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🗝️ ANTIQUE c. 1905–1935 FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL — RUSSWIN ROOM KEY No. 1039 🗝️
A FASCINATING SURVIVOR FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA’S GRAND RESORT HOTELS — WITH AN APPARENTLY ALTERED ROOM NUMBER AND DIRECT HOTEL LOCKSMITH-SHOP PROVENANCE!
Imagine the generations of travelers who passed through the magnificent French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana, during its celebrated early twentieth-century heyday.
Offered here is an original antique RUSSWIN hotel room key, numbered 1039, bearing the name of one of America’s most legendary historic resort hotels.
Measuring approximately 3.454 inches long and weighing a substantial 27.21 grams, this beautifully aged key features a distinctive clover-shaped head, deeply impressed hotel identification, and an elaborate old-fashioned bit designed for a traditional hotel door lock.
Unlike ordinary souvenir keys or reproduction hotel memorabilia, this is an authentic historic hotel key acquired directly from a longtime French Lick Springs Hotel employee who obtained it from the resort’s former locksmith shop.
MOST INTRIGUINGLY, DETAILED MACRO PHOTOGRAPHS REVEAL WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EARLIER ROOM NUMBER, 1043, BENEATH THE PRESENT 1039 STAMPING!
This unusual feature adds another fascinating chapter to the history of an already remarkable AGE & HISTORICAL PERIOD
Estimated date: Circa 1905–1935
This key is believed to date to the early decades of the twentieth century, potentially including the Edwardian period and the great American resort era of the 1910s and 1920s.
Its substantial construction, distinctive clover-shaped head, elaborate bit configuration, and RUSSWIN manufacturer identification are consistent with traditional hotel locking hardware of this general period.
The French Lick Springs Hotel underwent significant development and expansion during the early twentieth century, when it was among America’s most fashionable resort destinations.
Keys of this type evoke an era when hotel guests carried substantial metal room keys rather than the lightweight modern keys and electronic access cards familiar today.
The exact manufacturing year has not been established. The circa 1905–1935 date range is an informed historical estimate based on the key’s design, construction, manufacturer identification, and resort history, rather than a confirmed production date.
The key may have remained in service for many years after its THE MYSTERY OF ROOM 1043 — ALTERED TO 1039?
Perhaps the most intriguing feature of this particular key is its unusual room-number stamping.
The clover-shaped head is presently marked:
FRENCH LICK SPRINGS careful examination under magnification reveals what appears to be evidence of an earlier 1043 stamping beneath the present room number.
The numerals show overlapping impressions and displaced metal consistent with subsequent stamping or alteration.
This raises the fascinating possibility that the key was originally assigned to room 1043 and later renumbered 1039.
Such a modification might have resulted from a room reassignment, changes to the hotel’s locking system, or routine locksmith-shop inventory management.
The precise circumstances are unknown, and no original hotel record has been located to explain the apparent alteration.
Nevertheless, these unusual impressions offer a compelling glimpse into the key’s possible working history.
Please examine the detailed macro photographs of the room-number stamping, which document this distinctive DIRECT FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL PROVENANCE
This key comes with an especially interesting account of its history.
I acquired it directly from a longtime French Lick Springs Hotel employee who has been associated with the resort for approximately 50 years.
According to the seller, he obtained a large collection of original hotel keys when the resort’s former locksmith shop closed during the 1970s.
He subsequently sold many of those keys approximately two decades ago, retaining a small number that were rediscovered more recently.
This key is one of those surviving examples from the former hotel locksmith-shop inventory.
Rather than passing through generations of unrelated antique collections, its reported history connects it directly to the hotel where it was originally used.
The provenance is based on the firsthand account of the longtime resort employee from whom I purchased the key. It is not accompanied by an original hotel inventory document or dated locksmith record.
For collectors of historic hotel memorabilia, this direct connection to the resort’s former locksmith shop adds considerable historical DISTINCTIVE ANTIQUE RUSSWIN CONSTRUCTION
This substantial traditional hotel key features:
• Distinctive three-lobed, clover-shaped head
• Circular suspension hole
• Deeply impressed FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL identification
• Room number 1039, with apparent underlying 1043 impressions
• Clearly marked RUSSWIN manufacturer name
• Elongated tapered shank with recessed decorative panels
• Cylindrical lower shaft
• Elaborately configured stepped bit with multiple notches and projections
• Substantial metal construction weighing 27.21 grams
• Beautifully developed dark gray, brown, and charcoal-colored age patina
The carefully formed bit, recessed shank, and substantial proportions give this key an unmistakably historic appearance.
Its surfaces retain the visible evidence of age, handling, oxidation, and use.
The key has not been polished or aggressively cleaned, preserving its aged surface and original THE LEGENDARY FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL
French Lick, Indiana, became internationally celebrated during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for its mineral springs, magnificent resort hotels, and prominent visitors.
The French Lick Springs Hotel was closely associated with the famous Pluto Water and developed into one of America’s premier luxury and health-resort destinations.
During its celebrated heyday, the hotel attracted wealthy vacationers, prominent business leaders, politicians, entertainers, and travelers seeking relaxation, recreation, and the purported benefits of the region’s mineral waters.
Its lavish accommodations, impressive architecture, golf courses, and luxurious amenities helped establish French Lick as one of America’s most recognizable resort communities.
Today, original objects associated with the hotel’s daily operations offer a particularly tangible connection to this remarkable history.
Unlike postcards, brochures, or advertising souvenirs, an original room key was a functional part of the hotel itself.
It is easy to imagine this very key being issued at the front desk, carried through the hotel’s grand corridors, and returned after a guest’s stay.
A wonderfully evocative artifact from an era when even an ordinary hotel room key was a beautifully substantial DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
• Overall length: 87.74 mm / 3.454 inches
• Maximum clover-head width: 31.03 mm / 1.222 inches
• Weight: 27.21 grams / 0.960 ounces
Measurements were taken using digital calipers and a digital CONDITION — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
This is an authentic, visibly aged antique hotel key displaying substantial surface patina and wear consistent with its long history.
The metal exhibits widespread darkening, mottled oxidation, scattered reddish-brown discoloration, fine scratches, surface marks, and localized wear.
The clover-shaped head retains its distinctive outline, with clearly legible hotel identification, manufacturer marking, and room number.
As discussed above, the room-number area exhibits what appear to be overlapping impressions from an earlier 1043 stamping beneath the present 1039 identification.
The recessed shank shows age-related surface wear and discoloration, while its raised borders and decorative contours remain well defined.
The cylindrical shaft and elaborately cut bit display additional surface wear, oxidation, and minor rounding along some exposed edges.
The reverse of the head is unmarked and exhibits extensive age patina, including a localized area of reddish-brown oxidation.
No obvious major cracks, missing sections, or severe structural deformation are apparent upon visual examination.
The key has not been tested in its original lock, and its present mechanical functionality is unknown.
This is not a polished, restored, or artificially brightened example. Its aged surface has been intentionally preserved.
Please examine all photographs carefully, especially the detailed macro images, as they form an important part of the condition description.
The key will be carefully handled and securely packaged for IMPORTANT — GROUP PHOTOGRAPH #24
Photograph #24 is a group photograph featuring three separate pieces of historic French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel memorabilia from my personal collection, along with a U.S. dime and ruler for size and scale reference.
THIS LISTING IS FOR THE ANTIQUE FRENCH LICK SPRINGS HOTEL RUSSWIN ROOM KEY No. 1039 ONLY.
The other two historical pieces, the dime, and the ruler are shown solely for comparison, historical context, and size reference. They are NOT included in this sale.
Each historical piece is being offered separately in its own individual AN UNUSUAL PIECE OF AMERICAN RESORT HISTORY
An appealing addition to collections devoted to:
• French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel memorabilia
• Historic American luxury hotels and resorts
• Antique hotel room keys and locking hardware
• RUSSWIN locks, keys, and architectural hardware
• Indiana history and regional Americana
• Edwardian-era and early twentieth-century travel
• Historic locksmithing and hotel operations
• Antique keys, locks, and mechanical collectibles
Whether displayed alongside historic French Lick photographs, resort advertising, antique hotel memorabilia, or a specialized collection of early locking hardware, this key offers a compelling connection to a celebrated chapter of American history.
Its apparent original 1043 stamping, later 1039 identification, and direct former hotel locksmith-shop provenance make this an especially intriguing PHOTOGRAPHY
The photographs show the actual antique French Lick Springs Hotel key being offered.
Detailed macro images have been provided to document the manufacturer marking, hotel identification, room-number impressions, surface patina, construction, and working bit.
The photographs were taken to present the key’s actual appearance and condition as accurately as possible.
Lighting, screen settings, and photographic magnification may affect the appearance of color, surface texture, and small imperfections.
Please review all photographs carefully before SHIPPING
• Ships same or next business day
• FREE USPS Ground Advantage within the United States
• Fully insured with tracking
• Carefully and securely packaged
• Ships in a sturdy cardboard box — never a bubble INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
• FREE through International Shipping
OR
• USPS Priority Mail International
• Flat rate: $48.95
• Insurance and tracking included
Buyer is responsible for any customs duties, VAT, brokerage fees, tariffs, taxes or other import charges imposed by their OFFERS & RETURNS
All serious offers considered.
All sales are final unless the item has been grossly misrepresented.
