Our future plans for online content available exclusively to members includes:
- Provision of a Lock Patents database has started with the insertion of a few Patents including drawings, with photographs and a brief discussion about the patent - to be progressively developed; this is part of a typical example:
- The 'New' Wolverhampton Gazetteer of Lock & Key Makers
- Allied Interests
A Library List and Book Reviews will be maintained and extended to provide member's with literature to turn to in order to find more about their subject interest.
- What else? The Association encourages all member's to come forward with ideas on the ways to expand and promote the interest of Lock Collectors - so we shall certainly be interested to hear what you have to say!
George Davis Patent Lock 11th April 1799 No. 2306
This photograph shows the warded access keyhole surround of this lock, which is made of casehardened steel as provided in the Davis patent. The key has then to make a quarter turn and pass through a similar ward access to gain entry to the mechanism through a secondary case. Further photographs will now show how this operates... (This information is continued and the specification is added beneath; though for the purpose of this present example is only partly shown below):
This Gazetteer compiled by the late Jim Evans (who was a member of our group), contained information primarily related to Wolverhampton and the Surrounding area. The Webmasters intend to carry on this established principle, but have kindly agreed that the Association may hold a copy and expand it with our resources by adding the names of Lock and Key makers external to their area of interest.
Work is in progress to develop the Gazetteer in this way, but careful consideration will be given to maintain the format in the style originally introduced. The intention being to slot the new information seamlessly into the existing work. We shall also liaise with the Webmasters to ensure the particulars relating to Wolverhampton and the Surrounding area is kept up to date between us.
It is hoped that this will provide an added tool for Collectors and others interested to find out more about the Lock Industry and those that work in it.
We shall expose other areas of related interest, other than just locks - for example the Member's Pages will contain information on collecting safe plates, elaborated with fine photographs of rare examples. This will also illustratively distinguish how to spot fake safe plates to help the collector avoid buying a dud!
Keys will also be looked as as a separate entity and will again be illustrated with photographs. We shall also look at Victorian Hotel Keys and their normally brass tags - this being another area of allied interest to some members.