BRITISH LOCKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18521, 4 October 1923, Page 13

BRITISH LOCKS.

A SPECIALISED TRADE.

BEST TYPES, TO STOCK.

The manufacture of locks in Britain has become a highly specialised trade, and the British manufacturers have,' for many years been meeting the demands, of markets all over the world. Most* of the firms are to be found in the Black Country districts of Che Midlands with Wolverhampton and Willenhall, as the chief centres. Mass production methods are employed, and the workmen have in most cases been born and reared in tho trade. , Under these conditions it is nob to be wondered at that the British firms are known all over Che world for their quality and cheapness. In the early days of the industry locks were made almost entirely by handwork, but in these days of cheap production the use of presser machine tools, and riveting machines has revolutionised the trade and made possible large output at low cost. In the cheap iron locks the body or case of the lock is generally cast, and always used to be so made, but now there are thousands of locks ..made with pressed, steel cases to. the advantage of boCh weight and cost. For the making of the component parts all sorts of trades are requisitioned, notably the extruded brass and hob brass pressing trades. •'.,"" . ■

Ordinary locks are made chiefly for doors. The biggest call '. is probably for what are known as rim latches and locks. These fasten on to the outside or inside of the door without the woodwork having to be cut. They are made for all purposes, to simply lock or unlock with the key, to latch without a key and unlatch with if, and also to unlatch with a sliding knob which can be locked .with a key that it v will not slide,, to latch and unlatch with a turning knob, and an additional bolt worked with a key. and in ofjier combinations. The locking gear varies from a, simple tumble action .to complicated lever actions. \