Where can I find a locker that holds the key after it is unlocked?

January 8, 2009 10:40 AM

Where can I find a locker that holds the key after it is unlocked?

I'm hoping someone may help direct me to an item that I'm starting to think very well may not exist. I'm told it does but have had zero luck in finding it.

I'm looking for a locker (think bus terminal locker, amusement park locker, etc) that would operate in the following way:

1 - A person is given a key to unlock a specific locker.
2 - Once they unlock the locker and retrieve the contents, the key they had remains in the lock and cannot be removed.
3 - Another person who holds the master key goes back to the locker and uses their master key which allows the first key to be removed and the locker to be locked again.

Thanks in advance.

posted by MrToad to shopping (8 comments total)

I think the search term you want might be "coin locker" or "coin-operated locker". Here's an ebay listing, for instance, found using those search terms.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:51 AM on January 8

Here's a company that manufactures them. Also, if you are looking for something used, try these people.

I remember in middle school and high school we would steal the keys to these lockers and put them on keyrings and stuff. I don't know why.
posted by cabingirl at 10:55 AM on January 8

You probably want to look into parcel lockers. They work like coin lockers, but a master key is used to get the key out instead of money.
posted by indyz at 11:04 AM on January 8

We have one of these in the mail room of the building in which I work, affixed in the rack of lockable mailboxes. I think, yes, parcel lockers may be the direction in which to look.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:22 AM on January 8

A parcel locker won't hold the key in the lock after a single use, though. If you want to mod a coin locker to function without coins (i.e. you can only use the key once, and only the person with the master key can remove it), you could likely just weld or epoxy the coin slot shut. This probably won't be possible on all models, but these, for instance, come with a master key that allows them to be switched temporarily to coinless operation.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:30 AM on January 8

That last comment is incorrect; sorry. You do want a parcel locker.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:35 AM on January 8

mr_roboto, the whole point of a parcel locker is that it does hold the key after a single use.
posted by indyz at 11:35 AM on January 8

Thanks guys! That's exactly it. Take care!
posted by MrToad at 1:57 PM on January 8