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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Brittany, France
    Posts
    2

    Default Help: Need to pick a Bramah lock (or get new key) - TANTALUS

    A friend has enlisted my help to get into a recent purchase....an antique tantalus , that's about 105 years old.

    A tantalus is a small wooden cabinet with a lockable top, containing three glass decanters for whiskey etc. The locked top prevents servants from pinching the booze.....they are thus 'tantalised' by the propect of a drink but cannot get to said refreshment.

    The tantalus was purchased recently in Wadebridge, Cornwall for about £400.

    The selling dealer said there was a key, but that a browsing person must have put the key inside and then locked the top. So the key MAY be inside, or may not. Maybe the key was lost a long time ago.

    We think it is a Brahmar lock (but are not sure....how do you tell?), and have employed a locksmith who has tried and failed to pick it.

    Next step is to phone Bramah in London, to get their advice.

    The tantalus is here in France, so not ideal to despatch it to London.

    Does anyone have any tips on:
    - opening the lock
    - determining if it IS a Bramah lock
    - getting a new key

    Please help.....another chap could take the tantalus back to the UK (Lincoln) on Monday 18th July, but not sure if this would be futile.

    So would appreciate help ASAP.

    THANKYOU!

    Simon Harvey

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cyberspace
    Posts
    1,318
    Country: Australia

    Default

    To confirm whether it is a Bramah (or Bramah type) lock is easy enough. Such locks have a round escutcheon which protudes through the wood, rather than a keyhole cut in the wood. In the centre of the round escutcheon should be the keyhole - also round usually around 5mm in Diameter with a small rectangular cut out at the bottom.

    If the above is OK then shine a small torch into the keyhole and you should see a small round pin in the centre with a number of flat steel plates radiating from it like the spokes on a wheel.

    Given that it is a tantalus it is most likely to have a Bramah lock.

    As to getting it open & having a key made you can of couse go to Bramah in london, but there is an easier & far less expensive option.

    Contact Mostly Boxes in Eton - they are in the High St and ask the owner there (gary) to put you in touch with David Evans - he will be able to open it and should the key not be inside - make a new key for you.

    There is one further option - the Bramah mechanaism was popular in France & Belgium, I would have thought that you could find a locksmith familiar with it - I would suggest that anyone who specialises in safe work would be best placed to help as the Bramah mechanism was widely used on safes.

    Best of luck & perhaps you could post your findings.

    Paul

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Brittany, France
    Posts
    2

    Default Thankyou all for advice

    Many thanks for the responses,

    Indeed it IS a Bramah lock....

    My friend who owns the tantalus was a bit despondent when he realised how many possible combinations a Bramah lock has....but then he had a brainwave:

    He managed to push the long thin 'rod' out of the hinge on the right-hand side hinge of the tantalus lid, and thus detach the wooden 'lid' slightley

    Very luckily, inside was the key, just as the antique dealer had suggested, and in the right bit of the tantalus to now be reached. It could be slid out of the gap next to the detached hinge.

    So that was lucky!

    I'll keep your suggestions on record in case he looses the key.

    THANKYOU

  4. #4

    Default

    A couple of years ago i saw a lecture by the current Director of Bramah locks and he suggested that the easiest way to deal with such a situation like this would be to cut through the lock bolt; this apparently being an easy(ish) component to replace/repair.

    From a conservation point of view its good to hear that people have come up with ways of opening them though!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cyberspace
    Posts
    1,318
    Country: Australia

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SpiritoftheAge
    A couple of years ago i saw a lecture by the current Director of Bramah locks and he suggested that the easiest way to deal with such a situation like this would be to cut through the lock bolt; this apparently being an easy(ish) component to replace/repair.

    From a conservation point of view its good to hear that people have come up with ways of opening them though!
    Was that the Bafra one ? I was due to give a talk there, but had to cancel a few months in advance .

    Personally I have never cut through the bolt to open one, I was allways able to pick them.

    Paul

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