Locked up

The need to protect our property has always been a human trait. Thousands of years ago, the only way to do this was by using rope and knots. It didn’t keep the things secure, but it was easy to tell if someone had tampered.

Locks were initially made of wood, then moved to metal and became increasingly complex as time passed. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans are believed to have developed their locking mechanisms independently. Around 6000 years ago, mechanical locks were first made in Ancient Egypt. They were made of wood pins and tumblers. The large key was equipped with pegs which corresponded to pins and holes in the lock. The key could lift the pins and remove the lock.

The Greeks and Romans improved the designs, and the Romans introduced metal to their locks. These locks were more resistant to attack, and they used iron. Keys became so small that they could be worn on the body, placed in a pocket or pendant, or even placed in a ring. I wonder if Romans have ever locked themselves out. When you need a Locksmith Bishop Auckland, visit //lockwork24-7.co.uk/locksmith/

The development of locking mechanisms slowed down after the fall of Rome. In the Middle Ages, lockpickers were confused by new techniques. Locks were equipped with multiple key mechanisms, and keys became increasingly complex. The keyholes of locks were covered with ornaments, and fake mechanisms.

The 1700s saw the development of small, sturdy mechanisms. Robert Barronin invented the double-acting tumbler locks in 1778, and Joseph Bramah created the Bramah lock which was unpickable for over 67 years. Jeremiah Chubb, a famous name in the lock world, developed the detector locks in 1818. Linus Yale, another famous name in the world of locks, designed the pin tumbler lock for the first time in 1848.