MUSEUMS FOR LOCKSMITHS

One of the biggest museums for locksmiths in America that a locksmith would probably enjoy is the Main Lock Museum of America. Thus it is located in Terryville, Plymouth, Connecticut. So it is widely advertised and attracts visitors from all over the country. Also you also don’t have to be a locksmith to be interested in antique locks and lock hardware. After all Antique doorknob enthusiasts, people with an interest in old doors or the ornate artwork of old locks enjoy the museum.

locksmith earls court

A UK museum for lock enthusiasts is the Lock Museum in Willowhall, Staffordshire in eventually located in England’s Midlands. Although to preserve its contents and secure its future, this museum has been taken over by the Black Country Living museums for locksmiths. Later the United Kingdom is also home to Blake’s Main Lock Museum, in Reading, about an hour’s drive from London.

California has the Jehning Family Lock Museum, but in Mountain View, CA. The Hanns Schell Collection in Austria is the world’s largest museum of locks and keys.

Pimlico locksmith

Then lock smiths would also enjoy the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Shop in Key West, Florida, and the Powerhouse Museum located in Sydney, Australia.

Another key point that doorknobs attract many collectors, and are part of the locksmith’s domain. Eventually you can join the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America, where you will find beautiful doorknobs and antique door hardware and doorbells, plates, coat hooks and window latches.

Locksmith st johns wood

Moreover the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America has annual conventions all around the USA to teach and share their information and has a great collection of Bennington ceramic knobs, mineral knobs, real estate hardware, and Victorian hardware, bronze knobs, and Wheeler knobs.

As a result West Coast Lock Collectors Association looks at the history and magic of locks. Especially they have an annual show for collectors and the general public. Eventually they publish a quarterly newsletter to members. At this time this association is a not-for-profit hobby club.

Locksmith earls court

Shortly Antique Padlocks is a great online resource documenting the history of padlocks and other locking devices as well as useful links, patent details and information on hardware companies marketing padlocks. But padlocks lost some value when they could be cut with bolt cutters, however, there are still plenty around today, and there are still lots of requests for locksmiths to remove them!!

Ratner Changeable Safe Lock- Museums for Locksmiths

For example with a decorative fretted top cap and skeletonized first lever illustrating the levers and gating wheels which disengage and scramble on unlocking.

Safe Makers Finishing Books Museums for Locksmiths

So just one page of some 135 ledgers recording Tann safe serial numbers dating from 1863 to 1965. This page as has been noted detailing safe serial number 48419.

Milner’s Whitingham Safe Lock

With false notches and two gaiting’s, one false notched end gated, the other pocketed, is basically a dual control lock, all in solid cast block making iy powder proof.

Young Detector Lock

Youngs Fly Guard Detector not only patent in cut cabinet lock, but also provided with a wheel ward/guard.

Tower of London Key

Thus two ceremonial are struck when a new constable is appointed at the tower, one for the Monarch and one for himself.

Bankers Parautoptic Lock

Original American Day & Newall moreover design 6 lever version introduced by Hobbs at 1851 Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace.

Tann Museums for Locksmiths

Exhibition Lock just one of a series of highly decorated locks Tann prepared for exhibition use; one featuring curtain, detector and two guarded levers..

12″ Violence Lock Museums for Locksmiths

A smaller size ant-violence locks generally found on safe rather than on vault doors, both drill and power resistance.

Restraints Museums for Locksmiths

Thus police custodial equipment flyer including illustrations of an early ratchet hand and grippers.

Rocker Arem Detector Lock

Earlier known surviving Chubb Detector lock made within a few months of the start of trading.

A1 Guardian Lock Incorporating Milner’s Solid Patents

So factory fretted on both front and back. Gunpowder Proof. Marked: Pick lock proof Livepool & London.

‘C’ Type Safe Lock

Featuring an anti-pressure device, instead of false notches, in a powder proof case.

‘B’ Type Safe Lock

Featuring the normal false notches in a powder proof case but with the addition a detent.

Fretted Solid Bankers Change Key Lock

A 9 lever lock with 7 different keys, so one for each day of the week.

Alarum

Twelve alarum lock with interlocking detent features. As a result locksmith made exercise lock.

Change key Lock

Most locks are acquired without provenance, this example however was remove from a safe found at the old London airport (Croydom).

German Strongbox

Commonly referred to as an Armada Chest but more correctly called a Strongbox unless it was used in a knowing campaign.

Exhibition Box Lock

From the original Tann showcases this for example features the Reliance patent and the Guarded lever.

Change Key Safe Lock

An interesting lock as yet unrestored. Looking for identification

Safe Badge Museums for Locksmiths

A cast brass safe makers plate also with pictorial representations of the safe fire resisting properties.

Protector Patents Safe Lock

7 lever safe lock incorporating both Hobb’s protector patents – the anti – pressure device and the barrel; both to thwart ‘tentative’ methods of defeating locks.

New Patent Rim Deadlock

The intermediate development of the detector lock with its distinctive oval levers. Also note the false notches and curtain.

7L64 Dual Footprint Combination Lock

Designed to retrofit both S&G and Manifoil lock bodies

Rim Dead Lock Museums for Locksmiths

Robert Barron was the first to patent the double acting lever (or tumbler).

Bank of England Lock

Patented 9 lever lock featuring automatics locking via the bolt work but key unlocking.

Guarded Lever Reliance Patent Detector Exhibition Lock

In addition features include Guarded lever, Reliance patent and detector. Key Marked: J-Tann Patent 30 Walbroo London.

Adjustable Combination Lock

Featuring so adjustable as to the number of wheels in use via a lever on the back.

Navum Safe Lock

Thus Factory fretted safe loc. Widely adopted in the U by chubb, chatwood and Tann in various case configurations both circular and rectangular.

Triple Gated Safe Lock

Factory showcase fretted, moreover exhibiting ‘solid’ patents, power and picproof qualities.

Tangential Safe Lock Museums for Locksmiths

One of the locks used on WWII German battleships & submarines to secure the Engima machine cade books and rotors.

Dexters Patent Combination Lock Museums for Locksmiths

The first to usthe spit cam; later adopted by Milner in the Manifoil series lock.

Cabinet Style Protector Lock Museums for Locksmiths

Vision aperture revealing Hobbs anti-pressure device and detent which is release when one of the levers lifts dis engages it.

Document from the Hol Archive Museums for Locksmiths

Color print detailing ‘Excelsior’ safe barrier materials.

Safe Badge Museums for Locksmiths

A safe maers plate, made from pressed brass, depicting crests and medals of achievement reinforcing as a result the fire proof qualities of the safe.

Restraint Museums for Locksmiths

Police custodial restraining item used when moving prisoners.

‘Colosseum’ Safe Lock Museums for Locksmiths

A rectangular lock with 8 brass spring-less sliders. known as the ‘Theatre’ ‘Colosseum’ lock as the levers move both vertically and horizontally.

Ledger from the Hol Archive

A ledger recording summary of work done by Chatwood Branches including invoice number, date, costs and the customer or contract.

This is just a small sample of museums for locksmiths around the world, so just to give you taste of what is out there. If you are interested, then check out some of the museums suggested above or Google “locksmith museums” to find the nearest museum you can go to. The history of locks and locksmithing is fascinating and you can marvel at home locks have changed over the decades and centuries, while still being the main means of securing your valuables even in the 21st century!!

Locksmith Terms

What is the number 1 locksmith museum in the US?

The Main Lock Museum of America, in Terryville, Plymouth, Connecticut.

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Shop in Key West, Florida

What is the number 1 locksmith museum in the UK?

Lock enthusiasts – The Lock Museum, which is located in Willowhall, Staffordshire in England’s Midlands.

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Who's lock is famous in Victoria and Albert Museum?

Wilkes Detector Lock,

This lock was made by john wilkes about 1680. It was used on the door of a room where valuables were kept.

In which museum Wilkes Detector Lock placed?

In Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

What time is the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London?

The Ceremony of the Keys is held a little before 10pm each and every night and members of the public are present – those who get to attend the Ceremony by application months in advance, and those invited by one of the Yeoman Warders as was the group I was with just last night. And those groups are the only once there, besides those who actually live and work in the Tower of London.

Is the Ceremony of the Keys free?

No