TWENTY YEARS AGO
Jerry Levine introduced Lever locks from NT Falcon and Marks USA. Locks servicing techniques were demonstrated for a Chrysler LeBaron. Instructions were shown for installing a Powerstar Inverter in a service van. A locksmith in Hawaii reported on the how to fit keys to the first Nissan models coming from Japan with an X237 keyway. Jerry Levine installed a Glynn-Johnson Sensa-gard 280 door holder/release smoke detector. Louis George outlined various types of hardware for commercial doors. Richard Formica noted that most new cars were using door handles with integrated lock cylinders. Next step- no vehicle door cylinders at all. Ed Hite explained the procedure for determining the application, surveying the job and selecting the correct electric strike product. Abloy introduced the Desmo cam lock. Where is it now? Anita Bishop began a new Allstate column featuring answers to locksmith insurance questions. David Halls discussed the RCI "2" series line of electric strikes. Rofu introdeuced their 1450 electric strike. Milt Wolferseder serviced a Mosler Record safe. Charles Cole provided lock servicing procedures for a Sentry model 1610 electronic safe lock while Dave Davis showed how to open a Horizon floor safe.
TEN YEARS AGO
High Security locks was the feature topic. Tom Gillespie looked at High Security locks from a key control perspective. Dale Bowman, Medeco Security Locks, suggested adding High Security Locks as an added level of security to an electronic access control system. Jerry Levine discussed the Yale 7000 series exit device which incorporates luminescence to assist in exiting in emergencies. A Ledger article described door pivots of every type. Tim O’Leary looked at new video systems on the market. A Modeye CCTV camera system was the topic of an installation article. Rod Oden asked the question: "Who Owns the Master Key System"? Jerry Levine reported on Detex EAX500 and EAX2500 exit alarms. Gale Johnson was on location as modern exit devices were installed in place of ancient mortise locks. Tiny serviced the unusual lock system on a Range Rover.
Changing Times
If anybody needs a reference point showing a comparison between the past and present, one only has to look at their bookshelves. This reporter built a wall of cabinets years ago for a collection of magazines, code books, catalogs and product announcements. The cabinets occupy a space of six feet in height by approximately twenty feet in length. One whole shelf section contained the fifteen volumes of Reed code books plus Reed tubular and padlock code books.
Another shelf section contained antique code books dating back to the 1930s. While many of these old code books were ragged and torn, they still contained important information whenever they were needed. As example, Yale made locks for several car models including Chrysler cars during the 1930s. Yale also made a hand-cranked code machine for originating car keys such as the Chrysler Omega keys with bent blade sections. Photos here show the worn cover of the 10s9s Yale Code book and a page with priceless Omega key blank dimensioning.
One more photo shows where all that information is stored today. One small micro card holds all the important information which was once stored on that twenty foot line of cabinets. Technology is ever-changing whether it is for technical information or for the security products we now sell and service.
