Comments on: The Keys to Antique Furniture Locks

By: JL Wood

JL Wood — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:41:15 +0000

paxton@ix.netcom.com

Message flagged

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 5:42 PM

Mr. Taylor,
I have a oak half n half, with large bowed glass door on the left, and small leaded glass door over the fold out desk on the right.

My problem is in the lock on the small door is broke. I am looking for a smaller version of the full mortise locks that are not too hard to find, 1 1/2″ in length.

The specs I need are:

Depth: 5/16″

Finish: Polished Steel

Length: 1″ (This is the difference from the ones I have found. They are 1 1/2″ in length)

Material: Steel

Width: 1″

Location of key pin: 7/16″ from edge

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JL Wood

By: Jessica Zahn

Jessica Zahn — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:15:15 +0000

We recently purchased from auction a full silver flatware
service. The description of the item states:

“English Silver Flatware Service Garrard & Co., third quarter of the 20th
century, all fitted in a George II style mahogany serving table.”

The table contains 2 drawers, and each have a lock. The item did not come
with keys so I took it to a locksmith, where I was told one of the locks is
faulty, and does not work.

Locks are stamped ‘AF&S Secure Lever’.

Please advise if this is a type of lock you could replace/repair, or if you advise to leave well enough alone as it would ruin the table.

Thank you,
Jessica Zahn

By: Suzan

Suzan — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:07:39 +0000

Hi MR Taylor
I’ve read your website and didn’t see my particular problem. I have an old (probably late 19th century) oak buffet with curved glass and locks. All the doors have locks and they are now locked. The problem is the key is stuck in one of the doors, it will not move at all. When I went to lock it, the key turned then stuck. I’ve tried spraying WD-40 in the key hole (where I could) and wiggled the key, pushed the key back and forth but to no avail.
I’ll call a locksmith, but I thought I would see if you might have a solution or tell me what to ask the locksmith. I figure I am going to need someone who knows old locks. I live in San Diego.
Thank you for your reply.
S

By: Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:21:55 +0000

Karen – The half mortise locks with no screws are from the turn of the century and are simply pressed downward from the top of the drawer into place. You can remove them by using a hammer and a blunt chisel or screwdriver, driving the lock up and out of the drawer through top ledge. You may break off some wood but I gather that at this pint it doesn’t matter.

Good lcuk.

Fred Taylor

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:55:02 +0000

Hi, I have half mortise locks on an old dresser. In a burglary, they actual stole one of the drawers leaving the dresser useless. So, I’m selling all the hardware on eBay, but I don’t know how to remove the locks. There are NO screws on the backside of the lock, only a small hole. How do I safely remove the locks for shipment?

Thanks!!!

By: Brian Jones

Brian Jones — Sat, 28 May 2011 21:54:08 +0000

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

Orlando Locksmith — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:52:30 +0000

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

Owen Smith — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:50:55 +0000

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

Fred Taylor — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:27:47 +0000

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

Cheryl Townsley — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:27:51 +0000

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

Fred Taylor — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:08:43 +0000

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

Ian — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:53:13 +0000

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

Leah — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:47:30 +0000

this was exactly the info i needed! thank you so much for doing what you do :-)

By: Priscilla Yocom

Priscilla Yocom — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:12:37 +0000

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

Robert Harrison — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:27:09 +0000

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

Amanda Byelich — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:10:19 +0000

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

David Golman — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:47:42 +0000

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

AbbeyTek — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:07:38 +0000

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

Ken Hampel — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:21:37 +0000

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

James Cook — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:36:03 +0000

Mr. Taylor, thank you for this very helpful and informative article about locks. I learned a lot of new information.
James Cook