Vincent J.M. Eras

An amazing work going over the history of locks from all over the world. Tons of pictures of historic pieces, both decorative and functional. Certainly some amazing pieces of work shown. A whole section of terminology to make it easier to understand the book and descriptions. The section on lock picking is very brief. I would have loved to have it go into more details about the security and flaws of different types of locks. Although most locks shown are key type, it also does look at a few combination types locks. Most of these being from safes and lockboxes. Overall a very enjoyable read on the history of locks around the world.… (mehr)

I was hoping for something to help learn to use a lock-pick set, but got a reminder that there are many ways to achieve the same goal. Security may be best served by using a variety of techniques to foil those prepared to breech a specific defense.

This volume is a reprinting of the 1957 edition, originally published by LIPS Safe and Lock Manufacturing, the author’s employer. It provides an amply-illustrated history of locks in general, then proceeds to chapters on various modern lock types. It is full of good and useful information. Unfortunately, it is also very dry, using passive voice and stiff, midcentury business-formal constructions. Recommended, nonetheless, for both locksmiths and thieves.… (mehr)

To summarise is to distort. It's unavoidable, I understand why that's true, but my mental habit remains to sketch on outline (first), and fill in detail (second). As with other habits, I have to counter it deliberately and mindfully.

One tactic is to select --as introduction to a new topic-- a hyper-local account, the opposite of my habitual preference, and start a mental dialogue on what kind of structure could encompass such details, and perhaps more importantly, what type of detail is likely to be missing. This isn't a better or more accurate approach, objectively. It's useful chiefly because it goes against my habits, forces a different sort of thinking, and perhaps enables what Bateson termed deutero-learning.

Eras's account of locksmithing was such an exercise for me. Eras provides an idiosyncratic selection of locks, and this selection was driven by his personal interests and experience. His examples and discussion are partly driven by his understanding of the history and evolution of his profession, and partly by his peculiar likes. Eras was both professional expert and private enthusiast, and amassed a collection of locks and keys reflecting this. Because his is an exemplary collection, the book probably is above average in its coverage of interesting and significant examples. Still, Eras more or less explains what he likes about locks and keys, and the problems they were invented to solve, and does not appear concerned to account for anything beyond that. The organization of chapters seems a bit arbitrary, and within the chapter there are major digressions (that might fit better in a different chapter).

It is interesting to note all of this seems quite apparent to me, even as I'm unable to specify what might be missing or glossed over, or where emphasis might have been arguable for another locksmith having a different appreciation of examples. Finishing the book, I probably have no less flawed an understanding than had I read a potted history online. Interestingly, though, I seem to be more conscious of it now, than if I'd followed my habitual preference. That in itself is the best rationale for reading it I can think of.

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This edition by Artisan Ideas a reprint, but not facsimile: newly typset, and numeric conventions changed from European Continent to US / UK (commas and periods demarcating thousands and decimals). The text has not been updated save for punctuation, so remains current only through 1957. Copious photographs and diagrams throughout. A pleasant distraction from my typical reading.

The publisher included ad listings for several other books in the booklist which may update the history of locksmithing beyond the Eras manuscript.… (mehr)