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Show Pick a lock, any lock: It's Sam Bassett's business Sf.9;",,1 ,,,.(.4 , i, ' " ". -'ill'"!.' i '"t. g ' V ' . , ' ' .'. A ...... " n Iv w '-Via (3 by Teri Gomes The next time the city council plans a closed-door session the person to call might well be Sam Bassett. Sam has rescued babies and pets from locked cars, nurses from X-ray rooms and, according to his wife and partner, Jeri, he really knows how to pick a lock. But that's his business. Sam Bassett is a professional locksmith. Robert Redford was grateful last weekend the Bassetts recently had opened their Old Town Locksmith Shop. When Redford arrived Sunday at the Egyptian Theatre to conduct a seminar for the United States Film Festival, he locked himself out of his car, for which he had only an ignition key. The Park City Police were called and they in turn called the Bassetts who had Bob back in the car in under 15 minutes. The team operates out of cheerful second-floor offices at 312 Main St. They have three brand-new key-making key-making machines which are capable of cutting tubular keys (for alarm systems), coded keys (if you lost your Subaru key the dealer would give you the code to have a new one cut) and run-of-the-mill house keys. And for those who have antique cabinets with barrel keys and locks the Bassetts can make those by hand. "We actually enjoy keys that are out of the ordinary," said Jeri. "Take this key, for example," said Sam, holding up a long antique barrel key. "This belongs to my neighbor. He lifted it from the men's Jeri and Sm Bassett want to make your home security their business. ph0, by Teri Gomes room at Buckingham Palace. We're just polishing it up for him." For years a locksmith in Oregon, Sam Bassett moved with his wife to Park City a year ago. He began working for Robinson's Finishing Touch, earning a reputation for fine craftsmanship. "He once had to install locks on a set of $9,000 cherry wood doors," said Jeri. "And he did a beautiful job. In fact, many of the homes in Deer Valley had their locks installed by Sam." While Park City was new to Sam, it was a homecoming of sorts for Jeri. "I was bom over by Timpano-gos," Timpano-gos," said Jeri. "And I grew up coming to Park City a lot. In fact, when I was in college I used to come up and sketch the buildings. After traveling all over the world I knew I wanted to return here. We both just love the town." Though the key-making machines are new, the couple bought the blanks at Art's Main Street Hardware when the store went out of business last November. "When Art's went out of business we knew there was a need in the community to be filled. It seemed like a good time to open our own business," said Jeri. The Old Town Locksmith Shop is open after regular business hours and on weekends to help those who are locked in or out of someplace. In most cases the Bassetts can reach you in no nioreltian a quarter hour. |