Locks and Keys
In the mid 1700s, locks were scarce in the Colonies and most were copies of European mechanisms. With the founding of the Republic and the new prosperity, there was a growing demand for sturdy locks, giving birth to the American lock industry. Native craftsman each had his own ideas about security, and between 1774 and 1920, American lock makers patented approximately 3,000 varieties of lock devices including furniture locks.
