If you get locked out of your home, office, or car, you will likely turn to a locksmith for help. These professionals have the tools and expertise to unlock doors if you lose your keys. They can also make keys and refit locks for extra security. Despite the necessity of this profession, few people know how locksmiths came to be. However, you can learn more about this group by exploring their origins below. 

Ancient Locksmiths

Locksmithing is a longstanding profession going back about 4,000 years to Ancient Egypt and Babylon. Locks were not as sophisticated then as they are now. They were generally large wooden structures with pins that only a large wooden key could move. They were used to protect valuables. Eventually, the technology spread to Rome, Greece, and China. 

In Rome, wealthy individuals always kept keys on their fingers as rings. Keeping a key on your body was a way to display your wealth in Ancient Rome. Only people with valuables to protect could use keys to symbolize their social status and wealth.  

The Switch to Metal Locks & Keys

Between 870 and 900 AD, people turned from clumsy wooden locks to metal ones. It is believed that the first metal locks were created by English and Chinese craftsmen using iron and brass. These simple locks worked by turning, skewing, or pushing the key. 

Metal locks didn't see much design improvement until the 14th to 17th centuries. During that time, noblemen would ask smiths to create ornate designs with royal crests and symbols to showcase one's social status and familial ties. 

Locksmithing in the Modern Age

Advanced metallurgy in 18th-century Europe gave way to improved lock mechanisms for added security. The industrial revolution produced complicated locks. After a major burglary in 1817 on the Portsmouth Dockyard, the British government announced a competition to create the best lock. The winner was the Chubb detector, which was hard to pick and showed signs of tampering. From that point, smiths continued creating new designs. However, their innovations caused them to become repairmen to fix broken locks and replace lost keys.

Today, most locks are variations of the Chubb lock and the Linus Yale double-acting pin tumbler lock from 1848. The most significant innovation was the creation of electronic chips that allow for electronic locking mechanisms that operate with key cards, biometrics, or PINs. Locksmiths expanded their knowledge through the years to build, open, and replicate any lock and key design.

When you need help opening a door or securing your home with a new lock, contact the expert locksmiths at A-1 Alabama Key & Locksmith. Located in Tuscaloosa, AL, this licensed, bonded, and insured company has provided commercial and residential locksmith services for over four decades. Their services include lock changes and repair. Their skilled team also offers mobile locksmithing services to unlock vehicles and high-tech computerized keys to boost a property's security. Request assistance by calling (205) 758-8000, or visit them online for more details.