OUR HISTORY
Joseph Rault a French immigrant opened a gunsmith shop at the age of 18 here in New Orleans
the year was 1845. Very early in it's history the shop was located in the French Quarter, then
moved to Magazine Street, where it has remained for over 160 years.

His son Henri E. Rault, was not only a gunsmith, he also learned the trade of locksmithing as
well and after the death of his father in 1881, he took over the shop. Twenty-one year old Henri
added the H and the name of the business H.  Rault Locksmith evolved into the business it is
today.

In 1936 at the age of 75 Henri Rault was struck by a Model T Ford crossing Magazine Street
enroute to New Orleans latest amusement, the motion picture matinee, a local theater located at
the corner of Magazine and Washington Streets.

His daughter Isabella Rault became the owner/operator of the lock shop until her son Russell E.
Staub was of age to take over. Russell ran the shop then located at 3027 Magazine until his death
in 1993.  The shop was moved in 1926 from 3013 Magazine Street to it's present location which
was purchased for 9,000.00!

In 1992 the shop building and inventory were sold to a local businessman Jim Miller. Mr. Miller
had the huge task of cleaning up piles of  "stuff" after years of neglect. The backyard held pens for
pit bulls and the second floor had been converted to a coop for fighting cocks. The property was
in complete despair. Huge flat bed trucks took 18 loads of junk away and still so much more was
left behind as well as a large inventory of antique locks and accessories.

In July of 2004 Mr. Miller and his lock shop were featured in a book entitled "A Guide to the
Historic Shops and Restaurants of New Orleans. Today you can purchase a copy of the book
which sits on the counter.

In the summer of 2005 more changes occurred at H. Rault, when Hurricane Katrina took the roof
off the building. The shop was closed for one year while extensive renovations took place, which
included a brand new showroom, to house decorative hardware.

After 165 years a new generation of Miller's have taken over and expanded the business with
safes, shutter hardware, mailboxes, and decorative hardware and many products not found in
home improvement stores. Still the mainstay at H. Rault will always be antique locks.