| Locks and keys were known long before the birth of | | | | were elaborate designs, such as birds and flowers. |
| Christ. They are mentioned frequently in the Old | | | | They were also invented the ward locks, which with |
| Testament and in mythology. In the Book of Nehemiah, | | | | modifications are still very much in use. Wards are |
| chapter 3, it is stated that when repairing the old gates | | | | projections around the keyhole, which prevented the |
| of the City of Jerusalem - probably in 445 B.C. - they | | | | lock from being turn without the proper key. The |
| "set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and | | | | roman also fashion miniature keys that could be worn |
| the bars thereof." They were large and crude in | | | | as rings. But ward lock were relatively easy to pick. |
| design; yet their principle of operation was the | | | | Millions of locks were needed to keep this vast and |
| forerunner of the modern pin-tumbler locks of today. | | | | growing mountain of property secure and intact. The |
| At this time, locks were made of wood. | | | | locksmith sets about designing locks whose cost and |
| The oldest example of a mechanically lock was found | | | | strength linked to the value of what they were |
| among the ruins of the palace of Khorasabad in | | | | protecting. They were kept on their toes by thieves |
| Niveveh. This lock has come to be known as an | | | | and burglars. |
| Egyptian door lock, because of it's widespread use in | | | | In the 14th century, the locksmith's guilds became |
| Egypt. It utilized a crossbar set into two surface | | | | prominent. In order to be accepted as master |
| mounts that was completely enclosed save for a | | | | locksmith, one had to create and submit a working lock |
| small opening for the key. Moveable pins were | | | | and key to the guild. As the guild gained control over |
| dropped by gravity into cavities on the crossbar and | | | | locksmiths, including regulating techniques and prices, |
| locked the door. As the key was inserted into the lock | | | | corruption increased. The result was locks were made |
| it would move hidden pins out of the way and allow | | | | to be displayed in the guild hall and not for installation |
| the crossbar to be removed. This is considered to be | | | | purposes. Consequently, some beautiful locks and |
| the forerunner of the modern pin tumbler style of lock | | | | keys came into existence with no technological or |
| that we use today. | | | | security advances. |
| The Greeks used a lock that worked by fastening the | | | | During the 1940s, with the onset of the Second World |
| wooden bolt and staple to the inside of the door. The | | | | War, many locksmith specialists became a priceless |
| key a sickle-shaped wooden or iron key manipulated | | | | commodity. The locksmiths who were in business |
| and lift the bolt. This lock, compare to the latter one | | | | during this era did not have time to process the |
| provided little security. | | | | invention in their field but focus primarily on the war. |
| The Romans fabricated the first metal lock based on | | | | Many locksmiths were drafted into service while |
| Egyptian principles. They designed pins of various | | | | others continued to work as locksmiths during this era. |
| shapes with keys and keyholes. Many of the keys | | | | |