Facts & Info - Historic locks
Watch this product and we will notify you once it is back in stock.
Facts & Info - Historic locks
At all times, we have wanted to lock our doors to protect ourselves and our possessions. The oldest construction of locks that one knows of was placing a hasp or latch to block the door, but eventually the locks became more technically refined to more and more resemble the ones we use today. Here we will go through some different types of locks, typical from the Iron Age up to the turn of the century around the 1900s.
One of the earliest modern locks was invented in the 15th century and had a pretty simple construction. The lock was kept in a locked position with a spring and could only be opened when it was pushed up by a key. Initially this type of lock was used in coffins, but after the 16th century it also became common on doors. Thanks to the beveled piston, the door could then be slammed shut and the lock automatically went into a locked position. Cabinet locks often have this construction without handles and are intended to be used only from one side of the door. The housing of the lock is usually mounted on the inside of the door and the key serves as a handle.
In the 17th century, locks became sealed with an outer casing and constructions with helical springs started to occur. Locks without casing were still used but were given a lower status and placed at store houses, etc. The built-in locks were often called square locks, but the construction was pretty much the same (usually a lock with spiral springs).
As a development on the square lock, the chamber lock was invented, with a square housing in steel which also is the type of lock we have in our range. They are attached to the inside of the door and were initially quite large, but they were refined over time and began to be manufactured by the end of the 19th century. The chamber lock was common into the 20th century and could be equipped with a handle, often with through keyholes and later also with a night latch - a mechanism that made it possible to lock the door from the inside for the night. This type can often be encountered in the apartment houses in Stockholm built between 1850-1960. Different variants for right- or left-hinged doors are available, but you can find a chamber lock being placed upside down if after a certain time it was needed on another door.
Source: "Ur låsets utvecklingshistoria," Professor Sigurd Erixon
Related products
-
Chamberlain key - Old-fashioned key blank
100 mm (3.93 in.). Key blank for different types of locks. Untreated steel.
101-450
120 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 12 pc. in stock
-
Escutcheon for chamber locks - F A Stenman
50 x 30 mm (1.97 x 1.18 in.). Untreated steel. Time period: late 1800s to 1940.
101-406
55 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 15 pc. in stock
-
Escutcheon for chamber locks - F.A. Stenman
Escutcheon for chamber locks in untreated steel. 54 x 38 mm (2.13 x 1.5 in.).
101-405
39 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 18 pc. in stock
-
Cabinet Lock - Th Adolfsson 239
87 x 50 mm (3.43 x 1.97 in.). Time period: 1900-1945. Untreated steel.
101-403-H
695 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 5 pc. in stock
-
Escutcheon Cabinet/Closet - Låsbolaget
48 x 28 mm (1.89 x 1.10 in.). Escutcheon for cabinet, closet, or wardrobe doors. Time period: 1890-1930. Untreated steel.
101-407
50 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 1 pc. in stock
-
Escutcheon Cabinet/Closet - F A Stenman
41 x 27 mm (1.61 x 1.06 in.). Escutcheon for cabinet, closet, or wardrobe doors. Time period: 1890-1945. Untreated steel.
101-408
50 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 12 pc. in stock
-
Spring for old locks - Spring Låsbolaget nr 3 K
Spare part for an old inner door lock.
101-272
110 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 72 pc. in stock
-
Spring for old locks - Spring Låsbolaget nr 2
Spare part for an old inner door lock.
101-271
110 SEK / pc.- Stock status
- 28 pc. in stock
-
Chamber Door Lock - Låsbolaget no. 3
86 x 91 mm (3.39 x 3.58 in.). Time period: 1900-1940. Steel with brass handles.
P-101-400
1 224 SEK / pkg.Multiple Variants- Stock status
- 1 pkg. in stock
-
Chamber Lock - F A Stenman 3
100 x 70 mm (3.94 x 2.76 in.). Time period 1895-1940. Steel with brass knob.
P-101-402
1 309 SEK / pkg.Multiple Variants- Stock status
- 6 pkg. in stock
-
Chamber Lock - F A Stenman 2
100 x 70 mm (3.94 x 2.76 in.). Time period 1895-1940. Steel with brass handle.
P-101-401
1 369 SEK / pkg.Multiple Variants- Stock status
- 4 pkg. in stock
Inspiration
✓ Low shipping fee
✓ Personalized support
✓ 30-day return policy
✓ Personalized support
✓ 30-day return policy
Description
Deliveries
- Shipping cost is based on weight, volume, and shipping method and is calculated at checkout.
- Items in stock are shipped from us within 2-5 business days.
- For customers outside the EU (excluding Norway), local taxes, duties, and customs fees may apply depending on your country's regulations, and will then be billed by the carrier.
Returns
- You have the right to cancel your purchase and make a return within 30 days from when you received your item.
- When invoking the right of withdrawal, you as the customer are responsible for the return shipping cost.
- For returns of pallets (bathroom porcelain, tiles, cast iron stoves etc.) and long goods (floors, moldings, trim, stucco, etc.), the return shipping is booked locally and can therefore be higher than the delivery cost.
- Special rules apply to custom-made goods and lumber, read more under our complete terms and conditions.
- Always contact support before making a return and if you have questions about our terms of purchase.
Complete Terms of Purchase
