Does anyone know how the Chinese are getting hold of BR1B keys to sell online? I noticed a huge amount of Chinese sellers on various websites are selling these keys and i am trying to work out how they are getting hold of them?
This key is known as the "BR1B Key" or "BR1 Key" or "21 Key" depending who you ask but all three are names for the same key. This is one of the most common keys on the railway and allows you access to all kinds of stuff including opening cab doors from the saloon and opening various door control panels and electrical cupboards onboard trains. They are also occasionally used as a door key to access some restricted areas in a few places. They are used all over the railway and they are not really something that you would want to get in to the hands of the wrong person.
A friend of mine who is an ex Guard like me noticed this the other month and pointed it out. Since i had became aware this has just really baffled me as to how they are getting hold of them.
These keys are being sold all over the internet by sellers based in China on sites like Amazon and Ebay and Etsy and Ali Express and all kinds of other sites.
They are mostly being sold under terms like, "antique key", "magic key", "skeleton key", "trick key", "vintage key" "collectable key", "ghost key", "ancient key", etc.
Here are just some of the listings i have found where these keys are being sold:
This is just a small selection. There is at least a couple hundred listings on various sites. The list would be endless if i listed them all. Just on Ebay alone there are at least thirty different sellers. They are being sold very widely online.
I should point out that there is no law against selling or owning BR1B keys and no railway keys are restricted items so from a legal view i do not think they are doing anything wrong by selling them.
All of these are different sellers but the thing that links all of them is that they are all Chinese based sellers. All of them are in China which is what i find odd. I highly doubt China uses these keys for anything.
I know these keys sometimes turn up on Ebay as one off second hand keys that people get hold of. But this is different. This is sellers in China who have got hold of bulk amounts of brand new BR1B keys.
I decided to investigate this about a month ago and i ordered keys from eight different sellers to see what i would receive. All of them have arrived now and they are indeed BR1B keys. So it is not just stock photos that they are using. They are actually sending out real BR1B keys.
Also all of the keys were sent from China too. So it is not just Chinese sellers who have warehouses in the UK. They are actually posting them from China and sending it to the UK. You can tell on all the postage labels on the envelopes that it originated from China and was sent from there.
All of the keys have BR1B written on one side and Pakex written on the other side. Pakex are a company that supply keys and various other railway equipment to our TOCs. Lots of railway staff will have been issued with these Pakex supplied BR1B keys.
You can see the keys on their site here:
However these keys are only available to purchase from Pakex by TOCs. They do not allow the general public to purchase. So i highly doubt the Chinese sellers have got hold of them from there.
The only thing i can think if is that Pakex contract some factory in China to produce their BR1B keys and somebody at that factory is selling or distributing these keys to various people in China to sell. I doubt Pakex are aware of this or have given permission for these to be sold. But this is the only possibility i could think of. Maybe the factory is distributing them to people in China without permission.
So i would be curious to know if anyone has any ideas as to what is going on here and how these Chinese sellers are getting hold of these? This has really baffled me and i would like to get to the bottom of this so i would be curious if anyone knows anything about this?
This key is known as the "BR1B Key" or "BR1 Key" or "21 Key" depending who you ask but all three are names for the same key. This is one of the most common keys on the railway and allows you access to all kinds of stuff including opening cab doors from the saloon and opening various door control panels and electrical cupboards onboard trains. They are also occasionally used as a door key to access some restricted areas in a few places. They are used all over the railway and they are not really something that you would want to get in to the hands of the wrong person.
A friend of mine who is an ex Guard like me noticed this the other month and pointed it out. Since i had became aware this has just really baffled me as to how they are getting hold of them.
These keys are being sold all over the internet by sellers based in China on sites like Amazon and Ebay and Etsy and Ali Express and all kinds of other sites.
They are mostly being sold under terms like, "antique key", "magic key", "skeleton key", "trick key", "vintage key" "collectable key", "ghost key", "ancient key", etc.
Here are just some of the listings i have found where these keys are being sold:
5 Pcs of Antique Bronze BR1B Key Pendants HEAVY 19x94mm A205 - Etsy UK
This Charms item by VeryCharms has 268 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from China. Listed on 14 Aug, 2024www.etsy.com
Antique Bronze/copper/silver Key Pendants Charms HEAVY 19x94mm Set of 5 - Etsy UK
This Charms item by VeryCharms has 39 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from China. Listed on 15 Aug, 2024
5 pcs of Antique Bronze BR1B Key Pendants HEAVY 19x94mm A205 – VeryCharms
You'll receive 5 pcs of antique bronze BR1B key charms. Very nice looking and high quality. Size: 19x94mm All our items are NICKEL FREE and LEAD FREE. Please feel free to convo me for other quantity. Check out my other items as we're adding new items everyday.www.verycharms.com
Antique Bronze/Copper/Silver Key Pendants Charms HEAVY Set of 5 – VeryCharms
You'll receive 5 pcs of BR1B key pendants.Very nice looking and high quality.Size: 19x94mmColor: Antique Bronze/Antique Copper/Antique SilverMaterial: Zinc Alloy MetalPlease feel free to convo me for other quantity.Check out my other items as we're adding new items everyday.www.verycharms.com
Ghost Key (Haunted Key) Magic Tricks Magia Skeleton Key Magician Close Up Illusions Gimmick Props Moving Appearing Mentalism Fun - AliExpress 26
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.comwww.aliexpress.com
Ghost Key (Haunted Key) Magic Tricks Magia Skeleton Key Magician Close Up Illusions Gimmick Props Moving Appearing Mentalism Fun - AliExpress 26
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Ghost Key (Haunted Key) Magic Tricks Magia Skeleton Key Magician Close Up Illusions Gimmick Props Moving Appearing Mentalism Fun - AliExpress 26
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Street Magic Skeleton Ghost Key Turns Over in Your Hand Antique Look Trick Pock - AliExpress 26
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
6Pcs 95*19MM Key Pendant Charms Antique Bronze Plated Diy Jewelry Findings Accessories - AliExpress 36
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Magician Props Trick Mind Control for Key Close-up Magics Toy Practical Joke Props Performance Supply for Kids Adu - AliExpress 26
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
This is just a small selection. There is at least a couple hundred listings on various sites. The list would be endless if i listed them all. Just on Ebay alone there are at least thirty different sellers. They are being sold very widely online.
I should point out that there is no law against selling or owning BR1B keys and no railway keys are restricted items so from a legal view i do not think they are doing anything wrong by selling them.
All of these are different sellers but the thing that links all of them is that they are all Chinese based sellers. All of them are in China which is what i find odd. I highly doubt China uses these keys for anything.
I know these keys sometimes turn up on Ebay as one off second hand keys that people get hold of. But this is different. This is sellers in China who have got hold of bulk amounts of brand new BR1B keys.
I decided to investigate this about a month ago and i ordered keys from eight different sellers to see what i would receive. All of them have arrived now and they are indeed BR1B keys. So it is not just stock photos that they are using. They are actually sending out real BR1B keys.
Also all of the keys were sent from China too. So it is not just Chinese sellers who have warehouses in the UK. They are actually posting them from China and sending it to the UK. You can tell on all the postage labels on the envelopes that it originated from China and was sent from there.
All of the keys have BR1B written on one side and Pakex written on the other side. Pakex are a company that supply keys and various other railway equipment to our TOCs. Lots of railway staff will have been issued with these Pakex supplied BR1B keys.
You can see the keys on their site here:
However these keys are only available to purchase from Pakex by TOCs. They do not allow the general public to purchase. So i highly doubt the Chinese sellers have got hold of them from there.
The only thing i can think if is that Pakex contract some factory in China to produce their BR1B keys and somebody at that factory is selling or distributing these keys to various people in China to sell. I doubt Pakex are aware of this or have given permission for these to be sold. But this is the only possibility i could think of. Maybe the factory is distributing them to people in China without permission.
So i would be curious to know if anyone has any ideas as to what is going on here and how these Chinese sellers are getting hold of these? This has really baffled me and i would like to get to the bottom of this so i would be curious if anyone knows anything about this?
