The Origin of the Lock
When primitive people lived in a cave, they sometimes pushed boulders to block the entrance of the cave to be safe. They were not guarded against thieves but beasts. After the emergence of private ownership, the thief appeared, and the lock also occurred. As far back as 3,000 years ago, locks existed in China. However, the earliest locks had no mechanism, but were only made in the shape of ferocious animals such as tigers. They wanted to scare away thieves. The locks were only symbolic locks. It is said that Ban Lu was the first person to install a mechanism on the lock. According to the unearthed cultural relics and written records, the ancient locks were worked by the elastic force of two leaf springs. This spring is still used to this day.
In foreign countries, although the ancient Greeks invented a very reliable lock, it was difficult to popularize it in ordinary families. The key was large and had to be carried on the shoulder. The ancient Indians made another bird-shaped puzzle lock, with the keyhole hidden in the flapping wings. The modern lock was first invented by the British in the 18th century, that is, the invention of the welded lock. The widely used pin tumbler lock was invented in 1860 by an American named Nerus Yale Jr.
The invention of the key was later than the lock, and the ancient Egyptians were the first to use the key in the world. Their locks were wooden bolts inserted into a slot with a wooden bolt at the top. Once the latch is inserted into the slot, the wooden latch is inserted into the latch's hole. In this way, the bolt is so strong that it must be opened with a key.
Because the Egyptian lock can only be used on the side with the bolt, which is not conducive to flexible opening and closing. The Greeks developed a lock that can be opened from the other side on this basis. The key made by the Greeks was a bent wooden stick, shaped and sized like a farmer's small scythe. However, there are also some keys whose lengths are up to 3 feet and must be carried on the shoulder, which are quite heavy. The Romans can be said to be the most sophisticated locksmith in ancient times. They have studied the standard of making keys and have learned to cut the nails at the end of the key into various shapes.
In foreign countries, although the ancient Greeks invented a very reliable lock, it was difficult to popularize it in ordinary families. The key was large and had to be carried on the shoulder. The ancient Indians made another bird-shaped puzzle lock, with the keyhole hidden in the flapping wings. The modern lock was first invented by the British in the 18th century, that is, the invention of the welded lock. The widely used pin tumbler lock was invented in 1860 by an American named Nerus Yale Jr.
The invention of the key was later than the lock, and the ancient Egyptians were the first to use the key in the world. Their locks were wooden bolts inserted into a slot with a wooden bolt at the top. Once the latch is inserted into the slot, the wooden latch is inserted into the latch's hole. In this way, the bolt is so strong that it must be opened with a key.
Because the Egyptian lock can only be used on the side with the bolt, which is not conducive to flexible opening and closing. The Greeks developed a lock that can be opened from the other side on this basis. The key made by the Greeks was a bent wooden stick, shaped and sized like a farmer's small scythe. However, there are also some keys whose lengths are up to 3 feet and must be carried on the shoulder, which are quite heavy. The Romans can be said to be the most sophisticated locksmith in ancient times. They have studied the standard of making keys and have learned to cut the nails at the end of the key into various shapes.