Canadian Locksmith Associations

Professional Locksmiths Association Nova Scotia is one of the groups a locksmith in Canada would want to be involved with to increase their chances of a solid career in locksmithing. There is also the Association of Professional Locksmiths, the Canadian Alarm and Security Association, the Master Locksmiths of Quebec, Inc., and the Professional Locksmiths Association of Alberta. While it is not necessary to overwhelm your schedule and interests, joining at least one of these important groups can provide positive benefits. One of those benefits is to be able to keep abreast of the latest news and happenings in the world of the locksmith. Another benefit is to build a bond between yourself and others in the same field of work.

 

Making a positive image for a locksmith and his/her business is just one of the most important investments towards a healthy future in the business. Canadians take pride in their country and their training for locksmiths. An apprentice must first be hired as a trainee. They must find a journeyman for a mentor and enroll in the apprenticeship program. Eight weeks of class at a college are required, followed by an exam administered by the government. There are four periods of training this way that must be completed successfully before being given the honor of the Journeyman Locksmith title.

 

The Canadian locksmith must do more than memorize the test material to pass the written exam. He or she must understand and apply the material with competence. The instructor supervises the hands-on learning.
There is an annual locksmith auction for Ontario locksmiths, a golf tournament, a locksmith academy, an electric door operator class, and a locksmith convention. The basic locksmithing courses cost $300. There are separate costs for each area of locksmithing. Panic Exit Devices course costs $275. Lock Picking costs $175. Basic Safe Searching costs $275. There’s also Access Control, Door Closer Installation, Tricks of the Trade, and many more courses available for advanced learning.

 

Of course, there is an at-home course that one can enroll in that suggests a budding locksmith can earn over $17 an hour after only nine months of training. Much like the distance courses offered in the United States for locksmiths, Kwikset and IICO are listed as the locks and key making machinery used during training. This course gives locksmith skills necessary; however, apprenticeship under an established locksmith gets you paid while you learn real-life situations rather than textbook versions. You can learn much from a seasoned professional, including what not to do!
Whether you are learning in Canada, the United States, or Australia, education and apprenticeship are necessary to establish a locksmith career base.

 

Learning on your own may give you the barest of starts, but you will need to prove yourself worthy of your title. The only way to convince future employers or future customers that you deserve their business is to be able to show valid certificates and licenses. Landing the big accounts will mean showing that you had the devotion and interest to prove yourself trustworthy.

 

Overseas Locksmiths

Training for a locksmith to work overseas can be intense. Some of the levels include Certificate II in Engineering, Certificate III in Locksmithing, Diploma of Engineering Technology. These are primary courses that provide training throughout Australia and overseas.

The course duration for security technology is two years at two nights a week. The student must already have an existing trade qualification or be a minimum of 25 years of age.

London has an impressive locksmith company that has been established since 1784. Bramah manufactures locks for domestic and commercial use. The company is an affiliate member of the Master Locksmiths Association, which you will find is a well-known association for the trade. The Bramah locksmith services go so far as to include a free security survey. The company employs five locksmiths.

Some overseas employers require a locksmith to have experience as an apprentice and a National Certificate in Locksmithing. You’re also required to be clear of any dishonest criminal convictions involving prison time! A locksmith must have a clear record for the employers or businesses to be willing to trust the locksmith and the company with which they are associated.

Having a background in security is helpful when obtaining a locksmith job overseas. Mechanical engineering, technology knowledge, woodworking skills, basic welding skills, and conference attendance help secure an overseas locksmith position. Health and safety training may also be necessary for any locksmiths who work on construction sites.
Ideas for places to work as a locksmith abroad include New Zealand, Canterbury, Australia, Wellington, and Auckland. The pay for an overseas locksmith can be as high as $50,000 a year, depending on experience, qualifications, and age. Businesses overseas that employ locksmiths are much like those in the United States. Some of these include banks, motels, hospitals, and the auto industry.

If you’ve considered an overseas job as a locksmith, research the challenges to make preparation easier. Shot records, visas, transportation, foreign languages, health care, living arrangements, and time away from family are all things that need to be determined and considered. What will you do for money until the first paycheck? Where will you stay? It could be the adventure of a lifetime as long as you go into it with an understanding of the situation and the decisions you’ll need to make.

If you’ve never worked overseas, it may help you become somewhat acquainted with the area you’ve chosen (or that has been chosen for you). Take a trip to the local library or check into any information you can acquire online. Going into a new place, blindly can be too much of a culture shock and may only result in stress that could be avoided. Preparation is the key to success!

A locksmith must travel to some degree, even in the United States, but the roads and streets in a foreign country may be more difficult to navigate. Overseas driving is more of a challenge than what Americans face on their own soil, especially if you aren’t familiar with the locals’ habits. Addresses, phone numbers, and maps will become as important to you as the equipment used in your trade. If the employee eventually leads you back to the United States, there are sure to be plenty of stories to share with friends and family!

When Do Prisons Need Locksmiths?

Some prisons have been known to teach locksmith skills to inmates. There has been some controversy over this for obvious reasons. Why would prison officials give someone the tools to become an even better criminal? To learn the craft, the group has access to tools that can be made into weapons. Prisoners are quite creative in learning how to make and hide weapons. They’re also creative in the weapons they do make with what few tools they are provided. So, allowing the prisoners to become locksmiths not only teaches them a skill to enhance criminal behavior, but it also provides access to something that could later harm another inmate, guard, or nurse. But there has been much information and attention on reforming criminals instead of merely housing them during their time of incarceration.

People who go to prisons can indeed become reformed individuals who decide to turn their lives around for the public’s good. Some people are falsely accused and incarcerated who deserve a chance to improve their skills. But people who are put in the position of changing locks and maintaining security systems are supposed to be free of criminal backgrounds.

Much criticism occurred over the television series that provided information on improving security in homes. Professional criminals would be called to stage a break to show the homeowners how vulnerable their security systems actually are. The homeowners would watch the whole ordeal on camera; then, a professional locksmith would change the locks and enhance the home’s security system. Some said this only set the stage for amateur criminals to learn more tricks. However, just as much damage is done by well-meaning individuals who keep valuable information from the public. How do our security measures improve? They improve by exposing their weaknesses. So, someone who has actually been in prison or jail for breaking would be the best person from whom to acquire information.

Locksmiths have been called to several prisons across the globe because of staff carelessness. Keys are placed in the hands of what is supposed to be competent, trustworthy individuals. Allowing anyone to take these keys home after work only sets up the temptation for misuse and the chance to misplace a precious set of items. Even long-term employees can become tempted by wrong-doing. High priority is supposed to be placed on keeping the criminals in their jails and prisons, which should mean high priority to protect the very keys that are necessary to keep them there.

When keys are lost to a prison, thousands of dollars must be spent to re-key and/or replace locks for the facility. Prisoners must be kept on lockdown while the locks are being replaced or re-keyed. This is an example of a simple mistake that cost the institution a large sum and provided job security for the locksmith.

Not only does the locksmith have to keep the prisons safe, but they also have to keep the employees safe in their own homes for the times a prisoner could be released who has a grudge.

Locksmiths of Colorado Springs: Your Trusted Government Locksmiths

Licensed under the Security Industry Protection Act, our government locksmiths prioritize your security and confidentiality. As experts in their field, they possess comprehensive knowledge of lock and key systems, security systems, safe locks, and more. At Locksmiths of Colorado Springs, we understand the importance of discretion when it comes to safeguarding high-profile clients, critical documents, and valuable assets.

Our government locksmiths not only excel at lock picking and key duplication, but also stay updated with the latest electronic and computer skills. They are well-versed in advanced security measures such as retinal scanners, thumbprint and retinal scanners, pin pads, and electronic swipe cards.

We recognize that government entities at all levels require unparalleled care, as any security lapse can have a cascading effect on other government bodies. Whether it’s the national, local, or state government, our locksmiths provide customized and top-notch security solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

At Locksmiths of Colorado Springs, we prioritize your safety and ensure that your investments, paperwork, sensitive information, weapons, money, and personal belongings are properly protected. With our extensive experience, knowledge of cutting-edge equipment, and updated techniques, we are committed to delivering the highest level of service to our clients.

Contact Locksmiths of Colorado Springs today for comprehensive locksmith services that meet the stringent demands of government agencies. Trust us to enhance your security and provide reliable solutions tailored to your specific requirements.

The Art of Locksmiths

Locks have been created in a boring, plain, mechanical fashion, solely for the purpose of security with no thought or care to the art world. Locks are, after all, a means of privacy and protection, which doesn’t usually bring art to mind. However, there have been many designs of the lock that would make a locksmith proud to say he’s a part of the lock world. Decorative locks can create quite a stir in displays for businesses and homes alike. Part of the allure of certain pieces of furniture is the design of the lock.

Art and creativity have improved the looks of the functional lock as well as the decorative lock. Improving the looks also boosted popularity and sales. There are combination locks now that make school children quite happy. Locks that light up, bright colors, and interesting shapes have enhanced school supply shopping for both mothers and children.

The craft of the locksmith is an art in itself. But the artistic improvements in the locks elevated the recognition of the makers of those locks and also of the locksmiths who must know how to work them. Making the locks look better didn’t improve memory. People still forget where they put keys, lose their keys, and forget their combinations.

There is also art in the photographs, clip art, stationery, and historical documents related to locksmithing. Paintings, posters, and ancient memorabilia all make the locksmith and his equipment an interesting part of the art. Locks are found in pictures that don’t even focus on locksmiths or locks. Locks contribute to history and genealogy. You’ll see locks in historical references to churches, old general stores, and banks.

There’s an art in the business cards and advertisements the locksmiths use. There’s also art in the key blanks, which have become quite decorative. There’s art in the colors and designs and even in the bright key tags, you can place on your keys.
Keys are now manufactured with themes such as Disney characters, cartoon characters, football team logos, American flags, and animals. Locksmiths must stay in tune with what sells in today’s society to enhance their businesses and draw the attention of the youth.

Chinese locks are art pieces because of their unusual opening procedures. Their shapes make them interesting, but they’re functional as well. The craftsmanship is outstandingly artistic. The French have some creative designs in their locks as well. Sometimes the artwork is not necessarily in the lock itself but in the framework around the lock.

There is also artwork in the locks of old as well as the locksmith tools of old. Ancient tools add to the quality of museums, giving credit due to the craftsmen who created the tools. Sometimes art is not recognized as such until it becomes a part of what is considered ancient. There is artistic quality in the locksmiths of old as well. Houdini was a famous locksmith who awed the public with his antics and magical quality to picking locks in his escape routines. He brought a flair to the art world as well as the locksmith world. Art is like beauty; it is in the eye of the beholder.

Are Bump Keys a Threat to Locksmiths?

 

The public knowledge of bump keys did not make the locksmith industry happy. It opened up public scrutiny and negative images for locksmiths because it spread open knowledge of how vulnerable the public can be with the locks that are on the market. Privacy was made insecure and uncertain.

Bump keys gained popularity and gave the public a glance into the world of the locksmith. The glance, however slight, made the job seem easy. A locksmith faces many challenges aside from the types of locks that can be opened with bump keys. But the public knowledge brought forth both positive and negative attention to locksmiths. In some aspects, it showed that more credibility needed to be gained from those legitimate in the business to ease public concern over those who are not. It caused more work for locksmiths in some ways because of the amateur criminals who adopted a belief that they could get away with more wrong-doing in an easier way. It also showed many ways our modern locks were failing us.

Locks are designed by locksmiths, manufactured in factories, sold for public and private use, and then worked on by locksmiths who must pick the locks for people who lose keys or leave them locked inside the building or vehicle. It’s somewhat of an amusing circle that moves from the locksmith and back to the locksmith.

Not everyone, of course, was willing to take the bump key attention to the heart. It lost popularity after the initial shock was over. Locksmiths are still a respected group who are much needed; in some ways, the attention brought by the bump key information enhanced business for locksmiths.

Bump keys are certainly not the only way a criminal can enter your home, business, or vehicle. If a person is determined to enter and is persistent, there are many other ways to accomplish unlawful entry. Not every criminal would want to take the time to learn the proper way to make and use the bump key.

Locksmiths will continue to flourish in their trade, and if the truth be known, have had occasion to use the bump key as well. The real threat to the public is in not taking responsibility for their own safety and not taking criminals seriously. Lock bumping is not new. The Dutch and German locksmiths experimented with it many years ago. It’s just another form of lock picking that was put in the public eye that people had not realized was a threat all along.
So, even though the public and the locksmiths frowned on the bump key knowledge becoming public, it was only a matter of time before it surfaced. The interest died down once the spotlight was removed. Life goes on. Locksmiths are still respected in their field and will continue to be such. Lock manufacturers didn’t suffer enough for it to affect them on a large basis.

The bump keys are only a small part of the tools that fall into the wrong hands. There is no way to keep every tool that could possibly cause unlawful entry out of the criminal’s hands. Hence the job security of the locksmith will remain secure!

Games for Locksmiths

 

Being a locksmith is not necessarily a boring job. There is a limited interaction with the customers to keep a locksmith in touch with the human side of the business. The work gives the locksmith focus. Travel provides stimulation. The technological changes and education to keep up with the times provide mental growth. So, what about the fun? Even these mechanical minded members of our community like to have fun.

The challenge of picking locks is viewed as a game for some locksmiths. As they grow in their experience, they are able to take on more complicated tasks. It is said that a locksmith sees a lock as a puzzle.

A locksmith plays a part in the game called World of WarCraft, unlocking boxes on the trade screen. A game called Crack the Code allows the locksmith to click on numbers and enter until the combination is correct. Cleaner Scrape is an online game featuring Bob the Locksmith. There’s also a Kensington Lock Picking online free flash game. Gridlock is another fun online game for lock pickers that offers three levels of difficulty to accommodate beginners to the more experienced.

A board game that relates to the locksmith trade is called Break the Safe. It’s a fairly new game created by Forrest-Puzan Creative. Players have to work as a team to find the keys, disarm the traps, and evade the guard dogs.

On a bigger scale, locksmiths can join in a Dutch Open lock-picking competition in the Dutch village of Sneek. This offers intellectual stimulation and fun for any locksmith or lock picker lucky enough to participate. Some of the world’s most accomplished lock pickers attend this event.

Another large event for lock pickers and locksmiths is held by Locksport International. DEFCON 14 held workshops, talks, sales of tools, speed competitions, toolmaking, and demonstrations for the enjoyable event that welcomed amateurs as well as professionals.

A Lock Picking Pogoda will be held in Cleveland, Ohio in April of 2008 for locksmiths and lock picking enthusiasts. Featured will be your regular American locks, Chinese knock-offs, cabinet locks, and high-security locks. Safecracking is also on the agenda to present a challenge for those who are brave enough to give it a shot.

Locksmiths aren’t the only ones who enjoy the locksmith events, games, and clubs. There are people who enjoy learning about locks and how they work just for the fun of it. It can be gratifying to bust the secrets of the lock companies and manufacturers. This isn’t necessarily a bad idea. It provides a challenge to show these businesses where their vulnerabilities lie so that improvements can be made. People who learn how to pick locks are not just criminally-minded individuals.

Although this possibility does exist, it is only a part of the group of people interested in this trade.
Locksmiths do, of course, enjoy other activities besides lock picking games and events. Just as doctors want more fun than just playing the board game called Operation, the locksmiths are going to be unique individuals who will want more fun than just that which revolves around their craft.

Famous Locksmiths

If you aren’t familiar with any famous locksmiths, it’s no surprise. Many locksmiths prefer to keep a low profile except to gain a reputable business. There are famous locksmiths within the locksmith community known for their skills as lock pickers and dominate the hobby. But as for the famous locksmiths who take their profession more seriously, little is put in the public eye.

Schneider Locksmith of New York City is famous in their area of the states. But this is a famous company, not an individual. An Englishman named Robert Barron was an individual of the olden days who was famous for the locksmith skills. He improved the security of the lock itself with the invention in 1778 of the double tumbler lock. There was no modern-day security, no electronic technology to help him. He used the impressive skills of his mind and hands to create his masterpiece of the era.

Another famous locksmith was Jeremiah Chubb. He patented a detector lock back in 1818. This particular lock had six levers and won him a monetary award as well as ongoing fame. Mr. Chubb was located in London.

Locks were made from wood long, long ago. They have amazed, confounded, and frustrated people over the years. They have made some people and companies rich (the inventors and manufacturers) and made others secure. No longer made from metal, these mechanical contraptions have come a long way over the years.

One famous locksmith known for other talents was Houdini. He was a magician who thrived on escape tactics. The escape tactics depend on locks of some form or fashion. Houdini was an expert lockpicker who captivated audiences with his skills.

The King of France, also known as Louis XVI, was a very famous locksmith. He was known for his reign as a bad king, but his passion was with locks. He had unusual and outstanding skills as a locksmith. This may not have won him any medals of love amongst his followers, but it did put him in history as a famous locksmith.

It used to be that one had to be an apprentice to learn to be a locksmith. Being an apprentice has great benefits, one of which is a recommendation from the mentor. Passing on the trade can be as rewarding as learning it from a master of the trade.

One famous locksmith was Arthur C. Smith. He specialized in ship locks in the late 1800s. Located in Wolverhampton, which is in the English West Midlands, Mr. Smith put his mark on the world.

French locksmiths were known for their artwork on their locks. Resembling fancy scrollwork, these locks were fashioned in the true French elaborate designs. The French liked beauty in many areas of their lives, and their locks were not left out.

A famous American locksmith known for his bank locks was Linus Yale, Jr., of New York. James Sargent, also of New York, patented a time lock mechanism, which made him another important locksmith.

As you can tell, locksmiths are important all over the world and throughout history. They are an important breed of human in our society, and yet one of the most overlooked. Locksmiths are constantly put to the test and should be famous for their endurance!

Tools and Equipment for Locksmiths

Source: Flickr

Locksmiths have to put several thousands of dollars into their tools and equipment investment. They may start out in the hundreds, but the cost will grow as the business grows. If a locksmith is interested in specializing in several areas, there are different tools for each area.

Aside from the normal tools of the trade, such as key blanks and a key making machine, a locksmith must break down the types of key blanks into different categories and buy other items to go along with these. Key blanks come as at least six different types of residential blanks (from $5 to over $50), ten brands of commercial key blanks, and automotive key blanks for domestic and foreign vehicles.

How is the locksmith to keep up with all the different keys? He/she must buy key tags, drawers, and key towers (tower only with no blanks, $500). These keys require key cutters. There are at least six different kinds of cutters. A manual duplicator costs $400-$600. A semi-automatic duplicator costs $655-$1600. An automatic duplicator costs $800-$1300. A tubular key duplicator costs $400-$1200. Code cutters cost $1900-$3100. Then there are your cutter wheels which cost in the range of $33-$340.

A locksmith must buy pins, pinning kits, picks, pick sets, tension wrenches, and many different locks. There are hospital locks, government locks, gate locks, electronic hardware, furniture locks, biometric fingerprint locks, and electromagnetic locks ($200-$700).

Every locksmith who has trained with a distance school will know about Kwikset locks and IICO key making machines. These are standard equipment for locksmiths-in-training. There are academies that teach courses on a course-by-course basis to further educate the craftsmen.

There are also transponder keys that require a code machine to code the key for the vehicles to work in the ignition. Newer model vehicles with added security methods use electromagnetic fields of energy that are sent to a computer in the car. (This is an example of technology and computers sneaking into yet another area of our lives.) Coding keys in this manner is a way to increase security for the automobile owner as well as reduce costs for the insurance companies.
There are older vehicles still in operation that require the simple use of the Slim Jim tool, so a locksmith must keep older tools around as well. Besides accommodating people who can’t afford the newer, more sophisticated vehicles, there are collectors of antiques who won’t want their cars damaged. So, the locksmith must know how to open the vehicles in a way that causes the least amount of forced entry. Even people who don’t own expensive cars are proud of what they own and won’t appreciate damage.

As is evident, there is much for a professional locksmith to learn. Much of it can be retained by repetition. There are many locks that use the same tools and methods to unlock. But for the loads of information that can’t be retained, the locksmith must rely on paper tools. These exist in the manuals and written information that must be kept for reference purposes.