How to Collect Keys and Locks

Clean your keys and locks with a non-abrasive cleaner that also has a sealant (see Resources below) in it so you can avoid corrosiveness and rust. Avoid storing anything metal in boxes or shelves where it can touch other object, especially if the key is an antique. Metal rusts faster when it is in contact with other metal.

Find keys everywhere. From the local flea market, to the hardware store, estate sales and antique shops, there is no place you can go that won't have a key or lock for sale. Buy and trade keys and locks online at sites like Heart's Delights Antiques or House of Antique Hardware (see Resources below). Alternatively, join a trading club and share your passion.

Add brand new keys and locks to your collection for diversity. Look for items with unusual or intricate designs or workmanship, or keys and locks that represent innovations. The key or lock you buy today will be an antique in due time.

Enjoy the hunt. Half the fun of collecting is looking for and finding rare keys after an extended search, so never get discouraged. Look fo matched sets. When you find a lock or doorknob with a key inside it, buy them together.