THE LATCHKEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 9

THE LATCHKEY.

There are few articles of domestic use able to claim longer ancestry than the key, and it is interesting to discover that an old bronze key of Roman origin was actually made on much the same pattern as are many of the modern keys of to-<day (says F.N.tF. in the Manchester Guardian). Most of the ancient keys now preserved in European museums are of bronze, pro. bnbly because this metal has proved to be the most durable. The iron locks into which it is presumed they were fitted have unfortunately been unable to withstand decay, Many of the old Roman latchkeys were worn on the finger in the form of a ring, a custom that must have been rather inconvenient, although it is possible that the finger key was only carried when away from home. The so-called “ Gothic ” keys, made in this country during the fifteenth century, were usually of beautiful design, the" handles being formed of an openwork pattern in keeping with the carving on the chest or door in which they were to be used. As time went on keys became even more elaborate still, and those of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were fre qnently gilded and chased. Some of these old keys are valuable, and high prices have been given by collectors for perfect and uncommon specimens. Perhaps the most beautiful keys of those days were made in Italy and France, but tbc English locksmiths were capable workmen, and it was customary for an apprentice to make a specimen key before, being admitted to membership of his guild. Naturally this key. being somewhat an equivalent of the modern examination paper, was the subject of much careful workmanship, and no doubt moat of the best specimens preserved to this day were originally made as guild keys. The decline o! the key, so far as beauty is concerned, appears to have taken place with the introduction of machinery, and now the latchkey is a very practical affair, without pretence to he anything more than strictly utilitarian. In fact, it is almost imp .ssible to discoter a modern key, other than those made for the purpose of presentation. that is even of pleasing shape The modern latchkey is little more than two inches long, and is as thin as card board N’o two locks arc quite the same, so that the keys supplied with one are useless for any other. These latchkeys are very convenient, and. being stamped out bv tbc thousand in blank, are cheap enough. One cannot hut regret, however, that all the elegance and beauty of the old-fashioned keys should have departed when modern methods superseded tinguild.-. of the locksmiths, for beautiful keys are quiet possible even to-day.