{"product_id":"antique-copper-odell-key-scottish-door-key-for-historic-edinburgh-tenement","title":"Antique Copper Odell Key. Scottish Door Key for historic Edinburgh Tenement","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique Scottish door or latch key and dates to the late 18th century or 19th century.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese keys are quite specific to tenement buildings in Edinburgh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe key would have been held by every householder living in one of the tall tenement buildings leaving off the Royal Mile. This key is known as an Odell Key (or French latch lifters), and it would not have opened your own door to the house - but rather used to lift up a door latch to the main stairway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe spade-like end or the bit of the key was pierced with many intricate shapes, symbols and initials with acted on similarly shaped fixed wards within the lock in a vertical sliding action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese keys were invented about 1792 and were still made at the end of the Victorian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSizes usually range from 45mm to 65mm. This key is about 6 cm in length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs you can see from my photographs - my old copper key is in lovely condition. Nice and clean with no nasty pitting or wear etc - it has been waxed to keep in tip-top condition. It is more unusual to find a copper one!  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInteresting piece of Scottish history from Auld Reekie.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40423584628800,"sku":"Sold for £30 with free postage","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/antique-copper-odell-key-scottish-door-for-historic-edinburgh-tenement-cast-iron-710.webp?v=1789890487","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/antique-copper-odell-key-scottish-door-key-for-historic-edinburgh-tenement","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}