Twenty Years Ago
High Security lock systems were featured. Schlage, Assa, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, Instakey, Medeco and Maxis offered exploded views of their products. Brian Bert, American Device Mfg., showed how to install their 8000 series exit device. Joey Dalessio suggested selling Medeco High Security Locks as a way of reducing burglaries. An article discussed different ways to set up a keyboard. Ledger also reported on the 7000 C-Pac electric strike package by HES. John Grist installed a Motus smoke detector/door holder unit. Louis George contributed an in-depth article on how to create a builders hardware schedule. Richard Formica wrote "The Last Word on Ford 10 Cut Keys.". Schlage introduced their line of S200 interconnected entrance locks. Jerry Levine cited a Consumer Reports article which described the poor quality of all seven of the entry locks tested. Hilton Hotel Corp. became the first major hotel chain to install electronic locks in all of their U.S. hotels as of February, 1995. Writer Ray Menard suggested diversification as the road to locksmith business success. Ed Hite explained how electromagnetic locks are often installed improperly. A article showed where to drill for the plug retainer when servicing wafer lock 'L' handles. Articles by Sean DeForrest and Will Schaff offered interesting commentary on the future of the locksmith industry.
Ten Years Ago
Locksmth Ledger interviewed Jim Lindquist, locksmith at the University of Illinois circle campus and Robert Thomas, locksmith at the Fermi Lab, about the job of an institutional locksmith. Jerry Levine offered a complete article on how interchangeable core lock cylinders operate. Laurie Simon described mortise locks as "A Lock in a Box" and explained the many functions available. Jerry Levine installed an Alarm Lock PG21 surface-mounted door alarm. Schlage reported on their large VIP card access installation at California State University. Ervos demonstrated their exit device which could be installed in place of an existing cylindrical lockset. Where are they now? A cross reference chart was printed which showed comparisons between Axxess, Ilco and Jet key blanks. Locksmith Ledger was invited to UL laboratories as they fire-tested an ISM safe cabinet. Tim O’Leary installed a Schlage King Cobra narrow stile lockset in an aluminum door. Tim Oleary also offered ideas for how to service electronic locksets. A report from the South East Regional Locksmith Association (SERLAC) showed that the association is alive and well. Sargent applied for patents on a new F1 version of the Keso high security lock sytem. Tiny serviced the locks on a Toyota Scion Xb.
How Do We Do That?
Among many other imports, locks from foreign lands are flooding the market. This is especially true for furniture locks. Substitute key blanks such as Ilco 1639 and 1640 have been found to be acceptable substitutes but depth and spaces are unknown. Locksmith Ledger continually collects examples of unusual original keys and locks of any kind and puts the keys under the microscope on our comparator to determine the proper depth and spaces. We then go to the keyboard and find a substitute key which fits into the lock.
Pictures show the story. Our latest experiments are in measuring Illinois Duo keys. Keys such as Illinois Duo add false cuts to discourage visual depth reading. There are no shoulder stops on Illinois double-sided keys. A 'flat' cut into the blank during origination hits against the first wafer in the lock and serves as a stop. Our comparator easily discovers the details.
Most key dimensioning today is by millimeters. As example- if a key cut depth measurement is found to be .227 inches, the measurement can be multiplied by a constant of 25.4 to convert to MM. The example equals 5.76 MM. In most cases it has been found that lock manufacturers will not need such an exacting key cut measurement. Round 5.76 to 5.8, divide 5.8 by 25.4 and the factory depth will be .228. The next time you call Locksmith Ledger for depth and space measurements you will know how it was done.
