How to I pick this lock?

I added to my old box addiction today. This guy was the price of a coffee because it was "as is". The problem bring that it is locked! I'd rather have the satisfaction of getting into it myself. Does anybody have any guidance or resources that might help? Thanks so much in advance!

 

Same pix three times. Are there different ones?

 

Oh crap! No. That's as good a pic as I can get of inside the lock. I will try to delete rhe duplicates

 

Where is the outside of the lock?

 

Top pic is a close up of the oitside where a key goes. The surround is mother of pearl that, i assume, someone broke trying to get in.

 

You may have to drill it out. You'll have to replace it anyway.
Mikey

 

Eep! I hope not. I don't really mind wrecking the lock I jist have never done anything like that! I will google!

Oh! Added info - the keywhole is 7/16 of an inch from top to bottom. I have a luggage ket that fits but doesn't turn it.

 

Maybe little skeleton key? Some antique malls have a seller with a ton of keys

 

Or try your hand at lock picking
http://www.capricorn.org/~akira/home/lockpick/

 

I would take it to a locksmith. I frequent one who is amazing.

 

THIS is what I tried to find myself! Thanks! A lot to peruse...

 

We have a good one near by. Closed Sundays. And I am impatient. But mostly cheap and I have no idea of the condition inside. Based on your experience with yours, do you think it would be expensive? I would hate to bring it in and waste their time looking at it...

 

Is this a lap desk/writing slope?

 

I won't know untill it gets open but I DID find a couple online that looked the same online. One was missing a tray (I am pretty sure mine has one as I can hear and feel it shifting). The other was a very nicely preserved sewing box with a divided tray and a couple of lidded compartments. Obviously hoping for that! No matter what I will be using it for jewelry once I get in...

 

I think they will be intrigued and be able to open it quickly. Talk to them to see if it will be easy or hard. It shouldn't be too expensive if it is easy. You may ask them about a key.

 

I had one like that wich was locked and I just took it to an old fashioned hardware store and he found the perfect key for it. It was a writing box with sadly nothing in it.Id rather it been stuffed with jewels. In fact yours looks exactly like the one I had.Are you by chance in Colorado ?!? Or maybe Fla. I cant remember where I sold it!

 

If it is for writing, when you look at it from the side, the separation between the lid & the bottom will not be level, it will run on an angle, so that when the box is open, it creates a wedge shape.

 

I think you have convinced me - I will try. Way easier!

No! BC, Canada! I sure hope it isn’t the same one and it got locked up again! I can tell from the rattle- sadly no riches hidden here either.

 

It has a level seam - I meant to say...

 

This type of lock is rarely double latched so a stiff feeler gauge or thin paper knife is often enough to push the latches back (left to right).