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4000 BCE
FIRST WORKING LOCK
More than 6000 years ago in Ancient Egypt an unknown locksmith created a simple pin and tumbler lock made only of wood. The key, a large wooden toothbrush-like hunk of wood with small pegs that corresponded to the pins in the lock itself, is inserted into the hole and upon lifting the key upward, would push the pins out of the way allowing the lock to be opened. -
DOUBLE ACTING TUMBLER LOCK
Robert Barron invented a lock in which levers are pushed up to a specific height. Each lever contains a gate through which the bolt stump moves allowing the lock to be opened. -
BRAMAH LOCK
Joseph Bramah invented a lock with a cylindrical key and hole. This key had slots of varying depths in the hole and press in and twist. Wafers are caught in the slots of the key and spun to open the lock. -
DETECTOR LOCK
Jeremiah Chubb invented the first detector lock. This lock is identical to the Barron lock except with an internal security feature. If the wrong key is inserted, the key is locked in and cannot be removed. -
PIN TUMBLER LOCK
Linus Yale, Sr. invented a lock in which a key, very similar to the ones that we are used to, is inserted in the plug hole. Five or six pins are lifted to various heights depending on how high the lock ridges rise in coordination with the key. When all the pins are pushed up in place the plug is allowed to rotate allowing the lock to be opened. -
COMBINATION LOCK
James Sargent invented a combination lock in which a number dial is attached to a spindle. As the spindle spins, if each number in the combination lines up correctly, the spaces for the ledges on the lock should line up allowing the lock to be opened.
