Talk:Keychain
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The description on this page does not match the photos, which illustrates a question I have:
The photos are really showing key fobs, not chains. There's a clear difference between the two which is well explained in the text of the keychain and key fob articles.
However, I wonder how regional the usage of the word "fob" is. I live in the Southern US, and have never heard the phrase "key fob." And I've always heard fobs reffered to as keychains or keyrings.
Does that usage vary in other countries? If so, perhaps regional common usage should be made clear in both articles. Skylark 00:38, 31 December 2006 (UTC)
I've never heard the word key-fob, and I also live in the US. We use key-chain for the key-fob, as you say. I'll add a section explaining that to the article later, unless you would like to do so. | AndonicO Talk | Sign Here 09:56, 31 December 2006 (UTC)
In the UK we tend to use "keyring" as opposed to fob, and keychain refers to an associated chain rather than a decoration. These three articles should probably be merged as they are all repeating the same information. --Rej8 (talk) 23:30, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
Really,the word keychain is a general term used for any key retention mechanism. The term comes from the beaded chain that was used for a long time to hold groups of keys together. Even though there are many different mechanisms to hold keys (i.e beaded chain, split ring,levered clasp, lobsterclaw, etc. I have over 60 different key retention mechanisms in my personal collection) it would be very tiresome to have to reffer to each kind seperately. The article says a keychain is added to a keyring to attach the fob (which is derived from the watch fob). This is mostly incorrect. So a key fob is the dangley bit that attaches to your ring with keys and keychain/keyring is the generalized term used for the actual method of attaching your keys. [user:Keychainguy] ~~~~
[edit] Keychain Collectors International
''' Keychain Collectors International is a web based collector group that promotes keychain/keyring/keyfob/key retention device collecting as a hobby. It is free to join for anyone who is avid about collecting keychains. I personally have traded keychains with other collectors on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Keychain Collectors International started in 1998 as the Network of Americans Collecting Keychains (N.A.C.K.). Shortly there after the name was changed to the Network of Anyone Collecting Keychains to encourage all collectors world wide to join. In 2005 the club again changed it's tittle to the current Keychain Collectors International. They have had 5 conventions occuring on even numbered years with international attendance by memebers. The largest collection of the group belongs to R. Tyler of Topeka, Kansas with a collection of more than 50,000 different examples. Most members do not have near as many and some collect only speciality keychains. I personally have between 8 and 9 thousand in my collection and I have been collecting for about 20 years. Although it is hard to substanciate, it is my belief that more keychains are manufactured every year than are locks and keys. This is like making more hammers than there are nails. If you have an interest in keychains check out Keychain Collectors International at their website [http://www.keychaincolector.com] [[User:Keychainguy|Keychainguy]] ([[User talk:Keychainguy|talk]]) 19:48, 17 April 2008 (UTC)'''
[edit] History
In these engravings the keys are held on what appears to be a looped cord. Does anyone know whether these were commonly knotted or held together with a clasp? Sparafucil 08:01, 25 October 2007 (UTC)
