You might get someone that's good with picks to unlock all the customer locks so there are no keys left in them. Then the guard key does all the work.

I'm not sure I understand? The renter keys are removable but only when locked.

The majority of safe deposit locks work the same way.

The bank inserts their guard key and turns it to the unlocked position. The customer inserts their key and turns it to unlock the lock. The bank can then turn their key back to the locked position and remove it. Turning the renter's key back will lock the lock.

The guard key does not move the lock bolt at all, it only prevents it from moving. The customer's key does all of that work, and can not be removed without locking the lock. This ensures two things. First, the customer can not accidentally leave their safe deposit box unlocked. Second, the customer does not have access to the guard key to make an impression, image, or anything else they could use for nefarious purposes.

With a working renter's key, changing the lock to a new key is a pretty straight forward process. Changeable locks are more expensive upfront, but reduce the cost to banks when changing boxes between customers. Once upon a time we had to move entire locks, on these locks we can simply move the keys.

OK I understand now thanks. So what would be the easiest/cheapest way to have say one module of boxes all work with the same one key? So I can pull out my one key and open any of the boxes.

Cheapest way would be to get you the tool and instructions for you to change them yourself.

That is not always the easiest though, as you can make mistakes (I do it myself) sometimes, and that would potentially require pulling the lock apart to correct.

In your case that may not be a deal breaker because you could always set any mistake locks aside and use one of the other locks you have available.

You may even have the tool there somewhere, as the bank should have received one with the units. It's a special spanner wrench looking thing that will fit those two holes you're seeing on the back of the lock. If you don't have one, I suspect I could get you something for less than $40 tops.

I don't work with a lot of Lefebure product locally, so I don't know if the size/spacing of those holes is something a regular spanner wrench would fit into. I suspect not. Most of these companies design their products so that you have to buy special tools to work with them. I believe it's another attempt to prevent customers from tampering with things inside the vault.

That is awesome. I'd love to have something like that around here. If for nothing else just to keep things away from my seven year old granddaughter. Come to think of it she would find a way to get into each one of them in about 30 minutes or so.

What generous offer a1abdj! When I go back in town I'll check to see if there's a spanner. I saw there was a box with maybe three locks in plastic bags but didn't pay much attention to what if anything else was in it. I'll be in touch.
And if that doesn't work I'll hire out Bassamatic's granddaughter!

An update: I had no interest from anyone (worthwhile) to lease the property so after sitting vacant all this time I sold it last week. I really didn't need the lock boxes so left them there for the new owner which also happens to be a bank that is leasing their current location just 3 buildings down the road. At closing they asked if I'd be interested in buying the lock boxes because they will be moving theirs to the new building. She said "you can just make an offer but we'll need them out pretty soon". I said "no, if I were interested in them I'd have taken them out when I owned the property". It's short notice but if anyone's interested I can get you her phone # and you can contact her. If I were younger, more energetic, and didn't already have 3 safes, I would buy the lot keeping some and reselling the remaining.

Wish it was closer....