pelias1525 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Hello, I am new to this forum. We just spent the past few weeks in Japan. I saw this key in the collection of a JR enthusiast with a huge collection. He spoke limited english but explained to me it was a shinkansen key. He was a bit secretive about this one item too, as if it was the one thing in the collection he may not to have had. Does anyone know more about this key and its relationship to shinkansen trains? Greatly appreciate any insights! Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Probably a conductors key. Similar item from a past auction: http://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/h205796922/ Link to comment
JR 500系 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Welcome to the forums! Oh wow... That is rare... But at 8000 yen i'll say no thanks... Perhaps the reason for your friend to be secretive is perhaps these things aren't supposed to be lying around I think.. Much like someone who was formerly working as a shinkansen driver made a copy of the key, most probably against the rules or regulations forbidding duplicates of keys, and kept it until they resigned, and later sell them on auctions. Just my assumption, hence the secrecy... Link to comment
miyakoji Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Welcome to the forum pelias1525. I agree with JR500, no thanks for that amount. And it seems quite shiny, I guess it's unused. A worn one might be a bit more interesting... Link to comment
bikkuri bahn Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Images of possible uses for such a key. Zairaisen examples mostly, but I reckon one of the uses on the shinkansen is for the "conductors (guard) switch" used to open/close the passenger doors. https://www.google.com/search?q=%E8%BB%8A%E6%8E%8C%E9%8D%B5&biw=1188&bih=521&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI5b2CyJr9xwIVBaOUCh2hIQwv 1 Link to comment
kvp Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Yes, this seems to be a door/control box key and in a pretty nice, unused shape. (it could be a reproduction, as it's just galvanized pressed sheet metal) Is this type still in use or only good for museum stock? In Hungary the conductors have their key in the bottom of their ticket punchers, so the handle of the puncher becomes the handle of the door when inserted into the round hole, that has a square bit inside. Everything is locked with them, from doors to electrical panels, so if you can get an old ticket puncher, you can open most doors, including high voltage cabinets. Nowdays (with digitally printed tickets) the only reason they carry them is to get around in the trains. For the same reason, it's actually not legal to own one, but you can make a functionally equivalent one from some tools with a bit of filing. Link to comment
Welshbloke Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I'd also question whether it's an original or a replica. Just looks far too sharp-edged to have rattled around in pockets and key cabinets, let alone whatever lock it secured. Link to comment
200系 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 pelias1525, welcome to the forum. I'm not a key expert, nor is there much information on this subject, but from what I could find, It's a J.N.R. era access key. It's used by the crew to be able to access and close various, normally off limits, compartments (conductors compartment, multi-purpose room etc) on the shinkansen division (1067mm equipment used a different type of key for the same purpose). It's unclear whether your example was used on the 0系 or 200系, but it appears they changed to a different type after the 200系 (and even the key used for the 200系 seems to be of a slightly different design). I agree with JR500, no thanks for that amount. And it seems quite shiny During my search for information I came across a few similar keys normally priced around the 9000 yen range, so 8000 yen seems to be a fair deal in comparison. At least it's more affordable then a genuine 0系 number plate/builders plate. 1 Link to comment
marknewton Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 (edited) Images of possible uses for such a key. Zairaisen examples mostly, but I reckon one of the uses on the shinkansen is for the "conductors (guard) switch" used to open/close the passenger doors. It's interesting for me to see how similar their keys are to the ones I use every day at work on my trains. But then there's a lot of the equipment on our trains that comes from Japan, so I'm not really surprised. Cheers, Mark. Edited September 17, 2015 by marknewton 1 Link to comment
E6系 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Hello, Please see selected train keys: http://closedsearch.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/closedsearch/%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%83%81+%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC/2084007710/ Link to comment
yakumo381 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Well that solves a mystery for me. I was given a railway key as a souvenir when I visited Japan some time back and always wondered what it was for. It is an IWATA key as on the website E6系 has linked to. Google translates the description as being "Tokyo Iwata Plant / IWATA / railway for key / Shinobi lock / latch key / key". Can any give me a better translation? Also I thought a "Shinobi" was a Ninja spy (at least it was in the Total War game Shogun...) Link to comment
E6系 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Hello, The IWATA latch key is used in car for locking maintenance panels and the like. For example, the panel to fuses, or to get to the mechanics of the door, or to get to the toilet cistern, etc. By the way, IWATA sells the key for around ¥800. But not to general public. The prices on Yahoo are grossly inflated. Link to comment
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