Stumbled upon a weird collection of vintage keys, how do I even start researching them?

I grabbed a tin of old keys at a thrift store for two dollars because they looked interesting. Some are skeleton keys, others have fancy designs, and a few have numbers stamped on them. I'm totally lost on how to figure out what they're from or if they're worth anything. Do people collect these, or are they just junk? I tried looking online, but there's so much info it's overwhelming. Where do you even begin with something like this? Anyone have advice on identifying old keys or good places to ask for help?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sean9d ago

For something that specific, general online searches will drown you. Try vintage lock collector forums or antique hardware groups. They can tell you about makers and years from the stamps.

rowan1289d ago

Vintage lock collector forums" sounds like a whole thing. Do people really need to go that deep just to find out what an old lock is?

wade_perez5d ago

1920s locks... forums crack the code.