The History of Locks and Lock-making
The History of Locks and Lock-making
The history of locks and lock-making dates back thousands of years. The earliest known locks were invented by the ancient Egyptians around 4,000 years ago. These locks were simple pin tumbler locks that were used to secure doors and storage containers.
The ancient Greeks and Romans also developed their own forms of locks, including the warded lock and the combination lock. Warded locks used a set of wards, or obstacles, to prevent the lock from opening unless a key with the correct shape was inserted. Combination locks, on the other hand, used a series of numbers or letters to open the lock.
During the Middle Ages, locks became more sophisticated and were used to secure not only doors and storage containers, but also treasure chests and other valuable items. The invention of the key-operated lock during this time period marked a significant advancement in lock-making technology.
In the 18th century, a locksmith named Robert Barron invented the double-acting tumbler lock, which is considered to be the precursor to the modern pin tumbler lock. This lock used a series of spring-loaded pins that had to be pushed to a certain height in order to unlock the lock.
In the 19th century, American inventor Linus Yale, Jr. developed the Yale lock, which is still widely used today. Yale’s lock used a cylinder and a pin tumbler mechanism, which made it more difficult to pick and provided more security than previous locks.
In the 20th century, locks became even more advanced with the invention of electronic and digital locks. These types of locks use electronic or digital codes to open and can be programmed to only allow access to authorized individuals.
In summary, the history of locks and lock-making can be traced back thousands of years, with the earliest known locks being invented by the ancient Egyptians. Throughout history, locks have become increasingly sophisticated and today, locks are available in different forms, from traditional mechanical locks to electronic and digital locks.