THE VARIETY OF MATERIALS AND FINISHES |
You can make a lock out of any material you like. But on the whole strong materials, such as metals, are preferably to weaker ones such as wood. In the old days wrought iron was almost exclusively used, though bronze and brass also made appearances. Parkes's list is, I presume, the materials most likely to be used. But they omit the precious metals such as gold and silver, in which fancy locks are certainly made. |
Aluminium Alloys Aluminium Bronze Brass Bronze Cadmium Cast Iron Chromium Copper Fire Bronze Strip Gunmetal Malleable Cast Iron Manganese Bronze Mild Steel Nickel Nickel Silver Non-Metallic Materials Phosphor Bronze Spring Steel Stainless Steel Tin Tool Steel Wrought Iron Zinc Alloy |
So, if you have chosen a type of lock or bolt and the metal you want it made out of, now you have to choose a finish. Here are some that Parkes listed. But not all finishes would go on all metals. And, of course, not all would be suitable for every possible use. |
Anodised Armour Bright Antique Brass Antique Silver Art Black Barreled Bobbed Bright Brass Bronze Plated Brown Varnish Buffed Burnished Cadmium Plated Chromated Chromium Plated Chromium Plated, Dull Copper Plated Brass Plated Dead Black Degreased Dipped Dull Brass Dull Bronze Electro Plated Enamelled Florentine Bronzed Japanned Nickel Plated Primed for Painting Satin Aluminium, Lacquered Satin Aluminium, Anodised Zinc Coated-Galvanised Zinc Coated-Hot dipped |
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So you have the right lock, in the right material with the right finish. But there are still more choices to be made. |