Cord Door Lock

Thanks for all the replys. It just seems odd that both the drivers and passenger side doors didn't have key locks. Just the thought of attempting to side across a front seat is not a fun thought. Now add in the Arm chair Beverly and you have a real problem. I really like to style of the arm chair look and feel.

Mike be sure to USE the key in the door 'once in a while'!
my daughter had a pontiac GP with the cool unlock key fob. the key had NEVER been used, and when we tried, it absolutely would not work or turn <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->
a call to the stealership said removal and repair would be about 390$ with the added feature that the keys would be different as they could NOT match the ignition key :rolleyes:
a quick look on youtube and about 1/2 hour later it was working like it should.
Seeing that you are located in the rust belt also, I thought I might post this to prevent future frustration(s)

Andy

What goes around comes around. I bought a 2005 Chevy truck and paid 36K for it new. You would think for 36K I would get a lock on the pass. side as well as the drivers side. BUT NO. I can't be a gentleman and open my wife's door for her. Yes, the key fob! There's nothing I like more than to carry a baseball size wad of fobs in my pocket.
Enough venting for now!
Cordially Mike

I was thinking about buying that piece from Henry along with the wire harness for the sedan. Before long I will need the harness for the trans shifting more than any other harness. Got to be able to drive the car on and off the trailer for local shows.

Reading this made me remember what Josh Malks had mentioned to me a few years ago. He was going to have his drivers door handle converted to be locking. I wonder if he did it? I bet Henry Portz would know. Being it is Labor Day and lots of people will be in Auburn maybe one of them could look at Moonbeam and see if he did it?
On another note, my door lock quit last year as a pot metal piece inside the handle failed. I got a new piece to replace it from Henry Portz. This new piece is made of bronze, I think. It will never fail now.

I forgot to mention in my post that yesterday I took my passenger side door handle with the lock and had it matched to my ignition key. Ever since 1961 we have not had a key for the door or ignition. I found out asking here what key opened the door and finally have a door key that works. Its simply amazing to see shomething work after all these years like it was just off the line decades ago. This car was taken off the roads in 1949 or 1950 as best I can figure out by the 2 past owners writings to Dallas Windslow for parts and information. I still have thos docs with the ACD letter head and signitures on them in fountain pen. Some of the parts prices are so low but looking back I'm guessing they were still expensive for the wage back then. History will be kept with this car forever too. Its part of the car.

Hi,

Tim, your comment made me think of the romantic door-lock protocol that my father and mother had for decades with their post-war cars.

He, ever the gentleman, always would exit through the driver's door and come around to open the passenger door for my mother. However, to ENTER the car, he would, still ever the gentleman, unlock and open the passenger door for her. She then, despite the discomfort to do so, would slide/reach/stretch across the front seat and unlock the driver's door for him so that he would not have to fiddle with the key. It was a return of courtesy, respect, and love. It was an unstated understanding that this was to be the procedure.

Thank you, Tim, for awakening a warm memory for me.

--Tom

Thanks guys for these great answers. Both really make great sence as to why the lock was found on the passenger side. I feel it wouls be really simple to add a lock to the drivers side now.. But that would not be like these cars came off the oem line. Still a nice thought for todays driver.

Hi guys: my understanding is that "back in the day", most street parking was angle in. So, you park, lock the driver's side door, walk around to open the door for your lady, then key lock her door.
Tim.

Hi,

Back in the day the prevalent we-know-what's-good-for-you belief among car makers was that having the door lock only on the passenger side would be safer for drivers because they would not be unlocking and entering from the traffic side.

None of them thought or cared about armchair cars, trying to slide across a cloth seat in an overcoat, papers, trash, packages or other stuff you might having lying on the seat, or ladies and their dresses. I suspect the fad ended after the designers' wives pitched sufficient complaints to their husbands.

It was a bad idea carried to extremes.

--Tom

Why was the only door to lock on my 37 sedan just the passenger side front? What are we supposed to do when locking up the cars. Set the drivers side inside to lock once the door is open. Close it and go around to the passenger side and manually lock that side. It seems like plenty of effort to unlock the passenger side. Slide across the front seat to drive off or open the drivers side door. This must be tuff on the Armchair Beverly cars or am I missing something. Thanks for any help or information too. I really do use the information given on this forum to properly restore and understand these fine motorcars.