Can't get into old steamer trunk...

[CDT1969]

Hi all,

I've been given an old family steamer trunk. It is locked and the key is missing. I am hoping someone here has advise on picking the lock or where I can purchase a replacement key.

Thanks,

Curtis

[Squelchtone]

[EDIT: Moving this to This Old Lock]

[billdeserthills]

I have bunches of old trunk keys in my shop, but I have no idea where you & your trunk are?

[Squelchtone]

I have bunches of old trunk keys in my shop, but I have no idea where you & your trunk are?

OP is on East Coast

[bitbuster]

I have bunches of old trunk keys in my shop, but I have no idea where you & your trunk are?

....the reason a member's general area (not residence/business GPS) should be required. KP doesn't require it, either. It would alleviate the "what part of the world are you located".

[CDT1969]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I'm in New Hampshire.

Cheers,

Curtis

I have bunches of old trunk keys in my shop, but I have no idea where you & your trunk are?

[Squelchtone]

That's much older than most of the replacement locks and keys I have seen on the 2 or 3 sites that sell steamer keys.

If you have never picked a lock before, I wouldn't start now on such an antique lock. I suspect it is a 5 pin tumbler mechanism made by Yale but not fully sure.

Your best bet is to visit a real local locksmith shop (don't just call the 1st number in google results, some scammers run 1-800 numbers in multiple cities and will charge you $300 to open a lock so be aware) instead bring the trunk into your friendly local locksmith and leave it there for a day or two so they can fashion you a key. They'll charge you anywhere from $20 to $100 dollars depending on amount of work needed to pick it open or impression a key. When you walk in use the term "can you impression a working key for this lock for me please" this let's them know you know what you're talking about so they don't try to scam you. Hopefully they have a blank that will fit into that keyway or worst case they may have to take an existing key and modify it to fit in there. This is the part that may take a day or so, and add to the labor per hour.

Hope this helps, let us know how it ends up,
Squelchtone

[MartinHewitt]

Perhaps a lever lock like the S&G deposit locks? The inner part (perhaps a curtain) is turned quite a bit and what is visible doesn't look like a pin to me.

[Squelchtone]

Perhaps a lever lock like the S&G deposit locks? The inner part (perhaps a curtain) is turned quite a bit and what is visible doesn't look like a pin to me.

I think you're right, I didnt notice the turned bit in the 2nd photo.

[CDT1969]

Thank you for the guidance. I will look for a local locksmith.

Cheers,

Curtis