The HPC 1200 Project: Introduction

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

What to do?

A few weeks ago I decided I wasn’t busy enough with work and other commitments and I needed a new project for whatever spare time I had left. I’ve restored antique mortise locks in the past for fun and wanted to do something similar but not exactly the same. You can only polish so much brass or craft so many springs from scratch before you get bored and want to try something else. I eventually decided I would restore a key machine, with a very loose interpretation of “restore”. I decided I wanted to try to bring it as close to “factory original” while staying reasonable. In other words, I’m not going to throw all the money in the world to make it perfect, but I am definitely going to leave it better than I found it, cosmetically and functionally. The question then became, “Okay, but which key machine?”

Well, the newer stuff was out of the question because there are A LOT of electronics involved and that is certainly not my forte. A lot of the older, obscure stuff was also out of the question because there was a risk that if I got a majority way through and realized that a critical component was no longer available for sale or couldn’t be readily sourced, well, the entire project would be a complete waste of time. Then it dawned on me: go with an HPC 1200.

Few machines in the locksmith industry have achieved the success, longevity, and respect of HPC’s 1200 —better known today as the HPC Blitz, Original Blitz, or simply “the Blitz”. Since its introduction in the late 1970s, the 1200 has undergone only minor refinements while maintaining its reputation as a virtually “bulletproof” tool. Renowned for its speed, precision, and reliability, it remains an indispensable mainstay in the toolkit of professional locksmiths worldwide.

With all this in mind, and given the amount of servicing literature available, I quickly realized the 1200 would indeed be the best bet. Even after all these years, the 1200s are still everywhere, from locksmith shops to locksmith trucks to institutions, so there are are a lot of people that could both enjoy a project like this as well use some of the information from it. And, given the 1200’s success, HPC has made practically every single component that they produce for them available for sale through distributors, so if I have to replace parts, I know they’ll be available through my suppliers. What HPC doesn’t produce for the 1200s, such as the motor or capacitor or relay, those parts too are also readily available, but from other sources. Suffice to say, the 1200 is a safe bet for a first time project in this area. Continue reading →

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Hardware History Files: The Vault That Protected America’s Constitution | Mosler and the Charters of Freedom

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

In the United States, few documents possess greater historical and symbolic significance than the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—collectively known as the Charters of Freedom. Ratified in 1776, 1788, and 1791 respectively, these foundational texts have guided the American democratic experiment for over two centuries. Their enduring legacy demands not only national reverence but also meticulous stewardship to ensure their preservation for future generations. Yet, their journey to a shared, permanent home was far from straightforward.

The formal custodianship of these documents began on July 27, 1789, with the establishment of the United States Department of State—the first executive agency of the federal government. Among its many responsibilities, the State Department was charged with safeguarding the nation’s founding documents. While the Bill of Rights had not yet been ratified at the time, it would soon join the collection under the Department’s care. This arrangement remained largely unchanged for over a century.

In 1920, Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, acting on recommendations from a committee of scholars, proposed that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution be permanently preserved and potentially exhibited for public viewing. President Warren G. Harding responded swiftly, issuing an executive order transferring custody of both documents from the Department of State to the Library of Congress.

The onset of World War II temporarily disrupted efforts to establish a permanent display. For security reasons, the documents were temporarily relocated, including a brief stay at Fort Knox, Kentucky. However, on September 17, 1951, President Harry S. Truman presided over a ceremonial re-encasement of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in helium-filled cases. Joined by Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson and members of Congress, Truman emphasized the importance of preservation, declaring that such efforts would continue to “give energy and hope to new generations in the United States and abroad.” He further expressed his desire that the Bill of Rights be encased alongside the Constitution, calling the first ten amendments “the most important part of the Constitution.” Continue reading →

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Hardware History Files: What Happened to Lockwood?

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

If you were in the door hardware industry in 1952, you knew the name Lockwood. It stood for prestige, quality, and American industrial might. The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company operated five regional sales offices and six manufacturing plants across the United States. It had furnished buildings all over the world: apartments, hotels, hospitals, colleges, embassies, and federal facilities.

Its products were used in high-security government sites, including post offices, military installations, and even the U.S. Embassy in Havana. And perhaps most impressively, Lockwood hardware was installed in two of the most high-profile projects of the mid-century: the Atomic Energy Plant in Paducah, Kentucky—at the time, the largest contract ever awarded by the U.S. government—and the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

At the company’s 1952 sales convention, there was a sense of unstoppable momentum. Lockwood had survived the Great Depression, pivoted to war production during WWII, and emerged in the postwar boom stronger than ever. Yet today, more than seventy years later, the Lockwood name is a ghost in the American hardware industry. So, what happened?

Continue reading →

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Lockwood Marches On: Chapter Eight, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1950 to 1952

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.

By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.

We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.

Chapter Eight, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1950 to 1952

AS THE YEARS roll by, Lockwood continues to witness the truth of the old adage, “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” It’s contract sales distribution system, extremely weak in 1940, has blossomed out into a great Lockwood tree from the little acorn planted in 1941. Lockwood’s strategically selected contract accounts are really hitting the ball for Lockwood all across the country. The brand name Lockwood, has constantly increased in acceptance and demand. There is much to take real pride in. The most widely publicized of outstanding buildings equipped with the Lockwood hardware in this period has been, of course, the United Nations group of buildings New York City. It was the highest possible endorsement that the hardware used was Lockwood throughout this most important group of buildings in the world. it was particularly gratifying to receive the commission to equip State Center at Los Angeles, Statler’s most ambitious and costly group of buildings. The greatest lift, from a company standpoint, was that the fine Lockwood hardware used on nine previous Lockwood installations for Statler proved so satisfactory that Lockwood was again selected against the most severe competition.

Continue reading →

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Lockwood Marches On: Chapter Seven, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1946 to 1949

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.

By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.

We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.

Chapter Seven, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1946 to 1949

IN 1946, with the end of the war, Lockwood activities gradually returned to peace-time production. The huge back log of projected building made it obvious the building industry was entering a period of lush business. With this in mind, Lockwood began to strengthen its fence.

Pin Tumbler Assembly.

Pin Tumbler Assembly.

First it produced an up-to-date catalog presenting a new approach to the listing of builders’ finishing hardware. Next it embarked on a program of advertising in trade and architectural magazines with which hundreds of thousands of readers are now quite familiar. Realizing that because of the pent up demand for new schools and hospitals, as well as for other types of buildings, there would be many places where architects could not secure the advice and assistance of a hardware consultant, Lockwood created another “first” when it published a condensed issue in Sweet’s Architectural File in 1946. This practice has since been repeated in each annual edition of Sweet’s and has been extremely effective in familiarizing architects with the Lockwood line.  Continue reading →

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Lockwood Marches On: Chapter Six, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1941 to 1945

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.

By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.

We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.

Chapter Six, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1941 to 1945

THIS PERIOD was featured by major changes in sales policy and sales personnel. One weakness in selling policy up to that time had been direct bidding on contract work, which was uneconomical and unsound.

After a long and thoughtful consideration and despite the likelihood of losing business because of inadequate distribution, the company faced the issue and established a definite sales policy of selling its products (except in New York City where, up to the time of printing, it has not yet been fully possible) strictly through franchised distributors. This step is recorded as courageous at that particular time because of the lack of distributors to pick up the business dropped. Business, while better than in the years described in Chapter Five, was certainly not that much better that the move could be well afforded. Continue reading →

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Lockwood Marches On: Chapter Five, The Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1932 to 1940

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.

By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.

We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.

1932. Present Plant No. 1 in Fitchburg, Mass. Acquired at the time Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company was moved from South Norwalk, Conn.

1932. Present Plant No. 1 in Fitchburg, Mass. Acquired at the time Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company was moved from South Norwalk, Conn.

Chapter Five, Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company 1932 to 1940

THIS development period, from the time the plant was moved from South Norwalk, Conn., was a critical one in determining the future progress of Lockwood. The next few years were a period of transition. One of the first requisites was a new catalog which was published in 1932. It was soon realized by the new management, however, that if Lockwood was to be a real factor in the industry, a complete overhauling was necessary. A program was started which has continued to this very day and projects itself far into the future. Continue reading →

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Lockwood Marches On: Chapter Four, The Independent Lock Co.

Posted on June 10, 2024 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company’s Lockwood – The story of its past, the basis for its future. Published in 1953, and based almost entirely off of literature produced for Lockwood’s 1952 sales convention, it recounts the history of the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company from 1834 until 1952.

By 1953, the Lockwood Hardware Manufacturing Company, then a division of the Independent Lock Company with both being headquartered in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, fielded branch offices in New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, and Selma, Alabama along with five manufacturing plants in Fitchburg and one in Selma.

We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1953, albeit in a different medium.

1917. Morris Falk and employees in first Independent Lock Company factory at Leominster, Mass. (Morris Falk, top center)

1917. Morris Falk and employees in first Independent Lock Company factory at Leominster, Mass. (Morris Falk, top center)

Chapter Four, The Independent Lock Co.

THE STORY of the Independent Lock Company is, fire and foremost, the story of a man, Morris Falk, to whom this booklet has been dedicated and whose personal story has been briefly described on page 3. Secondly, it is a story of other men he gathered around him who helped him in carrying out the policies he laid down; courtesy, consideration and fair play. Morris Falk’s word has always been better than a bond.

As previously mentioned, the Independent Lock Company was started because women bobbed their hair. In a small building Independent Lock Company began the manufacture of key blanks. That was its first product and it is an indisputable fact that today the Independent Lock Company makes more key blanks than any other company in the world. Continue reading →

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A Glance into Yale History

Posted on June 2, 2024 by Tyler J. Thomas

Note: The following is a republished excerpt from The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company’s Catalog No. 29. We have made no changes to this excerpt and what you see is exactly how it was printed in 1939, albeit in a different medium.

Linus Yale, Senior

NEARLY a century ago, in the little village of Newport, N.Y., about twelve miles northeast of Utica, the name Yale was first identified with locks. It was there that Linus Yale, Senior, started as a lock maker and produced the Yale Bank Lock, the first of the long and varied line of locks to bear that famous name.

Linus Yale, Senior, had a natural genius for mechanics which he first devoted to originating improvements in various milling devices. Later he turned to designing and making bank locks which, in those days, were of intricate construction and always operated by keys. He also made a number of locks for use on doors, drawers and other places, all of high mechanical excellence. Continue reading →

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Locked Up: The History of Handcuffs

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Tim Coleman

From ancient mythology, to modern public safety tools. Symbols of horrific history, to objects of pleasure. These restraints have been used for centuries!

Today, we will provide the captivating details on one of the worlds oldest wearable locks!

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