Help with antique desk lock needed

[fricken_noob]

Joined up with this forum for a bit of help, so please be nice

I have a problem with a lock on one of the draws in an antique desk in my room. I picked the desk up relatively cheap from an antiques store. The desk has 4 draws, 2 on either side, each with different locks which require different keys. The only problem is that only 3 keys came with the desk (which is probably the reason why it was as cheap as it was because it's a really nice old, wooden desk).



I have no idea of the mechanics of this desk, and I would have no idea what sort of tool I would need to pick it with. Thus I am here. Can anyone please head me in the right direction as to how to get this lock unlocked? What tool do I need and what method would be best. It's a pretty old desk so I wouldnt think the lock would be very sophisticated and should be pretty easy to get once I know where to start.

I find the art of lock picking intriguing, however, I have minimal intentions of learning all the tricks of the trade of lock picking, I merely want to get this one lock open. Of course, if I succeed then I may get hooked and who knows which prison I will end up in So please, any help will be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[hzatorsk]

We appreciate your drawings... but they don't give the detail we are needing to help you as there are several types of locks that look similar.

Take a pic of the keys... (or scan a photocopy of them) and post it.

Also, are there any numbers or brands stamped into the key?

That'll help us identify it and what type of tools and skill are required to pick it.

[fricken_noob]

Sorry about the lack of details, but I dont have anything to take a picture of the keys or the lock. The best I could do was those silly drawings.

I've had a look at the keys and there are no visible numbers on them. They are just a flat key that really dont look much different than the above picture.

The lock, however, does have some words stamped on it. It has "GERMANY" stamped into it and "AHREM'S GOOD LINE" also.

Hope that helps

[fixer]

They are probably a simple lever lock from the look of the keys you gave.

Are the grooves in your existing keys the same depth?

Are the grooves in your existing keys the same distance from the tip of the key?

How do the existing locks secure the drawers?

These are all questions I would ask prior to attempting to open the unknown lock. There may be a method to bypass the lock and then once the drawer is open, you can remove the lock and take it to a locksmith to get a key made, or just replace the lock.

[master in training]

sounds like either a warded lock or a simple lever lock, do the keys look anything like these picks? http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-WP-10.html

If it does then its probably warded and will probably open with one of these. Can you find something similar on google so we have an idea of what you're dealing with.

Good luck.

~ MiT ~

[Houdini Locksmiths]

I've never seen that type of lock on a piece of antique furniture before, they are mostly found on more modern cabinets.