Most locksmiths today focus almost entirely on modern hardware, from electronic keypads to automotive key fobs. At Curleys Key Shop, we work on all of that too, but we’ve also held onto something increasingly rare in the trade: the knowledge and equipment to repair antique skeleton key locks and cut keys for older mechanisms most shops can no longer service.
A Skill Passed Down Through Five Generations
Since Hobart “Curley” Causey opened the original shop in Pomona in 1951, our family has worked on every kind of lock the industry has produced, from early skeleton key mechanisms to today’s smart access systems. Curley’s son Carroll learned the trade at his side, and that hands-on knowledge has been passed down through Debbie, Avery, and now their grandson Chase, who works in the shop today. Avery still personally handles antique and skeleton key lock repairs, a specialty that has largely disappeared from the industry as newer locksmiths focus exclusively on modern hardware.
Why Skeleton Key Locks Need a Specialist
Skeleton key locks operate very differently from modern pin-tumbler locks. Their internal mechanisms are simpler in some ways, but the parts are no longer mass produced, and the techniques required to repair or adjust them aren’t part of standard locksmith training anymore. Common reasons homeowners bring in an antique lock include:
- A skeleton key that’s worn down and no longer turns smoothly
- An old interior door lock that’s stuck or won’t latch
- A lock on an inherited or historic home that needs a replacement key cut
- A decorative antique lock that a homeowner wants kept in working condition rather than replaced
Keys for Antique and Vintage Vehicles Too
Our depth of inventory extends to vehicles as well. We cut keys for antique and vintage automobiles, another area where most shops simply don’t carry the right blanks or equipment. Between our key inventory and our lock repair experience, we like to say if we don’t have it, no one does, and that applies just as much to a decades-old car as it does to a century-old front door.
Why This Still Matters in Pomona
Homes and buildings throughout the Pomona Valley span more than a century of construction, and plenty of older properties still have their original hardware. Replacing an antique lock isn’t always necessary, and in many cases it isn’t what homeowners actually want. Being able to repair what’s already there:
- Preserves the original character of a historic home
- Avoids unnecessary hardware replacement costs
- Keeps decorative or sentimental locks in working condition
- Solves a problem most locksmiths would simply turn away
A Family Business Built on Doing the Job Right
This kind of specialty work reflects what Curleys Key Shop has stood for since 1951: honest assessments, fair pricing, and the inventory and skill to handle jobs other shops can’t. Whether it’s a modern smart lock or a hundred-year-old skeleton key, we treat every job with the same care.
If you have an antique lock that needs attention or a vintage key that needs cutting, call (909) 622-6716 and we’ll take a look.