Locks, they’ve been around since all of us existed. They’re pretty standard nowadays and you might think you know all there is to know about locks and keys, but in this post, we’ve put together a list of the most fascinating facts that you might not know, that will make you look at locks and keys, a little differently than you did before!
#1: They’re old
Considering new locks come into the market every day, it might come as a shock to realize just how old locks really are! The very first lock, is said to have been made by the Egyptians, some 4,000 years ago! Of course, they didn’t look like the locks we have today, and most were just made out of ropes, but that’s where they came from!
#2: The ancient key keepers, aren’t who you’d expect
Considering how bad gender equality is even in 2021, you’d think that in ancient times, the key keepers would also be men in power, but that’s not the case! In historic times, including Ancient Rome and the Viking era, it was the women who’d be the key keepers, and not the men! They’d even wear the rings as jewelry to show off their power!
#3: Keys haven’t always been simple tools
Today, keys serve one purpose, to open locks, but that wasn’t always the case. In ancient times, throughout history, keys have been used as a status symbol. They were worn and showed off by the rich because they represented that they had a lot to “lock away”, as homes were not locked back then, instead, they were guarded!
#4: Being a magician wasn’t Houdini’s first job
We all know Henry Houdini as the greatest magician to have ever lived. It may come as a surprise that being a magician wasn’t his first calling, instead, he was a locksmith! Using the sleight of hand and the art he learned from his time as a locksmith, he was able to break through and become a successful magician!
#5: Bobby pins aren’t as good as keys
Even though movies and pop culture, in general, make it seem like bobby pins are the best tool to use if you don’t have access to keys, they’re actually not. They’re just convenient to always have on hand, which makes them great for fiction. In reality, a lot of locks are simply too small for the pins to even fit through!
#6: Not all locksmiths are human
Even though it makes sense for humans, who made the locks and know the way they function, to be able to pick locks, we’re not the only ones with the know-how. Birds can pick locks too! At least, one special parrot called “Magic”. In 2014, Magic picked two locks that were holding him in his cage while his owners were away on vacation. Embodying Houdini, in feathered form.
#7: Fort Knox is secure for a reason
Fort Knox is where a lot of the US Government stores its gold. This type of treasure can’t just be kept under a regular lock and key. The locks for the building, each and every one of them, are changed every day. So every single staff member that works there, has to get a new code, every morning! Inconvenient, but super secure!
#8: A strong lock is nothing without the right locksmith
Today, there are hundreds of different types of locks available in the markets. A lot of these locks are super strong, virtually unbreakable, but, they’re not just going to provide you crazy security on their own, they need to be fitted properly. Locksmith Queens, or a recommended locksmith in your area, will be able to properly fit your locks, which is the way to ensure their proper functionality!