Locking devices have been around for centuries, the oldest found was a 4,000 year old Egyptian lock in the ruins of the palace of Khorasabad. A Locksmith profession was not common until the mid 20th century. From the late 1930s until the 1950s, being a locksmith was considered more of a craft or a side money operation rather than a main source of income. It was uncommon to find a shop that specialized only in locksmiths, and commercial and residential locks had very few differences at this time. A combination padlock was invented in 1948 by Harry C. Miller, which he revised over the next year to be tamper proof appropriate for filing cabinets and safes. These decades started the fire underneath the trade of the locksmith.

The 50s’ proved to be a decade of innovation as the housing boom required products that were easier to install and faster to produce. Companies were constantly changing the sizes, styles, and types of locks they offered to match the competitiveness of the market. As a result, locksmiths were hired more for lock replacement than anything else. Lockmasters locksmith school was founded in 1954 in response to the demand from the industry, and still remains a leading institution in current times.

The 60s’ finalized the locksmith as a true profession as safety became more of a public concern. The importance and emphasis placed on security resulted in the industry producing more deadbolts. The amount of foreign cars and motorcycles that were introduced into the market also increased demand for locksmiths to educate themselves on the differences of locks overseas.

Lock technology and innovation skyrocketed in the following decade, with less lock replacement and more lock maintenance. Both residential and car locks evolved during this time. The introduction of key code cutting machines in the 70s’ further changed the locksmith into more of a trade with a science. GM introduced the first modern locking steering wheel lock just before the beginning of the decade.

Mechanical high security locks were more common in response to the large urban expansion that was experienced in the 1980s’. Security company Schlage introduced the first wireless alarm system made specifically for residential purchases. Car security also experienced a huge leap in effectiveness during this time, causing the old slim jim style tool that used to open any vehicle to become obsolete. The Locksmith profession became regulated as well, with business, specialty, and sometimes contractors’ licenses required by the state government.

The last two decades have pushed car keys that opened doors, trunks, and even glove compartment into the past as remote devices became commonplace. The Passive Anti-Theft System was introduced in 1995 by Ford, and luxury car producers began to introduce keyless devices. Electric locks became more developed and standardized in residential and commercial forms as well.

Are you in need of a locksmith? Accurate Safe & Lock has been servicing the Seattle area for over 60 years. Give us a call at 206-284-0151 or contact us online for a free quote today!

Sources: Locksmithing Ledger, Lockmasters, and Queens New York.

Don’t you miss the days where you could leave your doors unlocked, your keys in your car, and let your kids play freely without worrying yourself sick? Those days seem to be history although there is the occasional town that still trusts its neighbors. Best to keep your guard up in this city though because it’s been named the most dangerous city in America:

Flint, Michigan

Violent Crimes per 1,000 people: 23.4

Population: 102,357

2011 murders: 52

Median Income: $22,672

Unemployment rate: 18.9%

In 2011 alone there were over 2,000 incidents of violent crime occurred in Flint, Michigan. When you consider that their population comes in a just over 100,000 people 2,000 violent crimes have affected a large percentage of people living in the area. These numbers are particularly staggering when you compare them to the safest cities in America. There were only 1,246 violent crimes in all ten of the safest cities which boast over 13 times as many residents as Flint. Flint’s mayor Dayne Walling was quoted saying, “there are too many guns on the street and it’s easy for individuals with evil motives to take another human being’s life.”

This just goes to prove how lucky we are to be living in the Pacific Northwest! Stay safe everyone and remember to lock your doors.

There are a few different circumstances that require the locks on your house to be changed. Sometimes, this task is not high on our priority list but it is necessary for the safety of your home, your belongings, and yourself.

• If you have a large family, it won’t take too many years before you have re-made keys multiple times. Kids tend to lose things, and their house key is no exception. Also you may have given keys to friends and never gotten them back. Regardless, if you don’t know exactly how many keys you have or have handed out to others it is time to call your Seattle locksmith! Changing them will let you rest easy knowing that you are safe.

• If you are a new homeowner it is absolutely essential that you change your locks the day you are moving in. You have no idea who could have a copy of the key that opens your house and why risk it?

• If you have just started renting a house or apartment it is important to talk to your landlord about the key situation. He or she should have the locks changed after each tenant moves out to maintain privacy and safety.

• If you lose your key chain with your house key attached it may be a good idea to change the locks just in case. You may be saying to yourself, how would someone know that, that specific key belongs to my specific house. Well you don’t know until it’s too late.

All in all, it is important to use discretion when deciding when to change the locks. And if you are really wanting to increase your home security installing an alarm system may be the best option for you.

All over the world couples are fastening padlocks on popular bridges, railings, fences, even light posts, and throwing away the key. These locks are meant to symbolize everlasting love between the two who placed it. With people making these romantic gestures all around the globe, you’d think that Seattle would have caught on to the trend by now. About 2 years ago the Seattle Daily Photo blog spotted one solitary lock fastened to the cable fence of the Salmon Bay Natural Area overlook. This location is particularly symbolic as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are within sight of the lookout. Throwing the key into the water below is the perfect way to represent the love you share with your significant other. We hope that more couples will choose to represent their love at this beautiful spot and create a whole new Seattle landmark! Check out this article at BuzzFeed to see some photos of love padlocks all around the world: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mathieus/love-padlocks-invade-the-world-8q

Does your key get stuck in your deadbolt every single time you try and lock or unlock your door? You probably need to clean the lock out. Here is an easy DIY process to try before you go and replace your lock.

The Tools:

Screwdriver

Canned Air

WD-40 lubricant

Old Toothbrush

Step 1: Remove deadbolt

Use the screwdriver to remove your deadbolt from the door

Step 2: Canned Air

Use your canned air to clear the deadbolt of any dust or dirt that may accumulated. Make sure that no moisture from the canned air is left in the lock because this could cause rusting in the future.

Step 3: Toothbrush

Take a dry toothbrush and remove any grime that might me stuck on the deadbolt. Once again, never use any water when cleaning a lock because rust will most likely develop.

Step 4: WD-40 or similar silicon graphite lubricant

Once your lock is clear of dirt and dust apply your lubricant sparingly. It is important that the lock mechanisms all move smoothly but excess lubricant must be avoided. This can be applied to the key hole as well as the deadbolt.

Step 5: Reinstall

Your lock is now properly cleaned and lubricated so now you must reinstall your deadbolt. As you realign the gears and cylinders of the lock use your screwdriver to secure the deadbolt back into place.

If cleaning your deadbolt didn’t do the trick, contact Accurate Safe & Lock for further assistance.

Source: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-clean-your-deadbolt-lock/

WD-40 photo Source: http://adenwalla.net/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=2&products_id=208

Air Duster photo Source:

Toothbrush photo Source: http://toolmonger.com/2008/07/16/tips-toothbrushes-not-just-for-teeth/

Screwdriver photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Screw_Driver_display.jpg