| Locks and
Locksmithing |
|
You
can find out more about individual lock and security products at
The Lock
Company
click on the logo to the right.
Or buy products at our online store, click on the
Store Home logo at the top of the page. |
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For most people
the issue of locks and keys is rarely thought of until
something goes wrong and they can't get into their
property or as happens more often than you think they
can't get out of their property.
The other unfortunate
event which provokes action is that a property is burgled.
On this site we
deal mainly with the mechanical types of lock although
there is some information on electronic access systems. |
Security Recommendations |
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Types of Mechanical Security Lock |
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There are
basically only three types of key operated locks, those
utilising cylinders and pins, those utilising levers and
those which use a warding method.
There are also mechanically operated digital locks.
We hope you will
find our explanations helpful and we are sure that you
will also be surprised at the simplicity of the
mechanisms involved in the different types. Click
on the pictures to
enlarge them |
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Cylinder
locks |
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Possible the most
commonly know example of this type of lock is the
cylinder rim lock, most often used as a main door night
latch, people will generally describe this as a Yale
lock, although most manufacturers make their own
versions.
This mechanism is very widely used and you will also
find it in cabinet and drawer locks as well as
multipoint locking systems and certain mortice locks.
A typical five pin cylinder can
have as many as 100,000 key combinations. |
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Cylinder Locks |
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Lever
locks |
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As with the cylinder locks this
mechanism is widely used. Early locks used a single
lever as a restraining mechanism on the bolt to ensure
the lock remained either open or closed. Chubb invented
the commonly used 5 lever lock mortice deadbolt locks
which are widely used today on the main entrance doors
to homes and commercial buildings.
A typical five lever lock can have
as many as 100,000 key combinations although they rarely
exceed 20,000 and 5,000 is more typical. |
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Lever Locks |
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Warded
locks |
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Incorporating the single
restraining lever these locks are commonly used
on gates and cupboards, although in the past
sophisticated warding was used for the entrance door
locks to
buildings most commonly churches and hence the large
ornate mortice keys are also called church keys.
Normally these locks have very few
key differs and are really no more than a deterrent
rather than a serious security product. |
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Warded
Locks |
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Digital
locks |
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More and more commonly used
especially where a large number of people need access to
a building such as a sports club.
There is a large range from
relatively inexpensive indoor office locks to good
quality digital locks for external and internal use, you
will see some of the best quality security digital locks
in bank branches. |
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Digital Locks |
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Electronically Operated
Locks |
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One of these variants is amongst
the most secure types of locks available, the magnet
lock, great for tenement entrance doors.
Most electronic locks can be set
up to either use a normal key to activate a switch which
operates the lock, or more securely a swipe card or fob
which activates the lock. |
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Electronic
Locks |
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Keys and Keying Systems |
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There are many different forms of
the mechanical lock key, but all operate on either the
cylinder and lever lock types.
There are two types of keying
systems:
- Keyed alike which means
that one key can operate several locks
- Master keyed which means
that locks which are operated by individual keys can
also all be operated with one master key
- There are also restricted
access keys which are used in situations where a
known number of keys is issued and numbered, and the
keys are of a specific type which can not be
duplicated without the authorisation.
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Keys and Keying Systems |
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Locks for Safes |
Most key operated safe locks have
seven levers and unlike most lever locks the keys are
not symmetrical and therefore are even more secure. Good
quality combination locks for safes can be very secure
and virtually uncrackable.
Safes with electronic keypad are becoming more popular. |
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Safes |
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Window Locks |
Most key operated safe locks have
seven levers and unlike most lever locks the keys are
not symmetrical and therefore are even more secure. Good
quality combination locks for safes can be very secure
and virtually uncrackable.
Safes with electronic keypad are becoming more popular. |
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Window Locks |
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Other Security Products |
Many other security products are
available and as with many other products the watch
words here are good quality.
Such products include door viewers, always go for the
wide angle versions, these are very easy to fit and in
our opinion should always be fitted to doors where there
is no other way of identifying a visitor.
Some door chains can be effective, but most are a waste
of time and are easily kicked in, but do stop salesmen
from getting their foot in the door ! |
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Other Security Products |
