Things You Most Likely Didn’t Know About Locksmiths
Compared to many other trades where public perception of the trades gets updated every once in a while, it appears people still perceive locksmiths as professionals whose expertise revolves around opening doors and cutting keys.
Of course, these are still part and parcel of a locksmith’s job description, but the trade as a whole has dramatically evolved over the last century (just as with everything else.) With that in mind, here are 5 things I bet you didn’t know about locksmiths.
- Locksmiths Also Work Undercover
Locksmiths don’t just work during business hours, then call it a day. Most of them also receive calls to assist law enforcement in the dead of night. Whenever police officers need immediate access to facilities because they suspect criminal activities, they often call the nearest locksmiths.
If a burglar uses lock picking or other covert techniques and destroys safes or locks, law enforcements rely on locksmiths to find weaknesses in the system and fix them accordingly. Trained and experienced locksmiths have the ability to outsmart and outmaneuver even the most skilled criminals with sophisticated tools.
- Locksmithing Is An Ancient Profession
Locks and keys are inventions dating as far back as ancient Egyptians. The oldest lock that archeologists have discovered was located in the ruins of the Khorsabad Palace and is posited to be well over 4,000 years old.
The huge wooden lock appears to be a prototype of the modern pin-tumbler locks, consisting of a bolt with a slot containing numerous holes on its upper surface that secures the door, as well as wooden pegs that fill these holes to prevent anyone from opening the bolt.
Regarding metal locks, they weren’t created until way later by the Romans. In Rome, the very wealthy and aristocrats locked away their valuables and wore their keys around as a status symbol.
- King Louis XVI Was Convicted By A Locksmith
Francois Gamain was a good friend of King Louis XVI and a locksmith from Versailles. He was also a royal locksmith tasked with installing and constructing the armoire de fer.
The armoire de fer, also referred to as the “iron chest,” was an iron safe in King Louis XVI’s bedroom containing some of the most compromising and secret documents, including the correspondence for which he was charged with treason and later executed.
As the French revolutions were picking up pace, Gamain came forward with proof of the King’s conspiracies that were kept in the same safe he had constructed for him. Shortly after that, Louis XVI was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by the guillotine.
- Harry Houdini Was A Locksmith
Harry Houdini, arguably the most famous escape artist and illusionist in American history, was originally a locksmith before becoming a performer. Born in Budapest on April 6, 1874, Houdini’s family moved to the States, where he started working as a locksmith’s apprentice at the tender age of 11.
Eventually, he learned to pick virtually all locks. In his lifetime, Houdini also studied the work of a renowned French magician called Houdin, who inspired both the name Houdini and harry’s eventual career path.
- Different Types of Locksmiths
Did you know most locksmiths give specific, zeroed-in emphases for services? In fact, there are approx. seven different types of locksmiths: emergency, forensic, institutional, key-cutting, automobile, commercial, and residential.
For instance, residential locksmiths typically offer security services to homes, whereas institutional locksmiths offer security services to places like hospitals, schools, government units, and more.
Have you ever heard of forensic locksmiths? These are experts trained not only to inspect security systems at crime scenes but also to do so with knowledge of distinct practices, such as microscopic examination, evidence collection, metallurgy, evidence preservation, photography, and more.
Conclusion
As the security industry and its standards have evolved, so have Locksmiths. As such, if you’re not sure whether or not your property’s security features are up to date and would like them assessed, call us today or contact us through our website for assistance.
