A history lesson from Yale Locks

http://www.yale.co.uk/en/yale/couk/About-us/History-of-Yale/pin-tumbler-invention/

The Yale Pin-Tumbler Lock Invention

Yale's best-known lock design is the cylinder Pin-Tumbler Lock.

What is a Pin-Tumbler Lock?

The Pin-Tumbler Lock is a lock mechanism that uses pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key.

The invention has new become widespread around the World and is, by far, the most used security locking mechanism in use today. In Stockport common derivatives are the rim "nightlatch" aka Yale lock and the recently popular "euro profile" cylinder used in uPVC and composite doors used across the Stockport area. This type of lock is simple to use and is very reliable. If your pin tumbler lock is worn, or, you have lost your keys contact your local Master Locksmith in Stockport of advice and service - 0161 669 4597

Key cutting in Wilmslow

Finding someone who can cut keys in Wilmslow can be quite difficult, with the usual Cobblers or heel bars cutting expensive and, in many cases, badly fitting keys. These can sometimes accelerate wear & tear on your locks ultimately requiring a lock change.

At Cusworth's, we make sure all our machinery is calibrated correctly, and we had finish each mortice key (such as Chubb or Union mortice locks), by hand ensuring the key works with the lock - not wearing it out prematurely.

Properly trained staff ensure the correct key blanks are selected, using "universal" type keyblanks are used only when absolutely necessary.

Master Locksmiths Association key cutting information

Locksmith Wilmslow - funny photos

Cusworth.net

Access control in Wilmslow and Macclesfield

Damp weather

Our locksmith was called to a home in Knutsford, as a customer was unable to open a wooden door with their keys. The door had dropped slightly and warped partly due to the change in temperature recently. Our locksmith was able to open the door fairly quickly then he adjusted the keep on the frame, so it was in line with the lock and easier to open.

Quite often locks fitted to wooden doors can become stiffer and increasingly harder to use as the weather changes. If you notice this happening to your locks then it is a good time to check if the lock is lining up correctly before it gets any worse.

If you are looking for a locksmith in Kuntsford or a locksmith in WA16
please give us a call on 01625 250 275 or 07792 517 113 to see how we can help you.

Commercial Locksmith in Stockport

Commercial Locksmith Stockport

Stockport's Cusworth Master Locksmiths offer both Residential (domestic) and Commercial Locksmith services.

Codelocks fitted in Stockport

Commercial Locksmiths have fully stocked vans and work round the clock to keep your business safe. Our experienced locksmiths in Stockport operate an emergency response 24 hours a day meaning they will usually be with you within the hour anywhere in Greater Manchester or Stockport .

In addition to residential locksmiths in Stockport commercial Locksmiths specialise in all areas of the locksmiths trade and can cater for any commercial locksmith requirement. Locked out of your shop and need your shutter locks opening or bullet locks replaced then we can help. We can open any electrical shutter that have become locked or the key no longer works. 

Problem with your safe? Cusworth master locksmiths in Stockport can service your safe, change the lock or combination if the need arise.

Safe repairs Stockport

Digital locks fitted to safes

Do you need access control? we supply, fit and service all leading systems - from a single door, to a multi site proximity system using wi-fi technology. 

Our professional team of commercial locksmiths Stockport can install high security systems for the largest of company or even set up a manual access control system when certain keys will open certain doors on in your premises meaning staff who don't have access to a certain room will not be able to enter that room without the correct key, although their key will open all the doors they are allowed access to.

Master Locksmiths Association

So if your looking for a company to take a job from start to finish look no further as our fully qualified commercial locksmiths Stockport are always here to help.

So, if you need a commercial locksmith for your company anywhere in the Stockport area call us.

We're here to serve you. Local: 0161 669 4597. Call today.

Locksmith services in Macclesfield and Stockport

Cusworth Master Locksmiths

Cusworth Master Locksmiths are Licensed 'Master' Locksmiths, British Locksmiths Institute (BLI) qualified Locksmiths, examined, certified and Criminal Record Bureau checked by the Master Locksmiths Association.

We are a registered contractor with Trading standards with their "Buy With confidence Scheme"

We are not a call centre and do not use unqualified, unskilled and unreliabe third party locksmiths to undertake any work on our behalf.

We are members of the Federation of Small Businesses, a limited company registered at Companies House.

We are regularly used by Letting Agents, Estate Agents, Property Management Companies, Retirement Homes, and other private companies.

We carry out work for Local Government, Local Businesses, Police and other Government agencies.

We do not carry out any unnecessary work, or replace any parts which do not need to be changed 

We offer solid written guarantees with all of our work, we charge fixed prices for most of the work we undertake.

We recommend all potential customers not to compromise with the security of their assets, whether at home or Business. If any customer chooses not to use the services of Cusworth Locksmiths, then they should seek the services of another MLA Licenced Master Locksmith and not take a chance with other unskilled, unqualified concerns.

What does all of the above mean to you? - it means that we are equipped to undertake most locksmith work in a professional manner, at a price agreed with you before any work commences (no surprises or 'extras' at the end of the work) we will not keep any of your keys, copy any keys we issue, or disclose to any other party any information related to you, your property or the security of such.

We look forward to helping you when you have a need.

Crime mapping website for England and Wales is expanded

 

People in England and Wales can compare crime levels in their neighbourhood with other areas, following the expansion of a crime-mapping website.

full story 

locksmiths in macclesfield 

Local Macclesfield Locksmiths?

Locksmith Call centres

It is very easy for the general public to be tricked into calling a national locksmith instead of a genuine local locksmith. National locksmiths usually operate out of call centres and use as many under hand techniques as they think they can get away with to get unsuspecting members of the public to call them. Many of these so called locksmith companies also cover every other trade you can imagine, claiming to be expert locksmiths, plumbers, glaziers, joiners, gas engineers, electricians etc.

For example if you do a Google search for locksmiths Macclesfield you will see the shaded boxes at the top of the page and adverts running down the right hand side of the page, these are paid listings. All the parts in the middle with the white background are known as organic listings which your local locksmiths work hard to stay near the top of results and it does take a lot of time and effort. Many of the company’s which use these paid adverts are national locksmiths although not all of them, the majority usually are.

The national locksmiths pay their way to the top so basically there adverts show higher up than your local locksmiths so they are more likely to be clicked on when a customer has no time to double check the full details of a locksmith. It is very expensive to get a paid advert to the top and as mentioned earlier most of these companies are trying to cover many areas, so there advertising costs are massive! So how do they get this money back? The only way is by charging customers very high fees, when they give out prices they may have hidden charges - making themselves look more inexpensive compared your local Macclesfield locksmith who probably gave you a more genuine estimate including locks, labour VAT etc.

When the national company carry out the work, you are expecting a bill for the price quoted over the phone then you are hit with a huge bill which includes the charge quoted over the phone which usually doubles when they spin a 10 minute job out to make it last 2 hours plus parts, materials, and VAT, turning what sounded like a bargain on the phone into a very expensive mistake! they will have taken a credit card number, so can avoid negotiations!

Why do people call national locksmiths instead of a Macclesfield Local Locksmith?

This will usually be because the company displays a local phone number so people just assume they are local but what they probably don’t realise is that a phone number for any area code can be easily and cheaply obtained . Most customers will call the number at the top of Google because a lot of locksmith work is on an emergency basis (sometimes known as a "distress purchase") and doesn’t have enough time to search through all the listings but if this article just stops one person being ripped off by a national it will be a good thing.

Finding an emergency locksmith in Stockport

If you need a locksmith due to being locked out, loosing keys or other emergency in the Stockport area ( including Gatley, Didsbury, Heaton Moor, Heaton Chapel, Edgeley, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, and Poynton)

There are several ways you may find a reliable locksmith

• Personal recommendation
• Yellow pages / Thomson printed directory
• Internet (google or online directories)

 Personal recommendation works and would be a good choice.

Yellow pages/ Thompson can be very misleading,  Google, also - many companies claim to be local to you in Stockport, but are not. Beware of giving out a credit card number over the phone. agree a maximum cost before agreement of works. make sure you know their full trading name and address many hide this.

How do you know the locksmith is not a criminal?
How do you know the locksmith is adequately trained and skilled?

there are many bogus associations used to make a company look legitimate ignore any logos apart from the Master Locksmiths Association

And Trading Standards "buy with confidence scheme"

Fitting Paxton's new PaxLock access control in Wilmslow

Wilmslow’s Cusworth Master Locksmiths offer Paxton access control Net2 PaxLock systems in Manchester Stockport Macclesfield & Cheshire

PaxLock is a new, battery powered Net2 access control unit in a slimline door handle.

Net2 PaxLock comes ready to fit a standard Euro profile lock case. It communicates with the Net2 server PC using the low power and secure wireless technology of Net2Air. Net2 PaxLock is designed for use with the Net2Air USB bridge or the Net2Air Ethernet bridge to give the advantages of a wireless networked access control system. Net2 PaxLock is simple to use and fast to fit because it is not wired into a mains power source; it is ideal for internal doors.

Useful links
How to plan a Net2 wireless installation
Net2Air USB bridge
Net2Air Ethernet bridge
Using the Net2Air site surveyor kit
Measuring wireless reliability
Net2 PaxLock – Paxton Mortice Lock Cases
Scale drawing
Drilling template

Installation – Paxlock can be fitted to some existing mortice locks, A europrofile mortice DIN lock is best, as this offers a mechanical override if there are ever any problems.

Fit the chosen mortice lock to the door and place the template provided over the spindle. Use the template to drill the required holes and then cut the spindle to the required size. Secure the Net2 PaxLock to the door and insert the batteries. Bind the unit to the Net2 system by presenting a pre-enrolled token. Paxton also offers the Net2Air site surveyor kit to check the site for wireless range prior to installation. Operation – Any changes made at the PC are communicated and stored in the Net2 PaxLock. When a user presents their token to the reader, the Net2 PaxLock identifies them and permits or denies access as appropriate.

The PaxLock in component form..To be fitted on new access control scheme in Wilmslow Cheshire using Paxton Net2 software

DIN euro sash lockase fitted and holes drilled..

Fitting PaxLock body and spindle

For more information on access control in Wilmslow ,Stockport and Macclesfield

Lock Snapping cylinder snapping

There has been a lot of confusing information on the media regarding euro profile cylinders and their weakness against attack  from snapping. There are many solutions available. some costing hundreds of pounds!

Solutions include uprated cylinders and uprated lever handles

Whilst there is a problem with the locks being snapped mainly in West Yorkshire, with the many details available on sites such as Youtube, this problem will grow and grow to Manchester, Stockport, Wilmslow, Cheadle and Macclesfield
The first thing to check is the projection of the cylinder from the handle ( how far the cylinder, or barrel sticks out)  If there is more than 5 mm of the cylinder visible, then your home is at great risk!

UPGRADE YOUR PVC DOOR TODAY!

Choosing Macclesfiled Locksmiths

Choosing a locksmith in Macclesfield

When the security of your Family or business, is at risk, there are many important considerations when choosing a Locksmith in Macclesfield.

At Present the Locksmith Profession is not regulated by the government.

With no official licensing required there are many so called 'Locksmiths' out there, that have received very little or no training and can only gain entry by doing unnecessary damage to your door and locks in your property.

A well trained professional Macclesfield Locksmith will only resort to damaging a lock as a last resort preferring to use non destructive entry methods at all times. Always make sure your Locksmith is Licensed by the Master Locksmiths Association look for the Logo used on their website or advert, also check the company on the MLA "find a locksmith" webpages. MLA locksmiths in Macclesfield are automatically CRB checked, (criminal records bureau) as a requirement, Don't be mislead if they advertise "Police checked" as the police cannot & don't check the locksmith Industry.

Always use a genuine Local Locksmith in Macclesfield, Look for a real Local phone number, not a Free phone, or just a Mobile number. Any trustworthy Macclesfield Locksmith will have a address visible on all stationary and adverts. At Cusworth Master Locksmiths, When you phone us, you talk to a qualified Locksmith, local to Macclesfield, not telephone operators in a national call centres

Be careful when choosing a locksmiths in Cheshire from a phone book directory, such as Yellow pages or Thompson, as they encourage misleading entries. They don't care that the public are mislead, so long as they get their money! (remember big adds with multiple locations & engineers will mean a national call centre, charging very High hourly rates plus vat, before the problem has even be diagnosed the meter is ticking, (someone has to pay the thousands of pounds it cost to place these national adds, so make sure its not you). Better is the Buy With Confidence Scheme - it's run by Trading Standards so its non biased and more trustworthy.

• *Make sure your locksmith is Insured, Cusworths are public liability insured for £2,000,000
• *Ask if your locksmith has any guarantees
• *Cusworth Master Locksmiths Macclesfield guarantee all parts and labour for 12 months

What to do when you're locked out!

don't panic

We have all been there, whether you are locked out of your house, car, business, shed or even your student accommodation. Now, if you have left a key under a plant pot somewhere in your garden, or given a spare key to a next door neighbour, then you don't have to worry. However, most people don't plan for these occasions or don't trust the above tips, and are left, locked out; with no idea what to do!
If you are locked out of your car, there is an urban myth that goes like this.. If your neighbour, spouse, girlfriend etc has a key for your car, then first of all you can ring them. The next thing is to explain to them what has happened and get them to get the remote part of the key. Then they will need to put it up to the phone and push the button. This should carry the sound waves through the phones, and then unlock your car door.

If you locked out of somewhere other than your car, or do not have a spare key for your car, then the only other alternative, other than breaking in; is to ring a locksmith. You will find a number of locksmiths suited to your local area on Google. You just need to type something like locksmiths in Manchester. Of course you will need to change Manchester to your area. You should then find the locksmith that offers the best service, or the cheapest price, and find the number of the company and ring it. Check they are Members of the Master Locksmiths Association. Prices vary from £60 to £120, based on the time, and whether it is a weekend or not. If you require extra services, such as a lock replacement or PVC locking strip, it will cost substantially more.

Locksmiths in Manchester generally will come out within the hour, and aim to open the lock without the use of drills. Drills should be used only as a last resort, as drilling will damage lock, causing you to have to spend even more money replacing the lock. They generally prioritise their clients based age, whether you are alone, with children, and the time of day.

Getting locked out is not an enjoyable experience; the only real option is to call a locksmith. This does cost a lot, so to prevent it happening in the future ensure you have given spare keys to family members or friends, or have a spare key hidden somewhere.

Mila Evolution solid stainless handles upvc

We have recently found a beautiful new product for upgrading PVC doors against attack from burglaries in Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield and Wilmslow
Evolution High Security Door Handle

Mila PAS24 polished stainless lever handles

The Evolution high security door handle, manufactured from cast stainless steel, features an integrated cylinder guard and innovative anti-plug & anti-drill disc.
Reversible for left or right hand doors, the stylish Evolution high security door handle is available in stainless steel and gold stainless steel. The lever has been ergonomically designed for optimum comfort and ease of operation, including for the elderly and infirm, when in use.
The Evolution high security door handle has been independently tested at the UKAS accredited Mila Test Centre and meets the performance requirements of PAS 024 and Secured By Design. An SBD logo engraved onto the backplate gives peace-of-mind whilst serving as a deterrent to would be intruders.
Protects against 4 common types of attack:
Handle Snapping
Cast steel design, and enhanced screw fixings, make it practically impossible to jemmy the handle backplate from the door leaf

Cylinder Snapping
An integrated cylinder guard forms a formidable barrier around the cylinder, protecting it from attack

Cylinder De-plugging
An integral anti-plug disc secures directly over the cylinder face, shielding it from attack

Cylinder Drilling
The innovative anti-drill disc spins if attacked with a drill, preventing the drill bit from penetrating the cylinder.
Evolution High Security Door Handle : PAS 024 Test Conditions
The Evolution high security door handle has been tested at the UKAS accredited Mila Test Centre to exceed the enhanced security requirements of PAS 024.
Anti-Drill & Anti-Disc & Integrated Cylinder Guard
An innovative anti-drill and anti-plug disc, captive within the handle backplate, shields the cylinder face from attack. A cylinder guard, integrated into the handle backplate, protects the cylinder from the threat of ‘snapping’.
Cusworth Master Locksmiths can survey your home and business and give independent free advice on any security in Manchester Stockport and Macclesfield

This is what you get if you call out a non MLA Manchester locksmith!

Emergency Locksmith in Manchester!

From outside you can see the size of the hole!

The door has lost all strength

The story goes, student locks herself out of room in Manchester Flat. This is probably what happened...

Landlord calls 1st big advert in Yellow Pages, and a man who had probably been on a 3 day locksmith course turns up to work his magic.

The so called Manchester Locksmith is faced with a 5 lever deadlock, he is immediately stumped. His course didn't cover lever locks, just picking a worn 3 pin cylinder and desk locks. He did have a lock opening guide bought for £200 which tells him the exact drilling point for many locks. but of course he does not know what lock is fitted!

He drills a hole, and mangles the levers.

He drills another hole, and makes things worse.

The lock is now totally jammed, and he is quite embarrassed ! (well, he should be!)

He resorts to smacking the lock out of the back of door.

Charges £180

And off he goes to the next job, with the words "that was a very high security lock, you will need to get a joiner to repair the door"

Common locking faults

Door locks, like any other mechanism, can stop working properly at inopportune times. If you're having issues with a lock then this article could help you to solve the problem.

Key gets stuck or is hard to turn

If you're having difficulty operating the key in a lock then there are some simple steps that might free things up before calling out Cusworth Master Locksmiths.

Key is hard to turn

1. Check the key
   The first step is to make sure you're using the right key! If you need to lift the handle before locking, try pushing it down then lifting again.
2. Lubricate
   Lubricate the lock by spraying a little light oil into the cylinder.
3. Call a locksmith
   If these methods don't work it's a good idea to call a  Manchester locksmith. A stiff key could mean that your lock is in need of replacing.

Key is stuck

1. Pull
   Grip the key firmly and with your other hand push around the keyhole. If you can't get a good grip try using pliers, but remember to be gentle to avoid damaging the lock.
2. Call a locksmith
   If the key won't come out then you will need to call a professional locksmith to remove it without damaging your lock and door.

Key turns but doesn't work

If the key turns but doesn't lock or unlock the door then this usually means that an internal mechanism has failed. Call Cusworth Master Locksmiths on 01625 250275 to solve this problem.

Key won't go in lock

If you can't get your key in the lock then the first thing to check is that you're using the right key.

• Defrost the keyhole
  If it's very cold then the lock might be frozen. Gently heat the key and insert it gradually into the keyhole. Repeat heating and inserting until the ice has melted. Be careful as this method could result in a stuck or broken key.
• Lubricate
  Lubricate the lock by spraying a little graphite into the cylinder.
• Check the key
  If you have a new key it might have been badly cut. Many cobblers and heel bars and market stalls have badly set machines, bad choice of keyblanks and bad training. It is always best to to have keys cut by a member of the MLA (Master Locksmiths Association)

If none of these steps solve the problem then you may need to have a replacement key made or the lock replaced.

Door won't latch shut

If the door latch doesn't engage then it may be out of alignment with the strike plate (the bit on the door frame that the bolt goes into). Try the following:

• Tighten the screws on the door hinges.
• Try adjusting the strike plate by loosening its screws and shifting it slightly.
• Spray graphite into the latch to lubricate it.

Latch is stuck

If the door latch is stuck then there are several things that you can check:

• Check the door hinges
  Try lifting the door slightly to check that the hinge screws are tight. If the door is out of alignment then the latch will stick.
• Check the strike plate
  Check that the strike plate aligns with the latch and bolt. If not, try loosening the screws of the strike plate and adjusting the position slightly.
• Try lubricating the latch
  Spray some graphite into the latch to lubricate it.

A dwarf burglar has defended his life of crime claiming that it is the only career open to a man his size.

Dwarf burglar- "crime is my only career option"

A dwarf burglar has defended his life of crime claiming that it is the only career open to a man his size.

Photo: NORTH NEWS & PICTURES

By Richard Alleyne

Lee Kildare, 22, who is 3ft 11in tall, confessed this week to burgling an empty house for scrap metal but said it was his only option because he struggled to get a normal job in a "tall man's world".

manchester locksmith

Kildare, 22, said: "I've been burgling houses for years. I choose to do it – no one forces me.

"In fact, it's what I have to do for money because I couldn't get a normal job. It's a tall man's world.

"I have shoplifted in the past and it is easy as no one would ever suspect me. I normally get away with it because of my height.

"Now I burgle derelict houses for metal so I can sell it on as scrap. I do it for extra money, to go with my incapacity benefit."

Kildare, who lives with his mother, was used by a gang to plunder empty houses for copper and other metal to sell to scrap yards.
He was arrested after a security guard saw his head poking out of a small hole in the front door of a house in Newcastle.
Magistrates heard Kildare was very drunk and his accomplice fled leaving him to take the rap.
"People come to me for help with burglaries because I'm small and can get through small holes.," he said.
"But they are not taking advantage of me. I'm well-known and well-liked and no one picks on me."
Kildare was born with an incurable condition called achondroplasia, caused by an abnormal gene, which affects about one in 20,000 children.
He was given a 12-month community order with supervision, and put on a three-month curfew between 8pm and 7am.
to protect yourself from this problem find a Manchester locksmith
 

Choosing a locksmith in Manchester

The choice of a locksmith in Manchester is an important step because you want to make sure that you choose a reputable company, which is also a genuine Manchester locksmith, and not a national call centre or agency. Although we trust Locksmiths to let us in and out of our homes, cars and businesses, as we have become locked out, it is for them to do so in order not to compromise the integrity of our property. At the same time, to choose a company with experience and good reputation is the best way to protect your safety and property in the future, so make sure you do your homework so you can choose the best locksmith service in Manchester.

Cusworth Master Locksmiths are a Manchester Locksmith Service who are licensed and screened By the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) when they are shown they can perform various tasks necessary to do the job. But not everyone who operates a locksmiths business in Manchester has this, so it is important to ask for and check references before hiring them.  There are many other associations which sound official, but merely require a subscription and no checks are carried out. There are no legal requirements for running an advertising a locksmiths business in the UK and there are a growing number of people who do a 3 day course in locksmithing by a “get rich quick” training academy – giving the would be locksmith a certificate and an over inflated idea that they have the skills and the knowledge to go into someone’s home and make decisions regarding the safety and security of a family. 

It is quite possible many Locksmiths could have criminal records, unless the correct checks are made, again the best way to protect yourself is on the MLA website, listing all licensed locksmiths in Manchester and Cheshire

In many cases, you may already know someone who has used the services of a Locksmith, and may be the best source of information and recommendations, but it is still important to check the information online.

Online sites and reviews are a great way to determine the level of service you would expect from Manchester locksmiths. In addition, more a company is operating may be a testament to their success and confidence that people have with them. You cannot trust anyone with the keys to your house, and other customers feel the same way that a company with a bad reputation will not be able to stay in business for very long, and will regularly change their name. Check that the company you are considering is insured is another very important thing you should ask before choosing someone.

If you find the best locksmith service Manchester, all these issues are very important and can make a huge difference between great service and a bad transaction. For much of the research undertaken to work with, you may end up choosing a company that you can work with for many years to come without having to worry about the safety of your home or car. Don’t Forget to put you preferred Manchester Locksmith’s phone number in your mobile phone, and recommend them to friends and family.