MLA EXPO PREVIEW
MLA EXPO21 Heritage Room Show Preview
By Brian Morland
» THE HISTORY OF LOCKS MUSEUM has again been invited to exhibit the MLA Heritage Room at the show ( stand H2.3 ). By the time you are reading this EXPO21 will be just days away and as if you needed more reasons to attend I thought I would try to make it irresistible … The previous show EXPO19 was a very successful event for the collection I had , we all had great ideas in the immediate after show euphoria as to what we intended to do to further develop the Heritage Room and how we might improve for the next show ; then came along lockdown dashing all of our dreams and ambitions . We had to very quickly readjust how we were going to do things .
The first casualty was the Heritage Room itself which had to close to visitors , occasional visits to Rugby HQ allowed me to continue to add to the display in anticipation of the return to normal . Additionally both the number of artefacts and the archive have grown considerably over the last two years – we are sure you will find this year ’ s display both interesting and informative .
Very occasionally locksmiths specialising in safes might come across German safes and locks . This year there is a strong collection of locks on display from makers such as Kromer , Bode Panzer , Arnheim and others . The traditional English principles of the lever and slider were developed to quite extraordinary levels on the continent and sometimes combined into one lock and operated in unison . These combined locks became known as BramahChubb ’ s . The English lever developed into the
Arnheim lefetton lock featuring a key the size of a fingernail but operates a lock on a door 240mm thick incorporating 16 Bramah style sliders .
Arnheim ‘ colosseum ’ lock so named as the levers first move side to side and then up and down into the double gates on each lever . The lock is completely spring less .
sophisticated locks that we all know whereas the English Bramah has remained largely the same . The Continental locks , in the main , would be far too expensive for general use ; there use was amortised into the cost of the safe itself . This gave the lock makers a little more freedom to develop ideas and is part of the appeal ; the sheer diversity is amazing .
Many manufacturers produced cutaway or fretted versions of their locks for either exhibition or salesman use ; this year we are exhibiting many of these for the first time .
Padlock cutaway versions are particularly interesting since being a sealed unit and unable to dismantle a view of the inside
The ‘ fingernail * key measuring just 18 x 20mm and operating 16 sliders in a double row of eight .
The key bit inserted into its chamber ready to propelled into the lock . In this case the lafetton for a 240mm thick door .
A Kromer mechanical combination lock with electric motor driven dial ; this item will be at the show for you to try your hand at determining the combination .
Bode Panzer locks were used to secure the Enigma machine code books and rotors on battleships and submarines .
demonstrates the mechanics , features or patent . Locks on display at an exhibition or in your shop are far more interesting to potential customers ; many locksmiths producing fine examples of fretted locks in between customers ; there is nothing like fretting a lock to fully understand its principles . In fact that ’ s how locksmiths of yore became a master locksmith by producing a mastership lock as they approached the end of their apprenticeship .
During the past two years there has been a steady trickle of items donated and as always we are very grateful and acknowledge everybody that ’ s donated items in both the Museums catalogue and on our website : www . historyoflocks . com . However there were three people that I would like to especially mention . All have had the foresight to see beyond the present and to recognise the importance of preserving the heritage of the locksmith through locks and keys . All three have donated their entire collections to the museum cause .
Firstly Bob Callard , who had spent a life time working as a government locksmith , was curious in the extreme about locks ; he had during his career built up quite a collection . Now semi-retired but still maintaining contacts and is active in advising from his wealth of knowledge . His catalogue of artefacts now joining our artefacts that
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SEP / OCT 2021
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