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Miniature Dollhouse collector : Jewel box
This box is an experiment to see what is the smallest functional lock mechanism I could make. It is my first box ever.
The box is made from massive brass, with black walnut veneering. Size 3/4" x 1/2" x 1/2" (20mm x 13mm x 13mm)
The difficulty was to make a mechanism small enough, and a key rigid enough to be able to effectively turn the mechanism without breaking or bending. The key rod is 0.02" (0.5mm), length 5/8" (8mm). To do that, I had to make the key from steel, and temper it. The mechanism is a simple hook inside the box, and the key fit a hole of the proper shape. The key cannot be removed when the box is open, a way to prevent it to be stolen by the carpet people.
The mechanism is really to big for my taste and ugly I must admit it. I must find another way to do it in the future. But here it is disassembled for those interested.