History of Locks
The Ages of Locks
By Brian Morland
The padlock wearers of Iran
» ANYONE LOOKING AT THE history of locks soon recognises the different ages of their development . But what is apparent to all ages is the continuing human need to lock up . It seems to be a basic human condition to protect and secure , not only from the elements but also from our fellow man . It also seems that it ’ s a human trait to err and including , for some , to steal from others . So man , very early on , devised a mechanical device to try and modify his fellow man ’ s behaviour – the lock .
Age of Wood
And so , from those earliest communities , the lock was amongst the priorities . It ’ s interesting that those very first locks that worked with a key were made of wood but also incorporated tumblers that worked much like the modern pin tumbler lock , some even incorporating double acting principles . This fundamental principle of security from a mechanical device seems to have evolved spontaneously or naturally whenever the idea of a lock was contemplated . The oldest known example was found amongst the ruins of Nineveh , the ancient capital city of the Assyrians , now in northern Iraq . This lock has been dated to some 4,000 years old .
The region from Northern Iraq and the ancient cities of Nineveh and Babylon stretching round through Ancient Egypt through to
A three tumbler wooden lock with a separate keyhole . Size : 398 x 113 x 59mm ( excluding bolt ). From original pictures in the Lips Collection .
An ancient wooden lock from Ghana Africa , with two women carved . The key enters into the hollowed out bolt . Size : 273 x 73 x 31mm . From original pictures in the Lips Collection .
North Africa and Mali appears to be where locks made of wood emerged . One can only speculate on when locks first appeared , perhaps several thousand years before the Nineveh find , however reading some of the ancient texts , such as the Old Testament , Koran and Torah and even the Qumran texts , in an archaeological way searching for clues might throw some more light on the subject . So in lock terms this was the Age of Wood .
Age of the Spring Barb
Next we come to the Age of the Spring Barb . Metals were gradually introduced into lock making . Nails for attaching , also some tumblers were of metal . Perhaps the weight of a metal tumbler gave a more reliable operation . The Romans became expert in working and casting in bronze , which allowed the reduction in size of the wooden lock principles . However , almost by accident , with the Roman passion for silk and the establishment of the China trade routes , everybody is aware of the historic ‘ Great Silk Road ’, many new technologies were introduced from the Far East . One such technology was the spring barb lock mechanism in the form of padlocks .
The idea was quickly assimilated into the Middle East regions with distinctive styles emerging from different areas . The flattish styles , sometimes beautifully decorated and embellished , generally attributed to the Arab regions of North
Chinese style , with embelishments , sliding key padlock . Size : 138mm .
Arab style sliding key padlock , note the applied brass decrative panels on both the lock and the key .
Africa , whilst the barrel styles generally adopted by Muslims . The padlock was also assimilated into faith concepts such as locking affirmations to the grill work of deities . Another extreme example is the padlock wearers of Iran .
The spring barb spread throughout the Roman Empire and Europe and even developed into door locks through the Dark Ages or Medieval period . There are three distinct methods of compressing the barb to open a lock . The first method was compressing the barbs with a sliding key action ; the second was compressing the barb with a screw key action and finally compressing the barb with a turning action . Gradually a series of fixed plates were added to the lock giving the key bit a combe like appearance . No longer was the key bit a flat web that simply compressed the spring barbs the key also had to pass a number of plate wards .
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