Journals

It's the lock.   Seriously, no joking, no thoughts of self-promotion, but the lock is one of the oldest and most important inventions of all time.   “LOCK-AND-KEY, n. The distinguishing device of civilization and enlightenment.”  — Ambrose Bierce   People often remark that the modern pin tumbler lock is based off of a design originated in ancient Egypt, thousands of years ago. While this is initially a staggering and inspiring bit of minutia, the Egyptian gravity-dependant pin-tumbler lock was certainly not the first of it's kind. Locks have come in many different varieties over the years and many of our current varieties are mere variations of extremely old technology.      Brutally simple, but, in it's time, an effective design. Presently you will find this concept employed in lever tumbler locks    Locks draw the line between private and public, they determine, more than any money, any lawyer, or any receipt, what is mine and what is yours. Though many people are trusting by nature, we are distrustful by evolution, locks allowed us to trust, to congregate without fear of the security of our families, selves or possessions.  Then , as now, locks have served as a great social equalizer . A simple lock can stop the biggest thug. It puts the value of your loved ones and loved things  at exactly the same value as your neighbor .    Lacking locks we would have no commerce. How much would you be willing to pay for a stereo that you had no way of protecting? Would you invest $30k in a car with no locks? And the merchants themselves, how would they ever keep stock, take a holiday or sleep without a lock on the door?   During the terrible years of the Stasi in East Germany they restricted the import and manufacturing of locks. They built simple tools to compromise any lock the populace could buy. They knew that in controlling the locks they could control the people. If your lock only offers you privacy from some it offers you no privacy at all. It was both an effective means of maintaining access and an act of intimidation.   In communist Poland, when their own secret police demanded that any lock installed would have it's key registered with the local police, one company sought to give people a chance within the bounds of the law. The Sezam company created a lock that required a key, yes, but that key would then turn the wheels of a combination lock. In addition to this, they designed their lock so that the owner, him or herself could modify the code or even service the lock so they would never have to rely on the untrustworthy police or locksmiths to service the lock. It is said that, in reality, this lock only offered another minute's protection, as most doors could be breached by more violent means, but people were desperate for that 60 seconds, for the noise that would come from the destruction of their door, for the chance to protect themselves from unannounced intruders.   In addition to safety, locks also act as evidence. Locks that are used as seals allow the rightful owner to know if their privacy has been violated. The tradition is incredible old and has taken many forms. One of the simplest forms of a seal-lock is the thief knot , an odd knot, easily mistaken for a reef knot, that, when untied, is rarely retied properly.   The US (and some foreign) government(s) use a safe lock called the X-09, manufactured by the Kaba Mas group. This is one of the most advanced locks in the world, but it has many plastic components. It is used to protect highly classified information. Lists of operatives, mission plans, etc. It is designed to deny any possibility of surreptitious entry.   A short list of it's MANY features:    -The dial is non-linear. As you spin the wheel the numbers change (electronically) at random intervals, so a casual viewer would be unable to determine anything from how far you spin the dial in each direction.    -The dial is only viewable from head-on. Even a slight change in angle leaves the current number completely obfuscated so that only the user dialing it can view it.    -Even if the attacker is extraordinarily determined, removes the lock and replaces it with a brand new lock, the original user will know it has been tampered with. Each lock is sprayed, randomly, with paint inside the box itself, rendering a unique pattern on every lock before it ever leaves the factory.   And a lot more as well. It is with the security that this lock offers that everything from industry to espionage is able to function.   Again, the lock is the dividing line between public and private. It allows us to build communities, trade with each other, and acts as the perfect social equalizer , allowing every man, woman and child safety and security.