comes in 3 sizes:
·
The
KeySafe Pro (also known as the Big Box) which can hold several keys,
keys with larger heads – like automotive keys - or credit card sized access
cards.
In addition, a special,
custom version of the KeySafe Pro has been developed
by
Selectlocks.com that features a built-in key retractor secured to the lock
box with a tamper resistant screw. An
optional tamper proof cable key ring is available. Owners of this key box know that access to
their keys or access cards is secure.
The
door mount option of
the S5 KeySafe model holds up to 5 keys and comes with a special attachment
that fits over the top of the door. This
securely attaches the lock box to the door, but also allows it to be easily
moved. In addition to the door clip, the
key lock box also has a plastic guard on the rear to protect the door from
damage.
The
portable style is the
other original KeySafe developed by Supra.
It holds up to 2 keys and is portable in that it can be easily
transferred from one property or door to another. The Kidde Portable KeySafe has been used by real estate agents for
years. It is designed to quickly and
securely attach to a door handle and offer the same level of security as the
other KeySafe models.
In the next part we will examine the Pushbutton lock developed by Supra.