A recent move to a new house left me with the following problem. The movers locked both doors and the fold-down desk on a secretary that has been in my family since the 1930’s, and then proceeded to loose the two keys. These are not very complicated locks so it is likely the keys were quite common. Does anybody know of a good source for an assortment of older cabinet keys that might unlock my dilemma?
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Replies
I don't want to over-simplify this, but have you called a locksmith? They should be able to open it and make a new key.
Jim,
I guess I could try another locksmith. These are not locks with tumblers, they are much simpler than that. The originals looked like skeleton keys, only smaller. There were two keys however one for the two doors and one for the drop down desk, and they were not interchangable.
Thanks for your reply, I'll keep you posted on my progress.
What you need is an old locksmith, some cranky old guy in a dark dusty shop that hasn't been swept out in half a century, he'll know how to open your desk. Modern guys typically don't know and aren't interested in that type of lock.
John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
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