Antique looking keys found!

[Alex4849]

Advice from someone with some expertise please. I have been enjoying doing some amateur metal detecting and recently dug up some very old looking set of 4 keys.
They are very heavy and range from 6 inches to 7 inches and weigh up to 300g!
If someone has any advice on how I can go about finding out if they are actually old and in turn if they have any value, then I can DM with photos.

 

[Toddy]

Until the housing boom of the 1960's big iron keys were commonplace items. They remained in use for outside coal sheds, workshops and gates for a long time thereafter.

I have a collection they turn up in the most surprising places at times. Hundreds scattered from midden heaps across the fields.

They're kind of tactile, interesting to look at, and some folks use them as display/ collages/montages sort of thing.

Out of context, they have little value, apart from something for someone who collects or who wants to make a display, or castle-working re-enactors, the market isn't that good. They get sold as 'chic' sort of items on the whole.

Sometimes you do come across an interesting set, like a Master Set for something like Police or Fire Brigade use.....but there's a lot more than four of those on a ring.

 

[Pattree]

I see them sold as “collectibles” in local flea markets. Some people even frame them.

My house only had only one iron front door key like yours when it came up for sale. (Back door was bolted)
I effectively blocked other viewers for a few days while I negotiated and completed just by keeping hold of the key! Wish I’d kept it and the big wooden cased lock that went with it but I needed to complete quickly and the insurance folk wanted a “proper” lock.

Just take your key to a local museum. They are certain to have a reference if they don’t have an expert.

Or:
Any use?

 

[Alex4849]

Until the housing boom of the 1960's big iron keys were commonplace items. They remained in use for outside coal sheds, workshops and gates for a long time thereafter.

I have a collection they turn up in the most surprising places at times. Hundreds scattered from midden heaps across the fields.

They're kind of tactile, interesting to look at, and some folks use them as display/ collages/montages sort of thing.

Out of context, they have little value, apart from something for someone who collects or who wants to make a display, or castle-working re-enactors, the market isn't that good. They get sold as 'chic' sort of items on the whole.

Sometimes you do come across an interesting set, like a Master Set for something like Police or Fire Brigade use.....but there's a lot more than four of those on a ring.

Thanks for your reply. I will see if they could be from an interesting set and enquire further

 

[Alex4849]

I see them sold as “collectibles” in local flea markets. Some people even frame them.

My house only had only one iron front door key like yours when it came up for sale. (Back door was bolted)
I effectively blocked other viewers for a few days while I negotiated and completed just by keeping hold of the key! Wish I’d kept it and the big wooden cased lock that went with it but I needed to complete quickly and the insurance folk wanted a “proper” lock.

Just take your key to a local museum. They are certain to have a reference if they don’t have an expert.

Or:
Any use?

Thanks for the advice. I think I will try a local museum as the woods I dug them out from in my area is actually a historical area which dates way back to the 1100s

 

[Alex4849]

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Here are some photos of the keys I dug up. Maybe someone could shed some more light on them in terms of authenticity etc. The main thing that strikes ne is how heavy they are and the number 7 stamped on the largest key. I am no expert but the decorative ones I have seen similar to these don't have this and also the fact on how long they seem to be have been on the ground for is interesting.

 

[Toddy]

From the shape I'd guess late 1890's or so.
If one is marked with a 7 then they're not terribly old....standardised, if I make myself clear ?
Those keys are not for complex locks, just solid ones

As for how long they've been in the ground....mind I mentioned context ? and out of context they don't really tell us an awful lot.

So, how deeply did you have to go to free them ? and what were the layers above and around them like ?

Iron rusts, but corrosion is affected by the background 'chemistry' of the soil the iron is lying in; how moist it is, etc.,

Very pure iron is very long lasting though.

Unless you have a secure context you are unlikely to find any reasonable time frame for deposition.

Have to say that those look like school or workshop keys to me.

 

[HillBill]

Based on them being Iron, and underground, they cant be that old or they would have rusted to nothing. Still, a nice find though.

 

[Tengu]

Still, a fun find.