A customer in Shepperton got in touch because they wanted the front door locks changed.
That sounds simple enough until one of the locks turns out to be a like-for-like mortice deadlock that has been discontinued for a long time. Luckily, I remembered having something very similar in size somewhere in the van. I had seen it a few years earlier, buried beneath several layers of other locks and bits, and somehow it was still there when I needed it.
The replacement went in with only minimal adjustment. There was already a line running up from the deadlock area before I touched the door, so that was not part of this installation.
This is one of those jobs that justifies carrying an unreasonable amount of stock around. Some locks and parts can sit in the van for a year or two before the right job comes along, but when a discontinued size appears and the suitable part is already there, it is priceless.
