Comments on: The Keys to Antique Furniture Locks http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:42:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Jones http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-48085 Brian Jones Sat, 28 May 2011 21:54:08 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-48085 Hello this is Brian From Rhinoceros Security in San Francisco. Many people from around the world have come to my shop for antique furniture and skeleton keys. I'm sorry to say that I'm closing my shop and going to mobile only. However if you still need antique furniture keys I can still provide them for you if you e-mail me at brian@rinosecurity.com or you can call me at 415-751-2087. Thanks. Hello this is Brian From Rhinoceros Security in San Francisco. Many people from around the world have come to my shop for antique furniture and skeleton keys. I’m sorry to say that I’m closing my shop and going to mobile only. However if you still need antique furniture keys I can still provide them for you if you e-mail me at brian@rinosecurity.com or you can call me at 415-751-2087. Thanks.

]]> By: Orlando Locksmith http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-46807 Orlando Locksmith Wed, 04 May 2011 15:52:30 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-46807 Replacing locks on antique furniture can be a hassle and almost impossible at times. These locks are almost impossible to fix because they are so old. But if I can get you back into your vehicle. Please don't hesitate to call me @ 407-506-0460 for all of your locksmith related needs. Replacing locks on antique furniture can be a hassle and almost impossible at times. These locks are almost impossible to fix because they are so old. But if I can get you back into your vehicle. Please don’t hesitate to call me @ 407-506-0460 for all of your locksmith related needs.

]]> By: Owen Smith http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-9947 Owen Smith Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:50:55 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-9947 I restore antique trunks. I have one from around the civil war period. It is a half mortise type lock brass. The lock mechanism works fine but it locks automatically when the lid is closed. Where can I get a key for this lock. Without a key the trunk has not much antique value. Thanks for any help you can provide I restore antique trunks. I have one from around the civil war period. It is a half mortise type lock brass. The lock mechanism works fine but it locks automatically when the lid is closed. Where can I get a key for this lock. Without a key the trunk has not much antique value.
Thanks for any help you can provide

]]> By: Fred Taylor http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-5429 Fred Taylor Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:27:47 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-5429 Cheryl - At this point it is hard to say what the problem may be. If you want to go to the trouble, email me at info@furnituredetective and I will email you back with my mailing address. You can send the locks to me and I will take a look. Fred Taylor Cheryl – At this point it is hard to say what the problem may be. If you want to go to the trouble, email me at info@furnituredetective and I will email you back with my mailing address. You can send the locks to me and I will take a look.

Fred Taylor

]]> By: Cheryl Townsley http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-5426 Cheryl Townsley Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:27:51 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-5426 Mr. Taylor, your site is very helpful, but I have a surface-mounted lock with a key stuck. I've taken the lock off and WD40 all over the place, key will not turn, can't get the little plate to move either direction. The other lock is just stuck in the locked position. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help, Cheryl Mr. Taylor, your site is very helpful, but I have a surface-mounted lock with a key stuck. I’ve taken the lock off and WD40 all over the place, key will not turn, can’t get the little plate to move either direction. The other lock is just stuck in the locked position. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help, Cheryl

]]> By: Fred Taylor http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-5087 Fred Taylor Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:08:43 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-5087 The center pin was originally installed by a machine in a “press” fitting. It is very hard to duplicate that fitting by hand. But there is a sure way to fix the problem that I have done dozens of times. First remove the lock from the door or drawer. Then find a small sheet metal screw that will screw tightly and securely into the hole and make sure the key can fit over it. Use a sheet metal screw rather tha awood screw becasue the sheet metakl screw is cylindrical. A wood screw is tapered. If the key doesn't fit right file down the threads. Using a grinder or file remove the pint of the screw. Screw the screw in place in the back plate. Then for appearances sake grind or file the back of the screw until it is flat and removes all traces of the slot. Then apply a spot of two part epoxy glue around the back of the screw to secure it to the back plate. That should do. Just make sure it works before reinstallation. Don’t forget to WD 40 the mechanism. Good luck. Fred Taylor www.furnituredetective.com The center pin was originally installed by a machine in a “press” fitting. It is very hard to duplicate that fitting by hand. But there is a sure way to fix the problem that I have done dozens of times.

First remove the lock from the door or drawer. Then find a small sheet metal screw that will screw tightly and securely into the hole and make sure the key can fit over it. Use a sheet metal screw rather tha awood screw becasue the sheet metakl screw is cylindrical. A wood screw is tapered. If the key doesn’t fit right file down the threads. Using a grinder or file remove the pint of the screw. Screw the screw in place in the back plate. Then for appearances sake grind or file the back of the screw until it is flat and removes all traces of the slot. Then apply a spot of two part epoxy glue around the back of the screw to secure it to the back plate.

That should do. Just make sure it works before reinstallation. Don’t forget to WD 40 the mechanism.

Good luck.

Fred Taylor
http://www.furnituredetective.com

]]> By: Ian http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-5080 Ian Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:53:13 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-5080 The pin in a half mortise chest lock has fallen out of the shaft/mount in the back of the lock. As a result, the key to the chest will no longer throw the bolt to unlock the chest lid. How can I reinstall the pin? The pin in a half mortise chest lock has fallen out of the shaft/mount in the back of the lock. As a result, the key to the chest will no longer throw the bolt to unlock the chest lid. How can I reinstall the pin?

]]> By: Leah http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-4321 Leah Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:47:30 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-4321 this was exactly the info i needed! thank you so much for doing what you do :-) this was exactly the info i needed! thank you so much for doing what you do :-)

]]> By: Priscilla Yocom http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-4066 Priscilla Yocom Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:12:37 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-4066 I live in Walnut Creek (East Bay area). I have a key to an antique cedar chest which I would like to have duplicated. Are you still creating keys as mentioned in this article? If so, I would like to arrange having you duplicate this key. Hope to hear from you. Thank You, Priscilla Yocom I live in Walnut Creek (East Bay area). I have a key to an antique cedar chest which I would like to have duplicated. Are you still creating keys as mentioned in this article? If so, I would like to arrange having you duplicate this key. Hope to hear from you.
Thank You,
Priscilla Yocom

]]> By: Robert Harrison http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-3785 Robert Harrison Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:27:09 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-3785 Mr. Taylor, Your article offered a lot of information. I have experience creating keys as a professional locksmith and I'd like to share something that worked well for me. I use the soot of a small burning candle to carbon black the blank. The blackened blade is inserted into the lock and wiggled with the back and forth motion you mentioned. When withdrawn the blank is now precisely marked where it encounters the security ring. Cuts are then easily managed. Due to a near fatal accident I no longer work as a conventional locksmith. As owner/operator of Key Creator in the San Francisco bay area I enjoy hand fabricating blanks and finished keys for two piece mortise locks. More than thirty years as a metal fabricator developed my passion for fabricating keys for crypts and other large two piece cased mortise locks when blanks and/or keys are impossible to get. Bob Harrison Mr. Taylor,
Your article offered a lot of information. I have experience creating keys as a professional locksmith and I’d like to share something that worked well for me.
I use the soot of a small burning candle to carbon black the blank. The blackened blade is inserted into the lock and wiggled with the back and forth motion you mentioned. When withdrawn the blank is now precisely marked where it encounters the security ring. Cuts are then easily managed.
Due to a near fatal accident I no longer work as a conventional locksmith. As owner/operator of Key Creator in the San Francisco bay area I enjoy hand fabricating blanks and finished keys for two piece mortise locks. More than thirty years as a metal fabricator developed my passion for fabricating keys for crypts and other large two piece cased mortise locks when blanks and/or keys are impossible to get.
Bob Harrison

]]> By: Amanda Byelich http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-3733 Amanda Byelich Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:10:19 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-3733 I have an antique record holder that my grandmother gave to me. For a year I stored things in it and used the lock with no problem. Recently my fiance lost the key, and the door is locked shut. I believe it is a half mortise. I tried keys from a china cabinet and an old cedar chest, and both are too thick. Is there an easy way to pick the lock? I have an antique record holder that my grandmother gave to me. For a year I stored things in it and used the lock with no problem. Recently my fiance lost the key, and the door is locked shut. I believe it is a half mortise. I tried keys from a china cabinet and an old cedar chest, and both are too thick. Is there an easy way to pick the lock?

]]> By: David Golman http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2775 David Golman Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:47:42 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2775 On a whim and for a new distraction/hobby I bought what really looks like an old, neglected but interesting peice of furnature from the thrift store. It has two full mortise and three half mortise locks, no keys. I would like to take the locks out of their mounting (to clean, assess). After removeing all the obvious screws, I could not prod, push, hard tap... either type of lock out. I did not want to force or damage the edges so did not push harder. There is no obvious adherents from old coverage. How do you safely remove old half or full mortise lock from their mounting? On a whim and for a new distraction/hobby I bought what really looks like an old, neglected but interesting peice of furnature from the thrift store. It has two full mortise and three half mortise locks, no keys. I would like to take the locks out of their mounting (to clean, assess). After removeing all the obvious screws, I could not prod, push, hard tap… either type of lock out. I did not want to force or damage the edges so did not push harder. There is no obvious adherents from old coverage.

How do you safely remove old half or full mortise lock from their mounting?

]]> By: AbbeyTek http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2551 AbbeyTek Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:07:38 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2551 Great job this is a really good blog for this topic. I sell antique keys of all kinds and find little to no info out there on the net to help people learn about locks and keys . Thanks for taking the time to share your info. Great job this is a really good blog for this topic.
I sell antique keys of all kinds and find little to no info out there on the net to help people learn about locks and keys . Thanks for taking the time to share your info.

]]> By: Ken Hampel http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2495 Ken Hampel Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:21:37 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2495 Mr Taylor, Thank you for this wonderful article! My wife and I have an old china cabinet with a full mortise lock. It has worked fine for a few years, but now the key will not open the lock. The key is notched. As the key is turned, it seems to get stuck before it engages the bolt. Based on you terrific diagrams, I would guess that the security ring may have been bent slightly and that this denies the key the ability to turn fully. Is this a reasonable guess in your opinion? Do you have any suggestions as to how we may overcome this problem? Thanks again for the article. Ken Mr Taylor,
Thank you for this wonderful article! My wife and I have an old china cabinet with a full mortise lock. It has worked fine for a few years, but now the key will not open the lock. The key is notched. As the key is turned, it seems to get stuck before it engages the bolt. Based on you terrific diagrams, I would guess that the security ring may have been bent slightly and that this denies the key the ability to turn fully. Is this a reasonable guess in your opinion? Do you have any suggestions as to how we may overcome this problem? Thanks again for the article.
Ken

]]> By: James Cook http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2488 James Cook Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:36:03 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2488 Mr. Taylor, thank you for this very helpful and informative article about locks. I learned a lot of new information. James Cook Mr. Taylor, thank you for this very helpful and informative article about locks. I learned a lot of new information.
James Cook

]]> By: Jane Simpson http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2472 Jane Simpson Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:05:33 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2472 Fred, I have been reading your work in Antique Week for many years and am so excited to see more of your articles on this site. You always provide a wealth of information to your readers. I just want to say "thank you". Fred, I have been reading your work in Antique Week for many years and am so excited to see more of your articles on this site. You always provide a wealth of information to your readers. I just want to say “thank you”.

]]> By: Mary Jane http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-2252 Mary Jane Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:51:11 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-2252 Mr. Taylor, I just finished reading your nails article and just discovered that you wrote an article on locks and keys as well. You continue to deliver some great information in such an easy to understand format. I can't wait to share this one with the other dealers in the mall where my shop is. Is there a way to search the WorthPoint site to see what else you have written? I am thinking of starting a file with all of your articles so that I can use them as future reference. Do you have any books for sale or is there anywhere else I can read what you write? If you offer classes or do speaking engagements, can you tell me where I may go to attend one of your events? Mr. Taylor, I just finished reading your nails article and just discovered that you wrote an article on locks and keys as well. You continue to deliver some great information in such an easy to understand format. I can’t wait to share this one with the other dealers in the mall where my shop is. Is there a way to search the WorthPoint site to see what else you have written? I am thinking of starting a file with all of your articles so that I can use them as future reference. Do you have any books for sale or is there anywhere else I can read what you write? If you offer classes or do speaking engagements, can you tell me where I may go to attend one of your events?

]]> By: Sadie http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/keys-to-antique-furniture-locks/comment-page-1#comment-1975 Sadie Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:04:16 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2473734#comment-1975 Mr. Taylor, I can't wait to see your new articles each time they are posted. Your articles are the reason I continue to go to the WorthPoint site each week. Thank you for sharing so much good information with your followers. With your guidance (I just ordered your book, DVD and CD from your furnituredetective.com website)I should be a furniture expert in no time - at least that is what I am hoping for. Thanks again, Sadie Mr. Taylor, I can’t wait to see your new articles each time they are posted. Your articles are the reason I continue to go to the WorthPoint site each week. Thank you for sharing so much good information with your followers. With your guidance (I just ordered your book, DVD and CD from your furnituredetective.com website)I should be a furniture expert in no time – at least that is what I am hoping for.
Thanks again, Sadie

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