Jupiter Ignition Keys

[Mike Allfrey]

To: Fellow Jupiter Owners,

I have noticed that several Jupiters, like mine, here in Australia have ignition keys numbered MRN27. That has set me to wondering how many Jupiters use this key type?

Any comments?

Mike A.

[PJGD]

Mike,
This could make for an interesting topic if enough people contributed to answering your question.
I seem to recall that I had a Javelin some 50 years ago in the UK with the MRN key prefix.
My Jupiter [E3-SA-877R] has the FA541 keyset.

I have a quantity of about 16 brand new never used Wilmot-Breeden keysets with tumblers, several of which have the same numbers so that you could re-key your door, the ignition, the glovebox lock, and the petrol cap if you have the locking cap like my Javelin did.

I would be happy to donate these keysets to the Club Spares stock, if they want them.

Philip

[Srenner]

Of the 5 Jupiters in my shop, two are MRN 27, one MRN 21, one FA 545 and FA 541 (E2SAL 758R). My Javelin is FA 548. The 27s are Jupiters 58 and 62. Perhaps the approach should be to match key number with car number to see if Jowett bought batches of one key type without concern for one key operating everyone's car!

Digression:
One of the fun things of the 1996 Games in Atlanta were the 1000 golf carts from E-Z-Go that fell under part of my control. Turns out they had only three key variations, so anywhere I went I could access a golf cart, often to the anger of the venue managers (too complicated, let's go with every manager thought their site was their personal kingdom. Very poor leadership at those Games).

When the Masters Golf Tournament is held at Augusta National, they used to get about 200 carts (E-Z-Go prefers to call the cars) and lose 5. Every year, year after year, 5 carts. E-Z-Go expected us to lose 20 to 30 at US$5000 a pop. The Games VP was paranoid about the potential hit. My guy lost one. For several months after the Games, we would get police reports of a cart being driven through Atlanta near the baseball stadium, but were never able to collect it. Seems someone got a pretty good piece of Games memorabilia. Kind of hard to hang on a wall though.

[Mike Allfrey]

So, MRN 27 did spread itself around the world!

I remember the days when a Ferguson tractor could be started with one leg of a bent open 1/8" split pin! But then people were not so security minded in those days.

My father used to park his Daimler in Park Street, Bristol (UK) left it unlocked and agreed to meet my mother back at the car later. She settled into another blue Daimler two cars further down the hill. A gentleman opened the driver's door and said, "Lady, I think you are in the wrong Daimler," pointing up the hill. She was and our car had dark blue leather trim, the one she settled into had brown leather trim!

MRN 27 has been a good key for me,

Mike Allfrey.