Locks and keys belong to the list of the most ancient mechanisms used by humanity. The oldest lock discovered dates back to 4,000 years. It was used in ancient Egypt. The urge to protect one's belongings from others led to the discovery of the basic forms of lock and key. It originated with the idea of personal property. The first locks were made of metal. The Greeks had used a kind of lock that bolted doors from the inside. It was just a plain wooden bolt and staple, with a sickle shaped wooden or iron key used to lift the bolt.

Metal locks

The Romans made the first metal locks. Roman keys and keyholes had elaborate designs, such as birds and flowers. The ward locks, in which projections around the keyholes prevented the lock from being turned without the proper key, were a Roman invention. Very much in use even now, ward locks are relatively easier to pick. Padlocks came next. The Russians, Chinese, Turkish and the Indians used ornate metal padlocks in which the keyhole was often concealed. During the 18th century, the English developed more complicated locks, including the double-tumbler lock, the basis of all lever locks even now.

These days, people are more than ever worried about making their houses and belongings secure.

A strong front door is considered as the basic requirement for making any house burglar-proof. Though a wide variety of doors are made these days, the type of locks fitted on the doors depends on the customers' preference. Points out an employee at Manual Wood Industries, a leading door manufacturer in Kochi, "We usually fix the locks selected by the customers."

Securing the doors is generally about investing in a good lock and key system for the house-builders. An additional iron cross bar fixed on the inside of the door is the maximum that people resort to in improving the strength of the door.

A few tips

However, the security division of Godrej, one of India's leading lock manufacturers, gives its customers a few tips on securing the front door. It is suggested that all main doors should ideally be made up of solid wood of at least 35 mm thickness. This is needed to accommodate a good quality lock and other fittings.

A solid wooden frame is another requirement to enhance the sturdiness of the main door structure. Glass panels or stained glass windows around the main doors are not advisable as they increase the possibility of a break in.

A peephole to check out the visitors outside is a necessity for front doors. Likewise, a door safety chain is another must to prevent the possibility of a forced entry.

Cost factor

A wide variety of high-tech locks and keys are now being marketed. The prices of these locks range anywhere from Rs.6,000 to Rs.15,000 for the upper end products. The price varies with the finish of the handle set and key.

The ideal lock system for the main door is said to be one with a high key combination. These days, electronic locks using advanced technology are becoming popular. The e-keys have over 19 trillion lakh key combinations, which ensure non-interchangeability. These locks operate without keyholes, mostly with an electronic eye helping to open the lock. Card locks are also gaining popularity, especially in hotels and offices.

The e-lock system has changed the lock and key concept drastically. With the most modern software, any number of cards could be configured according to the customer's needs. Even the time of opening the lock could be traced while using the e-lock and key system.