West Coast Chain Manufacturing Co. was founded by W.R. Lummis, a switch man on the Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles, California. Lummis invented the original KEY-BAK self-retracting key reel in 1948 when he saw brake men and switch men getting injured when their dangling key chains got caught on moving trains. Lummis sold the first KEY-BAK's to his fellow railroaders and eventually, word spread, and sales continued to grow, allowing Lummis to leave his job at the railroad and work solely on manufacturing the KEY-BAK. Over 70 years later, the retractable key chain has evolved into a variety of styles and configurations designed to secure keys and tools in any application. Check out our great prices on KEY-BAK Tools below.
