A selection of work possible

Many door locks have been in constant use for over 200 years, but there comes a time when excessive wear requires attention.

Fortunately, most locks can be detached and inspected to assess any problems. And with riveting, welding & silver and soft soldering most repairs can be effected with parts machined or fabricated as necessary.

1. Mending a Church Key

When received, the front half of the key was bent through being dropped - when straightened the previous solder repair was unstable.

A brace was welded to the two halves of the bit and a replacement section inserted and soldered in position.

Excess metal was filed off to leave new metal in place of the weakened solder joint.

When the brace was removed the completed repair was given a patinated finish to match the rest of the key.

2. Repair and Keys for 16.c. Lock

The Lock was in remarkably good condition but the pin the key turns about and the stud that pivots the tumbler were loose.

The key pin was silver soldered to a washer then screwed into position.

The tumbler stud was secured by a forked brace with flattened head screwed into place.

Both repairs were invisible when the back cover plates were replaced with the original nails.

2 keys were made from solid shanks that were drilled. Curved bits were discreetly silver soldered into milled grooves.

3. New bolt for Georgian Hall Lock

Rear

Front

The locking latch bolt was missing so a new bolt was fabricated to allow the correct operating action by a key.