K E Y O F T H E D A Y

Fifty years and countless visits to communities in dozens of states and several countries have resulted in a collection of keys, locks, door hardware and promotional materials that fill a space in my home and my heart 

Many of us have obsolete keys in our home and office environments. Please - don't throw them away!  If they have sentimental value, consider displaying them in your home. If they don't, consider #KeyOfTheDay

Keys and locks work hard to protect people and property - sometimes for generations. With respect and curiosity, I look for great examples from domestic and foreign makers, to add depth to my collection

Over the years, I've gained an appreciation for the stories that come with keys - stamped markings, the oh-so-rich handmade fobs and paper tags that tell me someone cared a lot about the keys I now possess   

Five sweater boxes of keys, locks and hardware for less than the cost of the gas to pick them up! This landmark acquisition opened the door to a rich and rewarding friendship with a subject matter expert

After 30+ years of selling commercial locking systems, it was time to retire and downsize, so they called me. I'm proud to possess most of a career's worth of locks, sales samples, catalogs, guides, and original packaging 

A phone call from a stranger settling the estate of a long-time collector grew into some wonderful conversations and the opportunity to re-house a significant collection of locks, keys, code books, and duplicating machines

This set of keys came from the son of a late plumber/boiler-tender who served a prosperous college town from the 1950s to the 70s. "My father had keys to the basements of all the best addresses in town" 

This extensive collection of deaccessed military keys and padlocks came from a retired locksmith who read about my hobby in a museum newsletter. The padlocks represent the complex security demands of the Cold War

Passed from one attic to another, through three generations of family in New Jersey and Maine, this cache was a surprise gift from the youngest in the line - a good friend and a fellow fan of architectural salvage