Older locks that use old-fashioned keys can be aesthetically pleasing, granting a particular ambiance to whatever room they are being used in. Perhaps you want to find a way to use a cherished family memento, or grant a particular old-world aesthetic to a certain room. The determining factor that should help you decide if these locks should be used, of course, is if they work. If older locks are shoddy or non working, it’s possible to take a number of steps to bring them to working order.

Call a locksmith for an estimate

Contact a locksmith over the phone or by going to their physical location and describe the lock to them. Make sure to be accurate in describing all details pertaining to it’s brand type or physical appearance. It can help accurately identify the exact make of a lock if you take a photograph and show or send it to a locksmith so that they can determine if it’s fixable or not.

Next steps.. Replacing Lost Keys

It’s likely, especially if you’re using an antique lock, that you don’t have the original key that it worked with. No need to worry – a professional locksmith should be able to create a new set of keys for you. Oftentimes a broken key will be the reason an older lock is no longer working – a broken piece of it is jamming the inside of the lock mechanism. An experienced trustworthy locksmith should also be able to remove any broken key fragments to restore the lock to working order.

Is it worth it?

The answer to this question should be able to be determined by you – based on the price of the repair service versus the purchase of new locks. However, it should be noted that it’s pretty often that the only “repair” an older lock needs is a simple cleaning and oiling of the inner lock mechanism, not an extensive repair using other sourced antique parts. If you decide that you don’t want to stop using the older locks in your home. it’s absolutely worth it to contact a locksmith and check to see your options. It should also be noted that some older locks are highly collectible and may be worth money, so it may behoove you to check up on the value of an antique lock with a collector or antique store clerk.