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harry knight Loyal user 207 Posts |
I would be interested to find out what the most common padlock that escapologists are using today both gimmicked and non gimmicked.
I'm currently making a set of six padlocks that will be keyed alike, so I only need one key on me to acomplish the escape. Also I've just done some Lescardi - Spelling? (from Manchester) type padlocks and have done a couple of David Deval's Dupe Squire padlocks. The locks I use are Abus and Squire and are gimmicked and non gimmicked. I know that a lot of escapologists get challenged to open different types of locks but I just wanted to know about personal preference etc. Harry |
Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Use whatever lock sells best in your local home improvement store. People tend not to ask questions about things they accept as real, whether it's gimmicked or not.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
I collect as many padlocks as I can, of every shape and style, and find that having them all laid out on a table cloth, along with a couple of big bunches of (coded) keys, creates plenty of interest prior to the show and no-one ever questions the integrity of any of them. When a routine requires the use of a padlock it is selected from that pile. Even the most sceptical of audiences won't buy that I'd go to all the trouble of buying all those crooked locks and code them with dummy keys. Though I might also add there are several generic handcuff keys on that bunch which are also coded to different (read: similar) pairs of handcuffs, so draw your own conclusions.
Actually they're all real anyhow, although some of the cheaper ones can gimmick themselves after a while as the barrells slip (when I find one that breaks in this way, I make careful note in case it might come in handy later). There isn't anything in my show at the moment that calls for a gimmicked padlock, I generally find it easier and more effective to gimmick whatever the padlocks are secured to rather than the locks themselves. But when the day comes when I do want to use a gimmicked PL I see no problems with producing it casually from the pile "at random". There are so many escapes where it doesn't matter a jot whether you open the padlock or not, all it takes is to get people used to that being a pile of genuine locks and no-one will bother to question anything else you produce from there, even if it's painted bright pink and flashes green lights spelling the words "(C}Acme Fake Padlock Company 1995, all rights reserved". OK, so maybe that would be stretching it, but you follow my point. Anyway, in answer to the question; whatever make of padlocks I happen across when I'm in a buying mood. And the odd one from the Acme Fake Padlock Company. But never buy anything bigger from them, their safety record is appalling. Just ask Wile E Coyote. |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
You can't beat using padlocks donated by the audience. I have a big collection now, many donated. I always let people know what they will get if they donate a padlock: sometimes a ticket to a show, sometimes another kind of gift. I let them know that they won't get them back, because I can't guarantee that the padlock will work properly after my escape.
Yours, Paul |
Shazam New user 28 Posts |
Steve Baker always used sealed padlocks for his escapes. In turn, any questions as to use of keys or picks was quickly eliminated!
The question was always.. How did he do that? |
Ms. Morgan Veteran user The Garden State 399 Posts |
Gee Helen, great minds...all my pad locks are in a big fish bowl or hung on a display on stage. When I need one I let someone pick the one we use. The lock is of no concern in nearly all my escapes so they can pick what they like.
I like the way you think Morgan
World Magic Award's "Escape Artist of the Year"
www.EscapeChick.com www.illusionbiz.com www.WackyDracky.com |
KerryJK Special user Northampton UK 621 Posts |
Thanks, Morgan!
I do like the sound of the fishbowl.. sort of a lucky dip selection method! You've got me thinking now.. would it be possible to have locks (or other small and nasty accessories) dispensed from something resembling an old style bubble gum machine, the sort with a big perspex globe on top? Something I have found is that whenever people send me photographs of my gigs, the first few pictures are always various angles of that table full of padlocks. *** props, snatching the limelight! |
drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
Shazam,
I'm sure that he did it very well! Yours, Paul |
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