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History of Locks
The oldest known lock was found by archeologists in the
Khorsabad palace ruins near Nineveh. The lock was estimated
to be 4,000 years old. It was a forerunner to a pin tumbler
type of lock, and a common Egyptian lock for the time. This
lock worked using a large wooden bolt to secure a door,
which had a slot with several holes in its upper surface.
The holes were filled with wooden pegs that prevented the
bolt from being opened.
Famous Locksmiths:
Robert Barron
The first serious attempt to improve the security of the
lock was made in 1778 in England. Robert Barron patented
a double-acting tumbler lock.
Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah patented the safety lock in 1784. Bramah's
lock was considered unpickable. The inventor went on to
create a Hydrostatic Machine, a beer-pump, the four-cock,
a quill-sharpener, a working planer, and more. Joseph Bramah
James Sargent
In I857, James Sargent invented the world's first successful
key-changeable combination lock. His lock became popular
with safe manufacturers and the United States Treasury Department.
In 1873, Sargent patented a time lock mechanism that became
the prototype of those being used in contemporary bank vaults.
Samuel Segal
Mr. Samuel Segal (former New York City policeman) invented
the first jimmy proof locks in 1916. Segal holds over twenty-five
patents.
Harry Soref
Soref founded the Master Lock Company in 1921 and patented
an improved padlock. In April 1924, he received a patent
(U.S #1,490,987) for his new lock casing. Soref made a padlock
that was both strong and cheap using a case constructed
out of layers of metal, like the doors of a bank vault.
He designed his padlock using laminated steel.
Linus Yale Sr.
Linus Yale invented a pin-tumbler lock in 1848. His son
improved upon his lock using a smaller, flat key with serrated
edges that is the basis of modern pin-tumbler locks.
Linus Yale Jr. (1821-1868)
American, Linus Yale Jr. was an mechanical engineer and
lock manufacturer who patented a cylinder pin-tumbler lock
in 1861. Yale invented the modern combination lock in 1862.
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