Marv I suspect that the short key may have gotten bent just that way by using it in the back side of a 4 jaw then forgetting it was there when the lathe got switched on causing it to hit the back of the head stock housing I've never used the 2 key approach too fiddling to try and reach back there and very limited movement would be possible anyway.
I don't remember how long it's been since I owned an electric screw driver and doubt if 1 has ever been made that would move the jaws on chucks the size that mine are A drill yes
Even though my smallest 3 jaw chuck for this lathe is 12" the short key only worked when used in the straight up vertical position or perfectly horizontal as long as the carriage was out of the way and the high low lever was in the high speed position
On my 1930's era 16 inch Lablond all of this would be possible since it has a small head stock