Before we had locks and fancy security gadgets, we had padlocks. The history of padlocks is also the history of our obsession with the protection of our most valuable possessions.
The first documented padlocks date as far back as Ancient Rome. Merchant caravans and trade ships widely used them throughout Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and the South China Sea. Some merchants devised intricate padlocks to protect their most important valuables, like gold coins and royal documents. However, these ancient padlocks presented a very simple challenge for pirates and thieves in general. In any case, the best protection was to avoid robbery or capture by any means.
The history of padlocks in a nutshell
For many centuries, mostly artisans made those locks, using basic craft and materials. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in England, padlock making became a business. The manufacturing went from handcrafting to proper cast iron and steel castings. In 1877, Yale, one of the oldest and perhaps best world-known lock manufacturers, received a patent to produce more advanced padlocks housing levers and pins.
Padlock crafting evolved considerably in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with organizations like banks and jewelry needing more secure ways of keeping unwanted hands out of their vaults.
The evolution of industry and metal making has brought about considerable quality into locks. Although the functioning principle remains relatively unchanged, today you can enjoy added security with padlocks that include deadbolting, number combinations, electronic and digital features. In some cases, even biometrics authentication is incorporated.
No matter how obsessed you are with protecting your goods, a commercial locksmith can supply basic or advanced padlocks that will satisfy the most demanding customers. You can probably get similar satisfaction from a residential locksmith, but as a rule of thumb, their stock commonly dwells on the more basic type of padlock.
King Locksmith, a locksmith in Phoenix, can supply residential and commercial solutions for your padlock needs. They have been in the market of locksmithing for over two decades and have accumulated great experience in the use of padlocks. They can provide all types of padlock solutions for your peace of mind and confidence.
