Back Page, May 2011

April 15, 2011

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Clark Security reported on their 'board meeting' approach to helping business owners increase their knowledge. T.C. Mickley suggested a few impulse items that should be on every locksmith sales counter. Milt Wolferseder opened a Mosler square-cornered chest. The boltworks are a work of art. Gerry Finch helped locksmiths decode an IC core cylinder to obtain the control key cuts. Allen Kutchins offered his seven ways to business success. Jan Howard, Lucky Line, told how to display key accessories. Ilco Unican introduced their M series cylinders which accept popular Medeco keys. H. Hoffman Co. devised some new price saving programs for locksmiths. Ledger reported on one of the last big American Lock and Supply shows in Anaheim. Jerry Levine reported on the 1991 Harley cycles which had tubular lock systems for the first time. Chuck Charter started a series on everything you wanted to know about door closers. Closers have not changed much in 20 years and the articles are still worth reading. Jerry Levine devised 32 tryout keys which could be used to fit keys to Chrysler products without lock disassembly. Slide Lock Tool Company explained their 2-tool approach to car opening.

TEN YEARS AGO

Safe servicing was the topic of our May, 2001 Locksmith Ledger. Jerry Levine tested an Amsec KPL2000S digital safe lock. Gale Johnson reported on the battery-less Mas-Hamilton 100V electronic safe lock. It generates its own power by spinning the dial. Lloyd Seliber explained the importance of sequence of progression (SOP) when generating master key systems. Milt Wolferseder serviced some Major round door safe locks. Jerry Levine participated in the installation of a new hollow metal door, frame and hardware. Jerry Levine also explained how easy it was to replace a concealed floor check. John Grist looked at some ornate labels from antique safes. Major Manufacturing showed their mortising jig for installing Adams Rite latches and deadbolts on aluminum doors. Tony Vigil, High Tech Tools, provided instruction on unlocking a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. Tiny serviced that unpopular Pontiac Aztek, but fortunately the information is also valuable for many other GM car models. Wade Landrum visited the Mutual Safe Company in California to reoprt on their Rhino line of safes. Dave Franchuk serviced an "Old York" safe. An early Tim O’Leary article provided a Security Lock Update.

LEDGER ON THE ROAD

The International Security Conference and Exposition (ISC West) was held April 6 to 9 in Las Vegas. If you want to see what the future of security products will be, ISC is the event for you. Every well-known lock manufacturer such as Assa-Abloy, Ingersoll Rand and Kwikset each had large booths at ISC, but not one of these companies featured mechanical locks. A noticeable trend in almost every lock-oriented booth was some type of system for locking and unlocking residential doors with a cell phone. Locksmith distributors on hand also displayed a wide variety of single-door access control hardware. There were also several interesting displays of service vehicles. Nissan, Ford and GM all showed medium-sized vehicles each set up as perfect vehicles for use by locksmiths. The ISC show plus the glitz and excitement of Las Vegas adds up to a can't-miss event each year.