Once, locksmiths could be seen everywhere at home, and the sound of files sharpening keys could often be heard.
Later, the lock repair industry changed with the change of time. Some of them were in the street and some were downstairs of the community, using old tools, providing convenience for nearby residents for decades.
Others went to more lively places, renovated the old stores and kept pace with the times, but still won the praise and trust of customers with their exquisite workmanship.
What has changed is the location of the shop, what has been updated is the tools, and what has not changed is the firm original intention of an old locksmith since his apprenticeship.
This key store with an area of about 10m2 is located at the intersection of nancailian lane and Siqian street, Gusu district.
There is no name, no special shop, and their own living room is the usual place to repair locks. The sliding door is simply pasted with red adhesive words – with keys, car repair, electric welding, water and electricity. It’s easy to miss it if you don’t look carefully.
Master Gu, a craftsman, is a typical Suzhou man with a gentle temperament. When I was young, I repaired equipment in a machine factory. After retirement, I was interested in repairing locks and keys.
In master Gu’s repair philosophy, no matter repairing large equipment or a small lock, his kung fu is almost the same, so he changed to repairing locks and keys for 20 years.
When you enter the store, you see a table full of tools, equipped with keys, machines, grinders, and many nameless equipment.
These machines are “old partners” who have followed master Gu for more than 20 years. They are old but very durable.
Hundreds of thousands of keys are stacked here in order. Master Gu puts the keys of the same model in a transparent plastic bag and neatly codes them in a fixed position in the drawer, which is very convenient to pick up.
With the rapid development of the times, the style of lock is also changing from padlock to cross lock. Master Gu’s increasingly exquisite technology is updated together.
“Matching keys is a delicate job. It’s a thousand miles away“
When giving a guest a key, he must first put the key on the machine to grind it into shape, and then polish it back and forth with a manual file. The so-called slow work makes fine work, and the work of matching the key is not sloppy at all.
However, no matter how fine the technology is, it can’t offset the convenience brought by the development of science and technology.
Nowadays, the emergence of electronic intelligent locks is constantly squeezing the living space of traditional craftsmen, and the purely manual lock repair and key is becoming more and more tepid with the passage of time. These craftsmen seem to be in an awkward position.
“You can’t make money with a key for a few dollars”, master Gu was also deeply worried.
“But after so many years in this industry, matching keys has become a part of my life. It will enrich my life and give full play to my waste heat. Even if there are fewer people matching keys, I will continue to do this industry.”
In the new online popular Shuangta market, there is a clean and tidy lock and key store called Shuangta uncle he lock and key.
Master he, the owner of the store, has been repairing the lock for 20 years. He was from northern Jiangsu. Before, the store was opened in the vegetable market. Later, with the rectification of the Shuangta vegetable market, he moved to the street with a large flow of people.
Master He was originally a famous old craftsman nearby. His skillful lock repair skills were passed down from mouth to mouth. His warm attitude towards guests was widely praised, and the charges were very close to the people, so the guests trusted him.
Although the location has changed, everyone is still used to coming to him. Even old customers more than 20 kilometers away drive to pick him up to help repair the lock at home.
After entering the store, first, a wall of chain keys attracted attention. Each chain was hung with different keys in different sizes and shapes, which looked neat and interesting.
It turned out that these keys were already equipped. Master he said that it was convenient to find them. After the guest took them away, he could hang up new keys in order.
Such a key store with a sense of design makes passers-by can’t help but stop and look at the store.
The shop is hung with the iconic street lights of the two towers, and there is an interesting display board next to it. On it is the lovely cartoon character image of master he, which says to unlock and find uncle he, which is very memorable.
Master He’s workbench is equipped with new machines that keep pace with the times. He said that because the new machines are easier to operate than the old machines 20 years ago, they should be updated at any time.
During the peak period, master he had to repair more than a dozen locks a day. He couldn’t bear to let the guests wait for him. He didn’t care about food and went to unlock the locks for the guests. Such professionalism is the reason why we believe and respect him.
Master He is full of pride and love when talking about his past work experience. The lock repair work has brought him a sense of value and satisfaction. He has always sincerely hoped that this craft will not disappear, and some people can adhere to it like him.
The craft of repairing locks is advancing under the threat of the torrent of time. Although it is an old industry, it is full of new vitality. Master He is a fresh example.
Living in industrialized cities, people pay attention to intelligent and high efficiency. Smart locks are used at home. Few people are willing to spend more time waiting for lock repairmen to unlock.
However, it is valuable that there are still a group of lock repair craftsmen who stick to their love and eat with one skill, which has become a precious urban memory.
The change of guard mode constantly injects new vitality into the industry,
Let’s see that tradition can coexist with fashion,
The old-fashioned craft advances with the city in a more positive attitude.
The craftsman’s ingenuity and devotion to things are integrated with time. In the slightly cold reinforced concrete city, the lock of hand temperature is infiltrated, locking deep feelings and long time.
The story of Suzhou lock repair shop will never end.
