The Antique Key Machine Museum of America was founded in 2015 by Thomas Resciniti Demont. Tom, a retired locksmith, had a private collection of over 250 key machines and something needed to be done with them. After researching museums throughout the world, it became apparent that there was no museum dedicated to the preservation of key machines.
A building was constructed to house his collection and display the machines so that visitors could enjoy the American key machine heritage. The new building has two floors. The top floor houses the display of key machines by manufacturer. The first floor is the workshop for restoring these machines.
Today the museum displays over 300 key machines and vintage key cutting memorabilia. The workshop has over 200 machines and parts. Parts are sold to maintain the museum. In 2018 Tom incorporated the museum in Pennsylvania as a nonprofit and applied to IRS for 501 C 3 public charity nonprofit and was granted this on March 4, 2019. The museum is now accepting key machine and monetary tax free donations.
Over the years Tom has hosted locksmiths and locksmith associations at the museum to examine and view the wide assortment of vintage key machines. Tom, a 4th generation locksmith, gives guided tours of the museum explaining the patent date and use of each key machine.
Production key machines started in 1885 when Edmund R Darling of Woonsocket, Rhode Island patented the first sellable key machine. Darling sold the rights to the Graham Mfg., Company, a Key blank maker in Derby CT and they produced 4 different models of this machine up to 1925. These models are on display in the museum.
The next time you are in the Pittsburgh area plan to visit the museum. The location is 6174 State Route 88, Finleyville, PA 15332. Telephone: (724) 969-2595. Website: https://antiquekeymachinemuseumofamerica.org.
