EXPERT MASTER-LOCKSMITHS IN SCOTLAND :
Claymore Lock & Safe Co
» WE ’ RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT to talk to locksmiths about their businesses and find out about their rather interesting lives and career paths . We spoke to Graeme MacDonald of Claymore Lock & Safe Co , proud to be one of the few expert master-locksmiths in Scotland .
The business has premises in Haddington , near Edinburgh , and looks after a popular retail chain , maintaining their masterkey system in over 300 sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland .
Graeme explains how he gained a lot of his masterkey experience while working in Kazakhstan , well before the famous Borat movie , but nowadays he focuses on passing his knowledge on to his team of four .
How did this all start ?
Graeme explained , “ I did my locksmith training with Caledonian Lock & Safe Company and worked at Duncan McLaren ’ s for three years , before deciding to work for myself .
I applied for a grant through the Prince ’ s Trust in 1989 that was open to the under 25s . I used the grant to buy a van and worked from a shop in Edinburgh until 1994 . I then worked in Kazakhstan until 1997 , then I joined forces with a friend who did alarm systems that naturally went hand-inhand and we opened a premises in 1998 . In 2014 , we went our separate ways and I continued to trade from my own premises and called my business ‘ Claymore Locks & Safe Company ’. Although Claymore Alarms is now a separate company , we have a good relationship and share job leads between us .”
The Calling of Kazakhstan
What a strange place to end up , Kazakhstan ! Graeme explained , “ Kazakhstan is one of the top 10 largest countries in the world , it is known for its architectural marvels , the Caspian Sea , and the wild horses . I was in my shop in Edinburgh and took a call from the head of site security in Kazakstan , who actually lived in Fife . He purchased 12 digital locks and then came back and asked me about masterkey systems . Then we met he offered me a job opportunity working 28 days on in Kazakhstan , followed by 28 days off . I worked for an American oil company and brought an oil field under control through masterkeying over 38,000 locks spread over six or seven sites . We used the Evva system at the time , and the project took three years to complete .”
Love & Hate So , what do you love and hate about being a locksmith ? Graeme laughed-outloud and commented , “ I love the variety of work it brings . So , one day you could be asked to supply a dog-tag , then the next day a masterkey system , or a safe or have a full-on emergency situation . Last
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week I was called to rebuild a door after the fire brigade had knocked the door down .
The worst thing is the quality of the products is poor ; I ’ ve seen a real decline in past five years . The problem is that products are made in different countries nowadays , the quality gets worse and the price keeps going up . Finding good quality products is quite a challenge . We specialise in Union , Yale , Assa , Schlage , ABS , ATK , and ERA locks and keys . Door closers and fire exit push bars are the worst for quality issues , I am careful what I buy and I stick to reliable brands .”
Competitive Edge
So , how do you stand out ? Graeme explained , “ I have great passion for the locksmith trade and my 42 years of experience gives us the competitive edge ; the amount of knowledge I have gained during my time is invaluable , it just cannot be learned overnight . In today ’ s times anyone can create a website and claim to be the best in the area , but experience is what really matters .”
Looking forward
When asked about plans for Claymore Lock & Safe Graeme said , “ I ’ m not getting any younger , I want to develop my employees to put them in the position of carrying on the company . I have two on the road .”
Claymore Lock & Safe Co Ltd are experienced locksmiths based in East Lothian serving the whole of the Lothians and surrounding areas .
For more information on their locksmith services contact Graeme on 07721 556 653 or email : claymorelock @ gmail . com .
More information Claymore Lock and Safe Co are Master locksmiths based in Haddington covering East Lothian including Edinburgh , Glasgow , Fife etc . They offer a range of services including UPVC repairs , key cutting , lock outs and emergency 24 hour locksmith . Servicing both domestic and commercial sectors , they specialise in Union , Yale , Assa , Schlage , ABS , ATK , and ERA locks & keys .
MARCH 2024
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