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Restoration and repair of antique vintage locks & keys is a very specialist area of locksmithing, if you need an old lock or key restoring to its original state a locksmith who is an expert with vintage/antique locks will be able to help.
Locksmiths don’t only repair new locks, they also work with old vintage & heritage locks & keys, especially those who are master locksmiths approved by the MLA.
We have over 280 locksmiths in the UK that specialise in antique & heritage lock or key repair / restoration or antique key cutting.
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Most antique locks will have been handmade, so you will be unable to buy parts, or easily find donor locks so the locksmith will more often than not need to make their own parts.
Common vintage locks that can be restored include:
Some very valuable locks may need some specialised attention.
Find an Antique Lock & Key Expert
If your antique lock is broken, door parts like springs that need replacing are relatively simple jobs for expert locksmiths, but if parts are broken or missing then making parts using machinery like a lathe and hand tools will be necessary.
Common heritage lock repair & restoration problems that be fixed are:
Do you need an antique key cutting or old key repairing and restoring? Antique keys are a specialist area of key cutting, a locksmith specialising in cutting & repairing old antique keys can help repair, cut and reproduce old keys such as:
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If you have an old safe, keys and locks can also be made for vintage safes.
Can’t open the safe? A locksmith will be able to open the safe as well and make a new safe key or change the lock for your safe.
Find an Antique Lock or Key Expert
Time is a very difficult thing to judge on restoring or repairing a vintage lock, something that’s usually handmade.
These types of jobs are very labour intensive, not only working on them, but making new parts by hand that are just not available to buy “off the shelf”.
Each job is unique, it could take a day or even weeks. We recommend contacting your nearest MLA approved locksmith who can give you a quote.
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:
Please see our locksmith price guide to details of costs and also a pricelist checklist.
Most locksmiths can also cut antique keys to fit the old lock you are having restored or repaired.
A skilled locksmith will be able to make a key by hand, some can even make a key just from a picture.
Yes an MLA approved locksmith that specialises in restoring antique locks and keys can help restore a heritage lock or key that is corroded or rusted. An MLA Master locksmith will firstly determine the severity of rusting/corrosion to the lock or key, then use various technique to restore your vintage lock or key.
The methods our Master locksmiths use to restore a corroded/rusted antique lock or key will range from brazing, silver soldering to welding (if there is sufficient metal to weld to).
By hiring an MLA approved locksmith specialising in antique & heritage lock or key restoration ensures the highest standard of craftsmanship and expertise. Each of our locksmith companies are fully qualified and approved by the UK’s largest locksmith association, with many being experts in hand cutting keys and repairing locks.
MLA locksmiths have a wide knowledge of restoring and repairing antique locks & keys through historical locksmith information learnt in our Keyways member magazine and our MLA heritage rooms, where we curate a comprehensive collection of history and expertise.
Hiring an MLA approved company for antique lock & key restoration, you can trust a high quality of workmanship, fine attention to detail to help preserve or repair your valuable antique lock and keys.
We have vetted over 280 Locksmiths across the UK specialising in antique & heritage lock & key repair.
Find Your Nearest Antique Lock or Key Specialist
Below are examples of antique heritage locks & keys some of our approved locksmiths have restored and repaired.
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