A lock on the festival A lock on the festival (September 09, 2005)

Family to show off collection of antiques during Art & Wine weekend

By Jenny Baer

Although visiting a lock and key museum might not top your weekend to-do list, the antique locks, safes and even handcuffs at the Jehning Family Lock Museum are likely to grapple anyone's interest. Housed at 175 Castro St. in the historic Ames building, the family-run museum will open for the first time during the Mountain View Arts and Wine Festival Sept. 10 and 11.

Al and Audrey Jehning's plans for the museum have been alive since 1972, when they purchased both the neighboring lock shop and the previous owner's collection of antique locks and safes. During that time, Al and Audrey have sold the business to their sons, collected numerous locks from around the world and remodeled various aspects of the building. They needed to bring the 1903 building up to electrical code, have museum lighting installed and reinforce the floors to carry the weight of the heavy safes.

No matter what relation the eclectic objects in the museum may have to locks and keys, what's important is that they "all have a history," according to Al Jehning. Exhibits range from a collection of 19th century hotel safes and a fire-proof file cabinet to an antique key-cutter and more than 25,000 antique keys. The museum also houses a collection of hand, thumb and ankle cuffs as well as key chains collected during the Jehnings' travels.

"When we travel, we always look for key rings at antique shops," Audrey explained.

Many of the items have a story behind them which the owners are happy to share. For example, one of the items in their key-hole collection was found on a door floating down the Potomac River, Audrey said.

Al said his favorite items in the museum are the cannonball safes -- named for their spherical shape -- because of their "uniqueness and craftsmanship." One of these was acquired by their son from the Lockheed Burbank airport and features a visible Swiss clock which enables the safe to be opened only at certain times.

A gift shop will raise revenue for the museum through the sale of such objects as handmade antiques and toys. The museum also welcomes donations and volunteers, and accepts loaned displays with "historic, antique, business or local value."

Its museum's presence has already made an impression on the neighborhood, as people walking down Castro Street often peer in at the eclectic assortment and ask Audrey or Al, the proud owners of Northern California's only lock museum, what's inside.

The museum will be open throughout most of the day during the Art & Wine Festival weekend. After that, the Jehnings say, it will be open on Wednesdays from 12 to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with special appointments available for groups. Admission is free.

E-mail Jenny Baer at jbaer@mv-voice.com

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