Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-12-13
Locks ANp rArIa HISTORY.
Interesting Facts IN Reelection to Their In
Ventlo,i and Evoiution.

LOCKS AND THEIR HISTORY.
Interesting Facts IN rei,.sion to Their In
ventioii and Evolution.
Since man became secretive or
covetous locks and bolts have been n
necessity. To keep would be in
trndcr on the right side OF door and
the fingers of thief from the object
of his cupidity our ancestors impro-
vised the wooden bar and designed
the mysterious lock. The latter was
of course the later product as involv-
ing mechanical skill and a knowledge
of metals The ancient Egyptians
are credited with the manufacture of
the original lock, which was simple
in construction and by no means
proof against the ingenuity of the
primitive burglar They were most
ly made OF wood, with an occasional
example of iron or copper. The
warded lock was further evolution,
and during the Middle Ages, in which
SO much of mechanical work was
associated with sacerdotal instincts
and objects the products were char
acterized by elaboration and the
highest style of finish.
The religion of mechanics in those
medieval times was conscience in
work and faith in its thoroughness,
10 which IN modern days we cannot
honestly make so valid claim. The
result i'll the art of lock making was
the production of specimens, of
which it is said that history and
antiquarians tell of no finer speci-
mems, art and handiwork being hap
PLY compared. The tumbler lock is
Mongolian, and has been in use in
the Celestial empire for centuries,
the ancient Chinese being artists in
mechanical devices, and by no means
the blsckheads SO literally scandal
lied on the sand lots and platforms
of modern times. The combination
paddock has also a venerable record,
and is attributed to the genius of a
French locksmith, the opinion, how
ever, being held by antiquarians that
its inception dates back to a remotor
period.
Be that as it may, it is evident that
in locks as in everything else in pure
mechanics, we are but improvers
on our predecessors. Ingenuity has
adapted itself to changing conditions.
The lock is more a necessity than
ever. 1t has more valuables to pro
tect, and better educated rogues to
frustrate, ard we are getting emf
nently rich in both articles, while in
the skill Of the locksmith as much as
in the valor of the police we place
the faith that leaves no headache in
our nightcaps, and keeps our bonds
and ledgers safe. We have evolu-
tionized in lock manufacture from
the Egyptian article to the modern
combination mystery of which, as
far as burglarious intentions are con-
cerned, there is no key but deposit
of giant powder or pinch of dyna-
mite.
1t is, however, to the four types of
locks named that we owe all subse-
UIc1O SNOiutIOllS, duu are IOO pCI-
haps, except in improvements, SO
far ahead of elderly skill as we some
times assume. 1t is simply matter
of pedigree, and in mechanical in
genuity, as in family calendar, we
could as reasonably expect to be on
the census roll without grand
father, as to be where we are
in manufactures without our ante
cedents. In the matter of locks
we care more about practical
protection than in making their
brass and iron monumental of a
canonized man or act and in this
sense we are in keeping with the age
that is n.ore anxious about its de-
posts than it's Biographies. 1t is,
however, none the less q fact that in
tho ingenious mechanism of the
modern lock we are but simply am
plifying the discoveries Of our prede-
cessols. Age of Steel.