ChicagoLocksmith t/make key f/Historically Significant Lock

gmanphotog

I recently purchased a lock, from the H. H Richardson designed Old Allegheny County Jail that reputedly came from the cell Ed Biddle escaped from with the aid of the warden’s wife Mrs Soffel, in 1902 (This story of course was made into the movie, “Mrs Soffel”, with Mel Gibson and Diane Keaton in 1984). Ordinarily I would be skeptical of such claims, except the seller is one of the foremost collectors and experts on the Biddle Brother/Mrs Soffel story, as well as on the history of the Allegheny County Jail. He held a position that would have put him in the position to acquire this lock and know it’s provenance and was a technical advisor for the movie.

The problem came in the shipping. The courier- who shall remain nameless, as I am considering legal action- offers packing services, and did a very poor job. The lock was allowed to rattle around inside the box, which luckily did not damage the lock itself, but did cause the box to develop a hole- large enough for the envelop with the key to fall out. I talked to Oldlocks about this, and he suggested I get estimates on the cost of a replacement key, as the basis of an insurance claim against the courier.

So does anyone know of locksmiths in the Chicago area, who could make a replacement key for such a lock?

For the record this lock weighs over 50 pounds and measure 11″w x 7″ h x 18″ d. A similiar lock from the Allegheny County Jail can be seen at:

http://flickr.com/photos/10077757@N00/2260765540/

As you can see this lock was designed be built into the wall.

This photographer has a full album of the Allgheny Jail before it was converted into a family courthouse in 2001 at:

http://flickr.com/photos/10077757@N00/s … 894433818/

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

One locksmith company that would have the expertise and take the care your lock deserves is Elmer & Son Locksmith in Steger, IL.

Interesting that your lock was made in Boston and the time period. From my own experience it is very possible that the lock has hand made lever tumblers. I sold a lock from another Boston company last year that appeared to be a food door for a cell and it had hand made lever tumblers. You can see some photo’s of it at the link, it is the second item on the page. http://www.1st-net-lock-museum.com/jl1.htm
BBE.

gmanphotog

I just want to publicly thank BBE for all of the advise he’s given me. He’s given me lots of new insights about my situation. I also want to thank Oldlocks, who has also been very helpful.

Greg

Billy B Edwards Jr. CML

You are certainly welcome. I think you will find that most lock people are typically as helpful as they can be.
BBE.

Paul Prescott

Greg, Did you have any success with getting the new key made ?

gmanphotog

I contacted Elmer and Sons about having a replacement key made for my Allegheny Jail lock as BBE suggested, but the news from them wasn’t encouraging. From the pictures I emailed them (the same ones I posted here), they estimated that having a new key made from scratch would cost $300-400. This figure would definitely be a non starter with the courier (not that they appear willing to settle for any amount of damages- they denied our claim. We’re currently appealing). Perhaps I was a bit too glib about the history of the lock with Elmer and Sons- I think the figure might be a bit inflated.

But I did talk to Harvey from Elmer and Sons over the phone, and he said the figure of course would be less if a blank key or similiar key could be acquired. He even said it’s possible the lock levers could be ground to match a similiar key. My preference, however would be to not modify the lock itself in any way. I would prefer to grind the key to match the lock.

The good news is the seller has talked to some of his former coworkers at the jail, and believes he have come up with a key that is not only similiar to the lost key- but may actually open the lock. There are just a catch- the key is broken in two. According to the seller this was a regular occurance at the jail, and they were constantly mending them back together by joining them with another piece of metal through the key’s hollow center. Below is a picture of the original key (the small picture), and two pictures of the broken key.

As you can see the key is in pretty good shape except for being broken in half. As you can also see the keys are quite similiar- possibly even a match. Maybe it’s just the distortion in the the photograph, however it appears to me there is a larger “bite” in the original key than in the broken key- so I think they might be slightly different. But they seem close enough where with some modification of the key or (grunt!) the lock levers, this key can be made to work.

My question is where would you recommend I get the key mended and is there another locksmith in the Chicago area (or close to Chicago) that you would recommend to match this key to the lock? My faith in Elmer and Sons is a bit shaken by their high initial estimate.

Also how simple (or complex) do you think matching this key to the lock will be from the pictures?

Paul Prescott

If you can find a blank key then it really should not be hard to either copy the broken key, or cut a new key directly to the lock.

The big problem however is going to be finding a blank, and that is going to be why the quote is high - consider if the blank has to be made first, involving lathe work, milling, welding etc before it can even be cut it is going to take time & probably lots of it. When this is taken into account, I for one don’t consider the quote high, I’ve done lots of such work in the past and know just how time consuming it is.

I agree with you 100 % re altering the lock, under no circumstances should that be done, nor is it necessary unless the lock is being butchered to suit a totally unsuitable key.

It might be well worth doing some work to see if you can locate suitable blanks, perhaps if you can obtain all the dimensions of the blank you would need, ie post diameter, length, bit size & thickness etc and post them here ? I will then draw the attention of a possible source for a blank to this thread.

gmanphotog

What about mending this replacement key the seller acquired? What’s your advice on getting it repaired? There’s an outside chance that this key might actually turn inside the lock. But assuming it’s close but no cigar (the keys from the pics look awfully similiar, but slightly different), do you think this key can be altered to turn in this lock?

I certainly have some reservations of altering this key since it was an original working key at the jail, but I’ve got fewer qualms about modifying the key than modifying the lock.

Paul Prescott

I would have no qualms about repairing the broken key, as a the co-worker from the facility said thats how they used to repair them - So any repair would be in keeping with the actual practice at the prison.

As to the repair technically it’s simple enough to do, just source some thin steel tube, the bore of which suits the external diameter of the key & sleeve it - I would advise silver brazing it. As to the lever cuts you will probably find it will work straight off, if not it could certainly be altered without great difficulty.