Open 24/7 · Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County

(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Key Duplication in Claremont · 24/7 mobile

Key Duplication in Claremont, California

Crenshaw Lock Company offers 24/7 mobile key duplication in Claremont, California. We come to your home, office or shop and cut house, office, mailbox and restricted keys on location, with no storefront trip needed. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk through what you need copied.

  • Mobile to your Claremont location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Key cutting machine duplicating a brass key
Open now(323) 997-8867

Most people think of key copying as a quick errand: walk into a hardware store, hand over a key, walk out with a copy. In Claremont the errand is often less simple. Many homes near the Village were built in the early twentieth century, and their original hardware was made long before today's standard key blanks. Add the institutional buildings around The Claremont Colleges, and you get a city where a key can be old, worn, restricted or part of a larger system.

Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile, so we bring the cutting equipment to you. There is no shop to visit. Whether you are in a Craftsman bungalow off Yale Ave, a hillside home in North Claremont, or an office near Foothill Blvd, we can duplicate the key where you stand and test it in the lock it is meant for. David Shar has led the company since 1987, and that long experience shows when a key is worn, odd or unfamiliar.

This page explains how on-site duplication works, what affects the cost, and what to know about Claremont's older hardware and restricted systems. We do not quote prices here because the right answer depends on the key itself. A quick call to (323) 997-8867 usually tells us what we need to know.

How it works in Claremont

  1. 1

    Tell us about the key

    Call (323) 997-8867 and describe the key: house, office, mailbox, padlock or something stamped with a restriction notice. Tell us where you are in Claremont and what lock it fits. We are available around the clock, so this works for planned copies and for urgent ones.

  2. 2

    We identify the key and keyway

    On arrival we look at the blank type, the keyway and the condition of your original. Older Craftsman-era keys, for example, can differ from modern pin-tumbler keys, and a heavily worn original can produce a poor copy unless it is handled carefully.

  3. 3

    Check restrictions and authorization

    Restricted keys, such as many campus, property-management and master-keyed office keys, are controlled on purpose. We will ask about authorization where it applies and may not be able to copy a key whose system owner has not approved it. That protects you and the building.

  4. 4

    Cut the copy on location

    We cut the new key from the correct blank using mobile equipment, then clean off burrs so it enters and turns smoothly. Cutting at your door means we can adjust right away instead of sending you back and forth.

  5. 5

    Test in the actual lock

    A copy that looks right can still bind or fail to turn. We try the new key in the lock several times, along with the original, and adjust if the action is stiff. If the lock itself is the cause, we will tell you honestly.

  6. 6

    Advice on spares and next steps

    If your original is worn thin, we may recommend making the copy and retiring the old key. If you have lost track of who holds keys, we can talk through rekeying as a separate option.

Need key duplication in Claremont?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • The type of key: a standard house key differs from a high-security, restricted or specialty key that needs a particular blank.
  • How many copies you need and whether they are for one lock or several.
  • The condition of the original key, since a worn or bent original can take more care to reproduce accurately.
  • Whether the key is restricted or part of a master-key system, which can affect what we are permitted to cut and what verification is needed.
  • The time of day you call, as after-hours and overnight service can differ from a daytime appointment.
  • Your location in Claremont and how far we travel, including hillside areas that take longer to reach.

Why Claremont chooses us

  • Fully mobile: we cut keys at your door, so you do not need to find a shop or leave the property unattended.
  • In business since 1987, which gives David Shar and the team a deep background with older mortise and rim hardware as well as modern locks.
  • Available 24/7, useful when a copy is needed after a lockout, late move-in or an unexpected change in who needs access.
  • We test every copy in the real lock rather than handing over a key that only looks right.
  • We are upfront about restricted keys and will say so if we cannot copy one without proper authorization.
  • If a copy will not solve the underlying problem, such as a worn lock or lost key holders, we say so instead of selling you a duplicate you do not need.

Key Duplication across Claremont

Claremont is a city where the age of the building often decides how a key job goes. In the Claremont Village area, ZIP code 91711, many 1900s to 1920s Craftsman bungalows still carry their original mortise locks, and owners tend to restore them rather than replace them. Copying keys for that kind of hardware is a matter of care: matching the blank, checking wear in the lock and making sure a new key does not strain a hundred-year-old mechanism. Where a lock needs rebuilding or rekeying to work well, we can talk through that too.

The Claremont Colleges bring a different kind of key work. Pomona, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer and the graduate institutions use institutional access-control and master-key systems across dorms, labs and academic buildings. Those keys are usually restricted, and copies generally need approval from the people who manage the system. We are glad to help where that authorization exists, and we will be plain when it does not.

Further out, North Claremont and the hillside Claraboya area have newer homes with more modern hardware, often a short drive from Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. Along Foothill Blvd, Indian Hill Blvd, Base Line Rd and Towne Ave, we also help small businesses, including Village shops near Yale Ave, that need extra keys for staff or a replacement after a lockout. Wherever you are in Claremont, we come to you.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Claremont locksmith services

See all of our Claremont services, or our citywide key duplication page.

Key Duplication in Claremont — FAQs

Can you copy a key at my Claremont home instead of me going to a shop?
Yes. We are fully mobile and have no storefront, so we bring the equipment to your door. Call (323) 997-8867, tell us about the key and where you are, and we will arrange to cut and test the copy on location.
Do you offer key duplication at night or on weekends?
We are available 24/7. If you need a copy after hours, call (323) 997-8867. Pricing can vary by time of day, and we will explain what applies when you call.
Can you copy the old keys on my Craftsman bungalow near Claremont Village?
Often, yes. Many homes there have original mortise locks with older style keys. We check the blank and keyway first, and if the original is badly worn we will discuss the best way to make a reliable copy.
Can you copy a key marked 'Do Not Duplicate'?
Not automatically. Such markings, and restricted keyways, signal controlled access. We may be able to help if you can show authorization from the owner or system administrator, and otherwise we will explain why we cannot.
Can you duplicate keys for a building at The Claremont Colleges?
Campus keys are typically part of master-key or access-control systems and are restricted. We can work with authorized staff who have approval to copy them. Please call (323) 997-8867 to discuss your situation before we come out.
Can you make a mailbox key copy?
Yes, in many cases. Mailbox keys vary by lock type and by who manages the boxes. If the box belongs to a property manager or the postal service, you may need their approval, and we will let you know what is possible.
What affects the cost of a copy?
Mainly the type of key, the number of copies, the condition of the original, whether it is restricted, the time of day and your location. We do not list prices here, but we can talk through the factors when you call.
What if my original key is too worn to copy well?
Worn keys can produce copies that stick or fail. We will test the result in your lock and be honest if the better fix is a new key made another way or rekeying the lock. Call (323) 997-8867 to describe the problem.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7