Keychains come in all shapes and sizes, most feature a picture of your family, a car logo or some other big brand logo. What about something unusual though?
A unique keychain,something fun or perhaps disgusting and even a cool keychain. These are more rare to come across. So I thought I’d spend my day hunting
the deepest and darkest corners of the interweb in the search for some of these novelty, keychain gadgets, unique, fun and cool keychains.
Keychains are one of the most common souvenir and advertising items. Keychains are commonly used to promote businesses. A standard advertising keychain will carry the businesses name and contact information and often a logo.
In the 1950s and 1960s, with the improvement of plastic manufacturing techniques, promotional items including keychains became unique. Businesses could place their names on promotional keychains that were three-dimensional for less cost than the standard metal keychains.
Keychains are small and inexpensive enough to become promotional items for larger national companies that might give them out by the millions. For example, with the launch of a new movie or television show, those companies might partner with food companies to provide a character keychain in each box of cereal
Keychains that currently hold keys are an item that is never long misplaced by the owner. People sometimes attach their keychain to their belt (or belt loop) to avoid loss or to allow quick access to it.
Many keychains also offer functions that the owner wants easily accessible as well. These include an army knife, bottle opener, an electronic organizer, scissors, address book, family photos, nail clipper,
pill case and even pepper spray. Modern cars often include a keychain that serves as a remote to lock/unlock the car or even start the engine. An electronic key finder is also a useful item found on many
keys that will beep when summoned for quick finding when misplace.
A keyring or split ring or “circle cotter” is a ring that holds keys and other small items, which are sometimes connected to keychains. Other types of keyrings are made of leather, wood and rubber.
Keyrings were invented in the 19th century by Samuel Harrison. The most common form of the keyring is a single piece of metal in a ‘double loop’. Either end of the loop can be pried open to allow a
key to be inserted and slid along the spiral until it becomes wholly engaged onto the ring. Novelty carabiners are also commonly used as keyrings for ease of access and exchange. Often the keyring is
adorned with a key fob for self-identification. Other forms of rings may use a single loop of metal or plastic with a mechanism to open and securely close the loop.