I think you would find my book, Unlocking the Portals of History, helpful. It’s a 118 page paperback book published by the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands, California that is currently exhibiting some of my collection. It is well illustrated with one or more pictures on every page. The chapters are: 1. Ancient Locks, 2. Locks of Spain, France, and Central Europe, 3. British Locks, 4. Locks from Scandinavia and Russia, 5. Locks of Asia and the Middle East, 6. American Padlocks, 7. American Rim and Other Lock Types, 8. Keys, and ending with a Bibliography and Further Reading. This is not a price guide with “bare bones” descriptions. I have attempted to tell as much as I could about each lock and its inventor and/or maker. You may not be a collector now, but you may become one after seeing how fascinating the story of the lock and key is.
The cost is $15.00 and I believe U.S. postage is $2.00. Of course postage outside the U.S. could be considerably more. The Museum gift shop can be contacted through eprien@sbcm.sbcounty.gov.
