# Cremone lock for my desk

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 24, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538 "2016-05-24T12:08:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538/1 "2016-05-24T12:08:43Z")

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I have a newly-purchased vintage work desk that has, apart from 3 lockable drawers, 2 lockable cabinets, left and right. The desk came with all the old locks included, but only one key and that key doesn’t fit any of the locks (this was all in the auction description at purchase, so I’m not bothered by this). I fixed the drawers this week, but the two cabinets have “Cremone locks”, I think that’s what they are called just by surfing on the net: - a keyhole lock that turns a plate to make one vertical semi-circular rod rise up through a locking aperture, and another vertical semi-circular rod descend down through a second locking aperture.

After examining the locks, I think they need replacing. I tried looking on the net but couldn’t find any. Perhaps I’m searching with the wrong terms. Does anyone know where to get a L/R pair of these locks?

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**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538/2 "2016-05-24T13:40:05Z")

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If all else fails, try a locksmith. The best have all sorts of old keys, locks, and safes on display.

Also try searching [google.com](http://google.com) for words like…

vintage desk lock  
cabinet lock  
desk lock  
filing cabinet lock  
drawer lock

…then click on images. May find what you are looking for.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538/3 "2016-05-24T17:23:18Z")

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Office desks should have a number stamped on the face of the lock. Up at work keys for desks sometimes get list. They just give the locksmith the number and he cuts a new one.

I bought a 40 year old steel desk from my states recycle store. Got a key easily.

Also bought a fire rated file safe. That was locked and no combination. Locksmith came out and tried the factory default combination. Thankfully that worked. He said, Drilling out the lock would have taken a couple hours. Very expensive.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cremone-lock-for-my-desk/755538/4 "2016-05-24T17:28:25Z")

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[![](http://www.gaterslocksmith.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/P1010482.jpg) ](http://www.gaterslocksmith.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/P1010482.jpg)

This link explains key codes.