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I found this key and after looking on The Old Crank website, I am thinking this may be a key that goes to the lid on the flat-top VTLA's. Can anyone confirm this? And does anyone have a guess on the value? It has a tiny speck of gold plating left on the top.

Yes indeed it is. I'm sure other companies used the same key possibly for different applications, but your key is identical to the one on my Flatop Pooley. Mine is gold. Hope this helps.

Wes

I believe that particular key is also used on old treadle sewing machine cabinet.

Thanks guys! I don't really need this key. Do you think it would work on a flat-top VTLA? I'm thinking someone here could use it for their machine.

Oceangoer1 wrote:Thanks guys! I don't really need this key. Do you think it would work on a flat-top VTLA? I'm thinking someone here could use it for their machine.

Try placing an ad on Yankee Trader... .

Is the end a square or a triangle?

FYI.....
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/2342192 ... ting-other

Some sewing machine companies used a four sided and some used three sided keys.

Retrograde wrote:Is the end a square or a triangle?

The end is a square

There are at least two versions of the Pooley flat-top that I have seen. The earliest one has a round keyhole escutcheon and would take a key like this... the other has a normal lock and takes a normal key. As mentioned, this key is also seen on other non-phonograph cabinets like sewing machines and clocks...

Pianos and pump organs used these same keys, along with sewing machines. I'm sure Victor thought more along the lines of it being a "piano" key rather than one for your sewing machine. Haha. Some of those sewing machine and piano keys are quite ornate though. Especially the one's the have the interwoven initials on the end.