bolioboy
#1<sorry, couldn't figure out how to edit original post to add pics, and couldn't figure out hot to reply to my own post and add pics. maybe a mod can delete the prior post without the photos. >
Hi all, lots of fascinating discussion i've found here about a subject matter i had never thought about until this morning. Visiting my in-laws on the ranch for the holiday weekend and they dragged out a couple of 1800's antique trunks to give to me to do something with. I asked them if they had any old keys that might fit and so they bring me a box full of old keys, a few padlocks, and a set of handcuffs. They've asked me to do something with these handcuffs too, so now i need to figure out what to do with them.
these cuffs have really all of their nickel plating, not really sure how to quantify percentages... but i can't find any missing or worn areas, just a few spots of pin-point pitting.
while we did discover the keys to the old trunks, we couldn't find the key to this handcuff, upon closer inspection it looks like the key or a key, has been broken off inside one of the locks.
because we don't have a key, we can't tell if those lock release buttons work, but they don't seem stiff or locked up, they do press slightly, i presume if we had a replacement key we'd get one cuff to work just fine.
provenance: can trace the keys back some... my mother-in law has had for about 30 years, before that they belonged to her uncle, who was a deputy in Wamego County, Kansas. No telling if he got them on the job, or collected them somehow... however he would have been just a child of about 7-9 years old when these were made in 1910.
big questions i have are...
1. do we try and repair the broken lock, or leave alone? if try and repair, how do you get an old broke off barrel key out of the lock, or is there someone who can do this?
2. do we try and get ahold of a replacement key.. or just let whomever the new owner is get one themselves?
3. do we sell as-is, or try and get key to determine if things works, and repair broken lock, etc, to help the resell value? i hate to just be all about the money... but my in-laws are nearing 80 and have barns, closets, sheds, and rooms full of antiques they've been trying to find new homes for over the last decade (anyone want a trunk or 3? lol?).
thanks all!
Hi all, lots of fascinating discussion i've found here about a subject matter i had never thought about until this morning. Visiting my in-laws on the ranch for the holiday weekend and they dragged out a couple of 1800's antique trunks to give to me to do something with. I asked them if they had any old keys that might fit and so they bring me a box full of old keys, a few padlocks, and a set of handcuffs. They've asked me to do something with these handcuffs too, so now i need to figure out what to do with them.
these cuffs have really all of their nickel plating, not really sure how to quantify percentages... but i can't find any missing or worn areas, just a few spots of pin-point pitting.
while we did discover the keys to the old trunks, we couldn't find the key to this handcuff, upon closer inspection it looks like the key or a key, has been broken off inside one of the locks.
because we don't have a key, we can't tell if those lock release buttons work, but they don't seem stiff or locked up, they do press slightly, i presume if we had a replacement key we'd get one cuff to work just fine.
provenance: can trace the keys back some... my mother-in law has had for about 30 years, before that they belonged to her uncle, who was a deputy in Wamego County, Kansas. No telling if he got them on the job, or collected them somehow... however he would have been just a child of about 7-9 years old when these were made in 1910.
big questions i have are...
1. do we try and repair the broken lock, or leave alone? if try and repair, how do you get an old broke off barrel key out of the lock, or is there someone who can do this?
2. do we try and get ahold of a replacement key.. or just let whomever the new owner is get one themselves?
3. do we sell as-is, or try and get key to determine if things works, and repair broken lock, etc, to help the resell value? i hate to just be all about the money... but my in-laws are nearing 80 and have barns, closets, sheds, and rooms full of antiques they've been trying to find new homes for over the last decade (anyone want a trunk or 3? lol?).
thanks all!