A New Challenge

[Chris B]

[gee252]

call chris b

[pinky]

nice problem , for all to chew over , also a problem encountered when dealing with old church buildings.

[Floater]

I would have a go at impressioning a key for it, smoking a blank and going to work with a key saw & warding files.
I may have to go back to the workshop to make up a blank long enough for the 4 inch door though!

[oldlock]

Firstly you are in a whole heap of trouble, lockmakers over a 100 years ago had no sense of humour or fair play & if your lucky it will only have really nasty warding - it could be far worse ....

Ok - what you do is ----------

Ah just saw your footnote Chris

Over to someone else then .

Paul

[Chris B]

[79commando]

I would slip into my Santa Claus outfit which I keep in the cupboard to the left of my Batman outfit (Weekends only) and slip down the chimney.

[master in training]

a big ladder, into the bell tower and in

or a really big tunnel...

ok, i admit, i have adsolutely no idea!

[Rockford]

Depending on how intricate the wards are, try 2 wires to bypass the wards (obviously these would need adapting). Access to the lock would then enable a key to be fashioned, or other temporary adaption of the lock to enable locking.

Look at the door hinges, and see if they can be removed to allow the door to be removed (with help of course). Locking as above.

Try other doors in the property to see if any of the keys fit - and have a good jiggle.

Ask if he'd like a catflap in the door

Rockford.....

[toomush2drink]

I personally would take an impression then fashion a turner from piano wire depending upon the type of wards in the lock. If its only side wards then make a skeleton key instead.

[quicklocks]

[capt.dunc]

take a quick impression and have a feel about inside for partial or pin wards which may not show up on the impression. i have a couple of probes for doing this job one is like a buttonhook with a smallish tip and the other is the reverse, ie tip turned forward. this gives a point for feeling radially for curved warding within and a flat for feeling for small pin wards, with both you can feel on the front and back of any sections dividing the lock. stick a couple of post-it notes on the door next to the lock and record wards as you find them, and ask if the lock takes a key from the other side. you should have a fairly good mental picture of the inside, so bend two wires to do the job. if you're still hitting problems try smoking the wires and carefully inserting in case your just clipping a ward, rebend if needed. you may have to be on hand to lock up after the event unless you can source a blank and cut a key durring, or you may be able to get a precut key that will do the job. don't forget to look at the hinges since they may be on the outside with unsecured pins, but remember 4 inches of nail studded oak is heavy and it's not convenient for the lord of the manor/ vicar, but in an emergancy it's a thought

[Chris B]

[oldlock]

Is that anyone chris, or does your original footnote apply

To give a clue here there are at least three types ....

Paul

[Rick-the-Pick]

That's a good test Chris,
I think i'd look at movement, 100 year old door with be showing some wear! Oak is quite rugged and it would also depend if the frame was oak of just a brick opening!
Other than that, it's a case of mobile fishing seat and a selection of wire's to build up the mental picture! Wouldn't like to time the opening.
As to re-lock, if i couldn't make a key there and then due to complicated warding, i'd alter the mechanism temporary so it could be locked until i aquired/made a more suitable blank!

Other than that i'd ring one of you old timer's!