Fun Historical Facts About Locksmiths

Here at 505 Locksmith New Mexico, our expert Albuquerque lock installation service and lock repair service team have the skills to handle all manner of lock issues under the sun, and can provide expert repair services for a wide range of rare and specialty locks. In this blog entry, our Albuquerque locksmith service exports will provide some unique and fun facts regarding the ancient art of locksmithing.

  1. A 4000 year old lock was found in a cave in Egypt, leading archeologists to believe that locks originated in the Egyptian civilization, alongside other inventions like ink and paper.
  2. The largest lock in the world is owned by an arts college in Russia, setting  a Guinness World Record for its massive 415 kg size, complete with ornate carving.
  3. Skeleton keys got their name due to their minimal appearance, which in turn, allows them to open many doors.
  4. The creator of the Yale lock type (and brand,) Linus Yale, also created the pin-tumbler lock mechanism, an integral part of cylinder locks. This mechanism utilizes different lengths of pins in order to create a unique physical security profile and remain secure.
  5. The famous magician Harry Houdini actually worked as a locksmith before becoming famous for his tricks and dramatic escape art. He began assisting at a locksmith’s shop when he was 11, where he learned how to quickly pick locks.
  6. The traditional combination locks that allow for code changing were created by James Sargent, with the original mechanism being invented in 1857.
  7. Fort Knox holds a huge amount of the United States’ gold reserves, and the password necessary to enter at the front changes every single day. It’s one of the most heavily guarded buildings on the planet.
  8. It’s estimated that nearly 1 third of all burglaries occur when windows and doors are left open – with zero breaking in really required.
  9. During Medieval times, many areas of the world had official guards known as “key keepers” who would hold everyone’s home keys.
  10. Although it’s a very old term, ‘apprenticeship’ is the common official terminology used for those training in locksmith shops to become master locksmiths.