Companies, Domestic & Foreign

The histories of the larger US companies have been mostly written; see "Early Locks and Lock Makers of America", by Thomas Hennessy, listed in the references elsewhere on this site. A great many more companies are known, but their stories have not yet been explored. Naturally, they have been much more interested in survival and profitability than in leaving records for collectors. Research into the histories of lock companies is taking place all the time, as collectors or descendents of founders become interested in documenting the past.

The histories and activities of companies in other countries is mostly in even worse shape. There is a great deal of material available on English, Canadian and Australian manufacturers, but very little has been printed about lock makers elsewhere in the world. This is a wide open field for research.