Locks and Bolts

In this articles we’ll look at locks – devices which keep doors shut and usually need a key to open them; bolts, which are simple shafts which extend into the door jamb, to keep a door shut; and latches, which there are mnay different types of, but usually require neither key nor handle to keep a door shut. In other words, from the highest security door-shutter, to the lowest!

We distinguish between two main types of locks:

Mortise lock - it requires a pocket, or mortise, to be cut into the door where the lock is installed.

Rim lock - it is mounted to the outer surface of a door. Simply said, the mortise lock is mounted inside the doors, and the rim lock is a surface mounted lock.

The most popular designs of door locks and bolts:

Securing ones possessions' has been a concern of people throughout history. Keep your hands off my stuff! That’s why countless types of door locks and bolts have been invented; decorated with rich ornaments or simply difficult to penetrate, they are the demonstration of human creativity and imaginativeness. Most popular are those made of cast brass which originate in the early Victorian days or even in the beginning of the 19th century. Sometimes they are accompanied by a security chain (which is now a must for every home). The brass has often not been lacquered, and so will gently mellow with age and use, developing a lovely patina over time. The other main type are the cast iron locks or bolts which are from late 19th century, usually painted black and being of a high quality. If you are looking for newer ‘old’ items, we recommend nickel bolts of the mid 20th century style. They are ideal for exterior or French doors, as they can bolt into the door frame.

Interesting fact:

The first known lock with a key was a pin lock, where a cylinder of wood with a hole drilled through its axis was the key. The length of the cylinder was what made the key unique. It was strung on a rope hanging out of a hole in a door. The key was inserted into the hole and the rope pulled, to push the cylinder, to push the bolt the correct distance. To lock the door you would just pull on the rope to extract the key cylinder while simultaneously closing the bolt. This type of lock is still in use in certain parts of the world. One of the reasons these locks fell out of favor was that anybody could push the rope into the hole; an ancient equivalent of putting glue into a lock.

Early improvements in pin locks included increasing the number of pins to increase security, and changing the orientation of the pins to allow the key to provide the unlocking force instead of a rope. These were the first steps to establishing the modern pin tumbler lock, and therefore, the first steps to the modern dilemma of constantly misplacing your car keys…

The next type developed was developed a warder’s lock, which is still used in present times when the security required is not high and cost is a significant factor. It is the first lock design to have a key recognizable for today’s use.