What about the letters on my factory supplied keys?

[cruiser]

Hi All: I noticed that there are letters on the factory supplied keys for my 74 Duster. There is a small letter "B" at the bottom of the pentastar on the ignition key, and there is a small letter "Y" at the bottom of the head of the trunk key. Does anyone know what these letters mean?

 

[YY1]

That's the code for which blank to use.

 

[gunbunny]

Hi All: I noticed that there are letters on the factory supplied keys for my 74 Duster. There is a small letter "B" at the bottom of the pentastar on the ignition key, and there is a small letter "Y" at the bottom of the head of the trunk key. Does anyone know what these letters mean?

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Mopar didn't actually stamp the keys. They contracted that out to, believe it or not, Briggs and Stratton. Yes, the lawn mower people.
Most OEM keys will be stamped with a "B" however, you can find keys that are also stamped with "A" and "Y" as well.
What do the letters mean? Quality control. B&S would sublet the work out when they couldn't keep up with production. They would sublet the work out to American Key (Ilco) and Yale.
So, "B" is Briggs and Stratton "A" is American Key and "Y" is Yale.
Fun fact, Briggs and Stratton made automotive keys for many years going back to the 20's and still does. They have split the key side of the business, it's called Strattec now.

 

[gunbunny]

That's the code for which blank to use.

Nope.
If you went to a dealership, they didn't look for a code, they sold the key by Part Number (P/N).
The ignition keys all could interchange through the years. Each style had it's own P/N.
The trunk keys, now those are a PIA. 64-66 had a P/N 67&68 each had their own P/N then finally in 69 Mopar went to a blank they would use for years and the one that is most common.
Read my prior post about what the letter meant.
The aftermarket key company's (mostly Yale) were the one who assigned "codes" for keys, not Chrysler.

 

[cruiser]

Mopar didn't actually stamp the keys. They contracted that out to, believe it or not, Briggs and Stratton. Yes, the lawn mower people.
Most OEM keys will be stamped with a "B" however, you can find keys that are also stamped with "A" and "Y" as well.
What do the letters mean? Quality control. B&S would sublet the work out when they couldn't keep up with production. They would sublet the work out to American Key (Ilco) and Yale.
So, "B" is Briggs and Stratton "A" is American Key and "Y" is Yale.
Fun fact, Briggs and Stratton made automotive keys for many years going back to the 20's and still does. They have split the key side of the business, it's called Strattec now.

Excellent. Thank you!