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Berlin Key

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Re: Berlin Key

#51

Post by 7373737373 »

simias wrote: post #32
7373737373 wrote: post #5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengenlehreuhr

Why are you posting this? It doesn't appear related to the OP insofar as they are both encountered in Berlin. Also this clock design seems unnecessarily inefficient. Why divide 24 hours in multiple of 5 hours instead of the much more natural 6? This way it would be a lot easier to decode AM/PM. I realize that it's about art more than practicality but I don't really understand why that encoding was chosen.

Why not? The post is about weird artifacts in Berlin. This clock may be the key to solving a crypto puzzle.

Re: Berlin Key

#52

Post by mwilcox »

atoav wrote: post #29
Someone wrote: post #17

The English description on that page doesn’t make it easy to understand what this key does. ”Its name comes from the fact that it has two key blades (the part which activates the bolt) at each end of the key, rather than the usual single blade” How does that lead to the name “Berlin key” or either of the German names? I would guess “Berlin key” comes from the fact that it predominantly is used in Berlin. ”After unloc…

The Berlin key ("Berliner Schlüssel") was mostly used in tenements with multiple backyard houses with a common front gate that should be closed at certain times. These kind of arrangements were mostly used in Berlin, hence the name. The other German names for the key describe different aspects of it: "Durchsteckschlüssel" translates to "push-through-key" and "Doppelschlüssel" translates to "double-key". If you are mo…

http://www.bruno-latour.fr/sites/default/files/P-36-Berliner...

Re: Berlin Key

#53

Post by vinay427 »

coldtea wrote: post #27
pzh wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that you can accidentally, or not, lock the door without fully closing it, thus leaving it essentially unlocked, so the key isn’t quite fool-proof.

> so the key isn’t quite fool-proof Yes, it's from another era, when the consumer was not expected to be a fool...

That's one way to describe problematic design. In other words, the key doesn't fulfill its intended purpose considering (as the comment you replied to noted) one can do this either accidentally or not which can have little to do with being a fool.

Re: Berlin Key

#54

Post by Revery »

coldtea wrote: post #27
pzh wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems that you can accidentally, or not, lock the door without fully closing it, thus leaving it essentially unlocked, so the key isn’t quite fool-proof.

> so the key isn’t quite fool-proof Yes, it's from another era, when the consumer was not expected to be a fool...

This key goes to great lengths to make sure the user doesn't lock themselves out. It seems specially designed for 'fools'.

Re: Berlin Key

#55

Post by DoreenMichele »

School-Cotton wrote: post #26
chrisseaton wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As it's impossible to leave the building without a key in case of a fire. Isn't that the case for most doors that lock? You can't leave through my (brand new, to-code) front door from inside without a key to unlock it first. It wouldn't be secure if you could open it without a key - isn't that the whole point of a lock with a key?

What country do you live in? In the US, almost every door I’ve ever seen can be unlocked from the inside (but not the outside) without a key.

In recent years, American apartments I've lived in have made it impossible to lock the front door from the outside without a key so you can't lock yourself out, thereby eliminating the need to call the landlord or manager over incidents like that.

They have a knob that doesn't have a locking mechanism at all and a deadbolt that locks from the inside without a key, but cannot be locked without a key if you leave.

Re: Berlin Key

#56

Post by lillesvin »

School-Cotton wrote: post #46
wazoox wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never seen that outside the US. Keyholes both sides of the door, everywhere. When it's closed, you need a key or you don't get out.

Well, TIL. Never realized this was a US-specific thing.

It's definitely not US specific. Here in Denmark it's standard that the front door opens from the inside without a key. Same goes for at least Luxembourg and Germany as far as I know.

Re: Berlin Key

#57

Post by trax »

vinay427 wrote: post #53
coldtea wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> so the key isn’t quite fool-proof Yes, it's from another era, when the consumer was not expected to be a fool...

That's one way to describe problematic design. In other words, the key doesn't fulfill its intended purpose considering (as the comment you replied to noted) one can do this either accidentally or not which can have little to do with being a fool.

you can always think of a situation where the user is a tard and fucks up, doesn't mean that the design is bad

Re: Berlin Key

#58

Post by jwilk »

lillesvin wrote: post #56
School-Cotton wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, TIL. Never realized this was a US-specific thing.

It's definitely not US specific. Here in Denmark it's standard that the front door opens from the inside without a key. Same goes for at least Luxembourg and Germany as far as I know.

Same for Poland.

Re: Berlin Key

#59

Post by mattlondon »

cj wrote: post #30
chrisseaton wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As it's impossible to leave the building without a key in case of a fire. Isn't that the case for most doors that lock? You can't leave through my (brand new, to-code) front door from inside without a key to unlock it first. It wouldn't be secure if you could open it without a key - isn't that the whole point of a lock with a key?

> You can't leave through my (brand new, to-code) front door from inside without a key Just to clarify, after you lock your front door with the key, it’s impossible to unlock the door from the inside without a physical key? The vast majority of locks have a physical unlocking mechanism on one side (one side is unprotected, usually the inside)

> The vast majority of locks have a physical unlocking mechanism on one side

Not where I live. Sure the lock that you use to stop it blowing open in the wind (1) when you are at home has a latch on the inside (making it easy to open door to visitors etc), but you also have the real lock that you use when you leave the house require keys from either side (2).

I think most home insurance in the UK would either not insure you or your premiums would be super-high if you only had the latch and not a proper secure lock.

Random image from the internet showing typical UK front door locks - latch at the top (openable from inside without key), proper secure mortice lock at the bottom (key needed from both sides): https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/a1/63/1ba1634b8b6b9c5135b6... or https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a1/7b/77/a17b77bf1ad7a909a0bd... - in the second picture if it just had the latch it would be absurdly easy to break into: just break the glass and open the latch!

1 - https://www.screwfix.com/c/security-ironmongery/night-latche...

2- https://www.screwfix.com/c/security-ironmongery/door-locks-b...

Re: Berlin Key

#60

Post by Sharlin »

username90 wrote: post #37
ChristianBundy wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You can't leave through my (brand new, to-code) front door from inside without a key to unlock it first. I'm sure I'm just ignorant, but it sounds like your lock is on backward. Every front door I've ever seen can be unlocked from the inside without a key. Example: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Schlage-Deadbolt-Satin-Brass-Single... Could you link to a lock that's similar to what you're talking about? I'd feel very unco…

Most homes where I grew up in Europe had two locks, one which you could open without a key from inside and one which requires it from both sides. Not sure why it was like that, but it feels normal to me.

Around here (Finland) basically all homes have locks that open without a key from the inside, plus optionally an extra lock that needs a key on both sides, for those who desire more security. I presume those extra locks are more common on house doors than apartment doors.
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