Anyone recommend a good locksmith for old locks?

[JoceAndChris]

I'm quite happy to post it so it doesn't need to be local.

I got the lock back yesterday, it's had a few months' holiday in a Scunthorpe clock shop, but the person who was trying to repair it has gone off permanently sick. :shock:

It's c 1800, French apparently, and the problem with it is they couldn't get a key large enough to operate it. They took a too-small key and welded on a section but it didn't work out. I'd have been very disappointed with that as a solution anyway, as this will be the main key I'll carry round in my handbag it should be a thing of beauty with Regency styling.

The lock and the door belong together so I'm reluctant to replace it.

 

[LadyArowana]

There is an old fashioned locksmiths at South End Green I will have a word with them next time I am down there. With all the old properties around here it's possible that they have had to deal with such things before.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks so much!

Think it might need to be a specialist company though, I've tried ordinary locksmiths and they can't.

 

[LadyArowana]

I had a Google and there are a few places that look like they might do something like that, but it's always a bit worrying without a personal recommendation. I shall ask my guy in Bath as well, he may also have had to bring in a specialist for something similar before. I am off there again tomorrow and will be speaking to him anyway.

 

[Jill]

a Scunthorpe clock shop,

Where was that Joce?, I can't think of anywhere local to me that fits that description.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Hmm, I can't find it on the web either. I dropped the lock off in Hemswell (Building 1), where a PP and JA Bowden sell clocks, arms, and militaria. The nice gentleman I spoke to said he had an expert at 251 Ashby High St, Scunthorpe who was used to fixing complex mechanisms in guns and suchlike.

 

[Jill]

The shop is called Guns and Tackle, and according to Paul the guy is very poorly, our plumber who is here to fit the ensuite was only talking about him yesterday. Shame you didn't have any success with your lock, is it just a large key you need, or does the lock also need attention?

 

[JoceAndChris]

I hope he gets better, poor chap.

Yes, the lock needs serious work on the inside. The bit where you put the key in has worn away through years of use.

I'll give one of these two places a try I think.

http://restorationblacksmith.co.uk/restoration/

http://www.mblai.co.uk/ri_info.htm

Good luck with the ensuite Jill!

 

[chuckey]

If it is a really old lock (pre-Victorian) the parts would have been hand made, so a Locksmith would have no "spares" available. Two problems?, one the "escutcheon" around the keyhole in the lock needs fixing. This will then decide the diameter of the key at this point and needs to sensiblely centralise the key so it rotates correctly. If the metal is of double thickness, the outer part will have to be removed, and a new part made and refixed. It may be required to "unrivet" the front and back plates to gain access for riveting the new part on. If the metal is only of single thickness, firstly the metal would need flattening out around the hole, then I would epoxy a new "escutcheon" on its face. The original metal would have been wrought iron which really does not weld easily if at all, because of its free carbon content or if you are keen, rivet the new bit on. Problem two, the key, I missed the point, does the new "small" key operate the lock OK. If it does, then wander around antique shops and shows until you find a key that you like (bear in mind that you will be carrying this around with you from henceforth!). Present the various bits to a jobbing mechanical engineer, who will join them . Perhaps some one like:- "Neil Griffin", tel/fax 01727 752 865. No relative, just seen his advert.
Frank

 

[piper]

There is a locksmith's workshop at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum - or there was the last time I was there several years ago(Feltwell? - you are the closest, I think). The workshop and all its tools were moved there from it's original site, and I'm pretty certain they actually hand-made and repaired locks there in the authentic Victorian manner. It's a long way from Suffolk, but may be worth a try.

 

[Feltwell]

There is a locksmith's workshop at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum - or there was the last time I was there several years ago(Feltwell? - you are the closest, I think). The workshop and all its tools were moved there from it's original site, and I'm pretty certain they actually hand-made and repaired locks there in the authentic Victorian manner. It's a long way from Suffolk, but may be worth a try.

Yes, I'm about 5 miles away. I don't recall seeing one - but then whenever I go there I'm with the kids, so the Victorian sweetshop, animals and the steam winding engine for the mine always top the bill ! I'll look next time I'm there. I tried to get the museum to cast something for me in their foundry without success a while ago, so I'm not sure if they'll do "outside" work.

Willenhall in the Black Country used to have a Lock Museum, as that was the town's traditional industry - cutbacks have put pay to that though. The Black Country Living Museum took over their collections, it may be worth a call to the curators to see if they know of anyone in the area who still works on old locks.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks for these helpful additions, I'd already sent the lock off to one of the companies I linked to earlier though. It sounded promising on the phone, but we'll see.