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A local locksmith asked for my help last week with a real problem. His customer had a locked, ornate sea chest which was made in the 19th century. The lock appeared to be handmade and used an extremely large barrel key. The customer wanted the chest opened, but did not want the lock or chest damaged in any way.  No barrel keys listed in key catalogs approached the size needed for this lock. 

 
I accepted the challenge and made an exact etching of the complicated keyway outlined on the decorative cover plate. A block of aluminum was shaped on my milling machine to form a giant barrel key. Finally, side grooves were milled into the blade portion according to measurements from my etching drawing. With a little hand filing on-site, the key unlocked the spring latch damage-free. The original key was later found locked inside the chest.
That job brought out the best in me. It was enjoyable, challenging and a profitable assignment.  But there are not enough locked sea chests to keep me or any other locksmith busy these days.

The sign of the times can be found any place you look. ANSI specs have standardizing mortise sizes, so replacing a lock consists of using a screw driver and following instructions in the box. Keyable locks such as Kwikset and Master allow the owner to set their own key combination to a new lock without disassembly. Electronics is quickly replacing mechanical security systems. Check in to almost any hotel now and they will give you a card to unlock your room. Sit in almost any new car and you will find a transponder security system and in many cases no ignition lock at all.

Avocation is described in the dictionary as an activity engaged in for enjoyment, in addition to one's regular work. Most of us entered the locksmith profession as a vocation because we had a flair for the mechanical, and locks satisfied that interest. Besides, it is a profitable business in demand by the public.