A Strongbox company - serving Buffalo, NY

Before & After Gallery - Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of New York

Locksmith Before & After in New York, NY

We’ve been opening, fixing, and replacing locks across New York for over 42 years. A before-and-after page for locksmith work is a little different than for a kitchen remodel - the changes are often invisible until you need them. But the difference between a door that keeps someone out and one that doesn’t? That’s everything. Here’s what we’ve actually done on real calls around the city.

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Recent Transformations

Failed Mortise Lock on Pre-War Brownstone Entry, Park Slope

Before: Corroded mortise lock in Park Slope brownstone with worn keyway and failed deadbolt — Before: Original 1920s mortise lock with seized deadbolt and keyway worn to a slip-fit

After: Rebuilt mortise lock with Baldwin hardware, polished brass escutcheon, and smooth key operation — After: Rebuilt mortise box with Baldwin solid-brass hardware, hand-fitted to original door prep

The owner on Berkeley Place couldn’t get her key to catch the bolt anymore. The mortise lock was original to the 1923 building, and three previous locksmiths had suggested replacing the entire door. We disassembled the mechanism, fabricated a new cam to match the worn keyway, and installed Baldwin hardware that fit the existing prep without drilling new holes. She kept her door. We kept the price under $400. Done right - and backed in writing.

Commercial Master Key System Overhaul, Midtown Law Office

Before: Disorganized key control with 34 unlabeled keys and handwritten access log at Midtown law office — Before: 34 unlabeled keys, no master hierarchy, and a handwritten log nobody updated

After: Schlage Primus restricted keyway system with color-coded levels and printed access control chart — After: Schlage Primus system with three levels of access, restricted keyway, and printed control chart

A firm on West 57th had fired a partner six months prior and still wasn’t sure who had keys to the file room. We rekeyed every cylinder in the suite, installed a Schlage Primus master key system with restricted key blanks that can’t be duplicated without our authorization, and color-coded the levels: blue for staff, red for partners, gold for the managing partner only. The office manager told us she slept better that night. A square deal: the price we quoted is the price you pay.

Automotive Key Extraction and Rebuild, Queens Boulevard Parking Garage

Before: Broken Honda key with fragment stuck in ignition cylinder at Queens Boulevard parking garage — Before: Key snapped off flush in a 2014 Honda Accord ignition, 11 PM on a Saturday

After: New laser-cut Honda key with rebuilt ignition cylinder, tested and working smoothly — After: Extracted fragment, rebuilt the ignition wafers, and cut a new laser-track key on-site

The call came in at 10:47 PM from a garage near Queens Boulevard. The driver had twisted her key until it sheared inside the ignition. Our technician was there by 11:30, extracted the fragment without damaging the cylinder, rebuilt the wafer pack that had been binding for months, and cut a new laser-track key from code. She was home in Forest Hills before 1 AM. Calls answered by a live person, 24/7 - including nights, weekends, and holidays. We will be there when we say.

Upgraded Entry Set for Doorman Building, Upper East Side

Before: Mismatched Kwikset knob and deadbolt with visible wear and inconsistent finishes on Upper East Side apartment door — Before: Mismatched Kwikset hardware, worn finish, and a deadbolt that didn’t fully extend into the strike

After: Matched Mul-T-Lock Hercular deadbolt and entry set with consistent finish and full 1-inch bolt throw — After: Mul-T-Lock Hercular deadbolt with 1-inch hardened bolt throw and matched entry set

The client on East 72nd wanted something that looked like it belonged in her building but actually worked. The existing deadbolt threw only half an inch into a softwood jamb. We installed a Mul-T-Lock Hercular with a full 1-inch hardened bolt, reinforced the strike with a steel wrap, and matched the finish to her existing brass hardware. The doorman noticed. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.

Emergency Rekey After Domestic Move-Out, Washington Heights

Before: Standard Schlage deadbolt with unknown key copies in circulation after roommate departure in Washington Heights — Before: Unknown number of key copies after a roommate moved out abruptly

After: Rekeyed Schlage cylinder with new pin stack and two controlled keys on Strongbox key tag — After: Rekeyed cylinder, new pin stack, and exactly two keys accounted for

A nurse at Columbia University Medical Center called us at 6 AM after her roommate left overnight with a set of keys and no forwarding address. We rekeyed both her Schlage deadbolt and entry knob, changed the pin stacks to a new combination, and cut exactly two keys. She made her 7 AM shift knowing nobody else could walk in. Background-checked, uniformed technicians who show ID at the door on every visit. The person who opens your locks should be the most verifiable person you have ever hired.

Safe Relocation and Bolt-Down, Financial District Loft

Before: Unanchored floor safe on plywood subfloor in Financial District loft with no theft resistance — Before: 400-pound safe sitting on plywood, unanchored, in a ground-floor commercial space

After: Safe anchored through steel plate into concrete subfloor with concealed fastener heads and level installation — After: Anchored through steel plate into concrete with concealed fasteners and proper shimming

A small investment advisor on John Street bought a used safe at auction and had it delivered. It sat there for three weeks while he figured out how to secure it. We surveyed the subfloor, found concrete beneath the plywood, fabricated a steel plate to distribute the load, and anchored it with tamper-resistant bolts. The safe won’t walk out. We stand behind it - no paperwork, no arguing.

Want Results Like These?

Every job here reflects real work we’ve done in New York neighborhoods. Whether you’re locked out at midnight, rekeying after a change in tenants, or upgrading to hardware that actually protects what’s behind your door, we’ll quote you a flat price on the phone before any work begins. No bait, no switch. Named for the iron box where your grandfather kept the deed. Call (833) 317-5852 - a live person answers, 24/7. Estimates are free. The 90-Day Done Right Promise applies to everything we touch.

Written by Vincent Calabrese, Owner at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. of New York, serving New York since 2013.

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