For Antique & Vintage Locks Find a locksmith in your area A competent locksmith with experience and tools for LEVER locks should not have much of a task opening these, but such experience is not so common in the USA, where such locks are now unusual. Scroll down for the easy solution I stumbled upon last year!Skeleton keys are technically any key that fits many locks. Once it’s opened a “standard” key replacement can be purchased at your local hardware store, or online. So I haven’t bought any extra keys yet. The diameter of the barrel, and the cut and size of the bit are the most important items when matching a lock. A skilled locksmith will be able to make a key by hand, some can even make a key just from a picture. I took the lock out and brought it to a locksmith.
We have an old house too and a few years back the Truevalue hardware down the street had 2 packs of skeleton type keys, two different styles, that both worked in all our locks.If I were to hazard a guess most of them will be the standard sizes (a big and a small) and then there is an in between size. First look at your lock to determine whether or not it has a pin showing in the keyhole. Fabricate a key by putting the original key or a skeleton key on a flat piece of tin. You don't need to get as lucky as you might think. You have to be able to take the lock off (Carefully!! How to Measure Skeleton Keys. First look at your lock to determine whether or not it has a pin showing in the keyhole. But the last owner hasn’t left you a single skeleton keys. If you're in a similar situation, I highly recommend you get these keys and try them in your locks (These three keys available at Amazon in these two boxes (I have to admit, we’re not big lock people. If it doesn't work at first, continue to adjust using your metal file … Try it out in a working lock. Well we’ve got you covered! If you're trying to find out the age of a skeleton key that matches your great-grandmother's china hutch, or the rolltop desk your grandfather gave you, ask your relatives if they know when the … Hold the keys together using a small vice. What’s an old home owner to do? Most locksmiths can also cut antique keys to fit the old lock you are having restored or repaired. If your lock does not have a pin showing, select one of our solid shank keys with a bit size closest to the size of your keyhole. Once you can see inside, you will imagine an old skeleton key with a barrel base and flat insert prong going into this mechanism. posted by rokusan at 9:13 AM on May 3, 2008
It gives the key the power to open just about any lock in the home, except for keys that weren’t built in the house.
But I would like to pick one up for our guest bedroom in case someone wants the additional privacy. These keys got their name because they're stripped down to their essential, basic parts, like a skeleton and not because they look like one (although they kinda do, right?). We recommend contacting The price of repairing or restoring antique locks is very hard to calculate as this kind of work is very labour intensive & taking significant time.Making things by hand is also expensive, time-consuming and a very skilled job, below are some factors to consider regarding the price:A skilled locksmith will be able to make a key by hand, some can even make a key just from a picture.Below are examples of antique locks and keys some of our members have restored and repaired.All MLA Approved Companies are Vetted, Inspected & Qualified.Copyright ©
Remove the top set of pins and leave the bottom in place. When a skeleton key goes missing, hopefully, it isn’t when there is a door that needs to be unlocked right now. But what can go wrong, will go wrong, it’s a genuine possibility, especially since the skeleton key is likely to go missing long before it’s wanted, and when it’s needed it won’t be anywhere around.