make keys to fit locks?!

richleeds

Hi

Ok - before I start... dont need a hundred and one replies about if anyone could do this, burgulars would just do it all the time - thanks!

Weve just moved into an old Victorian house and it has some internal doors that have locks on them, the keys are the old Victorian style very long key, like this..

http://www.thepriceguide.com.au/images50000/59922.jpg

The locks on the doors are old and unique and we dont really want to remove them, is there anyway in making a key to fit? If we took the look off, could a locksmith do it or will there be a reference code or as these are really old locks is there a chance that a "master set" of say 20 keys could be bought and one is bound to work.

Probably clutching at straws here but if anyone has any ideas please let us know.

cheers
rich

Nilrem

I'd imagine a good locksmith (or blacksmith?) could make new keys if you took the locks to them, as they are probably much simpler in design than the modern ones (IIRC you can make a key based on the pattern on of the tumbler thingies if it can be dismantled).

The downside is it'll probably be fairly expensive to make the first key for each lock (unless all the locks use the same key), but secondary keys should be very cheap as they could be made the normal way.

dori2o

when I worked in engineering I was given a tool cupboard by one of the retiring fitters, but he had lost the key to the lock.

I managed to make a new key from stainless steel, I made a blank key and by covering tthe blank steel in engineers blue and wiggling the blank in the lock the levers in the lock made a mark in the blue and I filed the marks away. I kept repeating this process until I had a key that worked in the lock.

If you bought a blank key it takes time but it can be done.

Sailor_Sam

I don't know where you live, but years ago there was an old man worked in a cellar in School Lane, in Liverpool. He could make any sort of key.
Even if he's still alive it's all been redeveloped around there now, his workshop is probably a wine bar, but there must be others, phone your local Chamber of Commerce and asked them for a decent locksmith.

dander

I grew up in a Victorian house which had locks on the internal doors - there weren't keys for all of them, but we had a few and each one seemed to fit a few of the doors - so it seems possible to me that they did used to have a standard range of keys and locks that they sold. Although where you would find a set of them to start testing your locks, i'm not sure...
Sorry, not much help!

Locknut

I have just dont this on an old Victorian house and for the most part the locks are "keyed alike" you will have to remove 1 lock and take it to a locksmith shop they should be able to do if for you. If you have any problems Pm me I'll help if I can.

amcluesent

It'll be pricey though, and most high-streets locksmiths will tell you it'll have to be sent away. They just have the machines to copy Yale/Chubb style keys, not skilled in creating a key to match the mechanism.

richleeds

Many thanks to everyone for your replies, at least we now have some ideas to explore. We do have 1 key that works in 1 lock (tried it in the others) so the idea that they maybe "keyed alike" might help.

Cheers

Rich

vaio

dori2o wrote: »

.......I managed to make a new key from stainless steel, I made a blank key and by covering tthe blank steel in engineers blue and wiggling the blank in the lock the levers in the lock made a mark in the blue and I filed the marks away. I kept repeating this process until I had a key that worked in the lock.

If you bought a blank key it takes time but it can be done.

and if you don't have any blue then you can use a candle flame to cover it in black carbon