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Antique Keys

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Jacksonville Antique Keys

Jacksonville, FL was originally founded as Cowford in 1791. It was renamed Jacksonville in 1822. During the Civil War, the town supplied cattle and other goods to the Confederate soldiers. This is where the need for security was introduced.

At the beginning of the Civil War, homes in Jacksonville were outfitted with Victorian lock and key sets. As the Civil War progressed, the sets were moved to secure goods. Some of them were melted down to make ammunition for the Confederacy.

The events of the Civil War and the Great Fire of 1901 effectively destroyed the majority of antique keys and locks in the Jacksonville area. The antique keys in fair to good condition that remain today are usually from the extreme outskirts of town. Some antique keys made it through the fire but were badly damaged.
Some locksmiths in the area have taken on the task of re-minting, restoring and refinishing the damaged antique keys. These skilled artisans usually have many decades of experience. As such, the chance of irreparably damaging the key is slight.

People who purchase antique furniture that survived the fire often find there is no key to manipulate the lock. While replicated keys do not have the artisanship or history of the original keys, they are often an acceptable alternative to owning a non-functioning piece of furniture.

Contracting a local locksmith who specializes in antiques to fashion a key is often a better idea than buying prefabricated replica keys. The keys made by the locksmith will often match the lock design. While this is simply an aesthetic issue, it certainly adds an authentic feel to the set.

You may find antique keys services in the following locations: