{"id":1184,"date":"2021-01-12T19:21:25","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T18:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/?page_id=1184"},"modified":"2021-01-12T19:29:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-12T18:29:03","slug":"early-pin-tumbler-design","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/early-pin-tumbler-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Early Pin-tumbler Design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Origins <\/strong>& <\/strong>Developments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Egyptian lock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Opening from the outside<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Around 2000 BC, the pin-tumbler lock was used in ancient Egypt. The “Egyptian lock” has become a generic term like “Chubb lock” or “Yale lock” and the generalizations of some archaeologists have made it difficult to estimate their origins. This design of primitive locks has been found in North Africa, Greece, India, Iraq, Israel and Syria but with different configurations and improvements [1].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vers 2000 ans avant JC, la serrure \u00e0 cheville \u00e9tait utilis\u00e9e dans l’\u00c9gypte ancienne. La “Serrure \u00e9gyptienne” \u00e9tait devenu un terme g\u00e9n\u00e9rique comme la “serrure Chubb” ou la “serrure Yale” et les g\u00e9n\u00e9ralit\u00e9s de certains arch\u00e9ologues ont rendu difficile l’estimation de leurs origines. Cette conception de serrures primitives a \u00e9t\u00e9 retrouv\u00e9e en Afrique du Nord, en Gr\u00e8ce, en Inde, en Irak, en Isra\u00ebl et en Syrie mais avec diff\u00e9rentes configurations et am\u00e9liorations [1].<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bellicorum Instrumentorum Liber (1420)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The main evidence that makes this lock an Egyptian invention is the description of the mechanism in the journal of Dominique Vivant Denon, a French artist and diplomat who participated in the Napoleonic expeditions between 1798 and 1801 [2]. But after some research, this kind of keys appears as early as 1420 in a Giovanni De Fontana ‘s notebook. He was a 15th century Italian engineer who traveled around the world and testified to all the inventions observed during these trips [3]. These locks was made in wood and after in bronze by casting technique, that’s why we found only vestiges and some reconstructed locks are presented in museums [4].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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La principale preuve qui fait de cette serrure une invention \u00e9gyptienne, est la description du m\u00e9canisme dans le journal de Dominique Vivant Denon, un artiste et diplomate Fran\u00e7ais qui participa aux exp\u00e9ditions Napol\u00e9oniennes entre 1798 et 1801 [2]. Mais apr\u00e8s quelques recherches, ce genre de clef \u00e9tait en usage d\u00e8s 1420 en \u00c9gypte selon les carnet de Giovanni De Fontana. C’\u00e9tait un ing\u00e9nieur Italien du 15\u00e8me si\u00e8cle qui parcourra le monde et t\u00e9moignera de toutes les inventions observ\u00e9es au cours de ces nombreux voyages [3]. Ces serrures \u00e9taient fabriqu\u00e9es en bois et ensuite en bronze par moulage, c’est pour cela que l’on a retrouv\u00e9 que des vestiges et que seul des serrures reconstitu\u00e9es sont pr\u00e9sent\u00e9es dans les mus\u00e9es [4].<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Egyptian lock with its sliding wooden key<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The principle is very simple. A bolt is blocked by wooden pins. When the correct key is inserted, its teeth raise the pins and the bolt can slide freely. The teeth’s lenght is equal to the thickness of the bolt. When the bolt is lock, all pins fall by gravity in the holes made in the bolt and block it again. To access the mechanism from the outside, we had to make a opening through the door in order to pass the arm through it and open the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span><\/span>Le fonctionnement est tr\u00e8s simple. Le p\u00eane est bloqu\u00e9 par des chevilles de bois. Quand la bonne clef est ins\u00e9r\u00e9e, les dents de celle-ci soul\u00e8vent les chevilles et lib\u00e8re le p\u00eane. La longueur des dents de la clef est \u00e9gale \u00e0 l’\u00e9paisseur du p\u00eane. Quand le p\u00eane est pouss\u00e9 pour le fermer, toutes les chevilles tombent par gravit\u00e9 dans les trous pratiqu\u00e9s dans l’\u00e9paisseur du p\u00eane et le bloque \u00e0 nouveau.<\/span> Pour acc\u00e9der au m\u00e9canisme de l’ext\u00e9rieur, on devait pratiquer une ouverture dans la porte afin de passer un bras et ouvrir la porte.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Greek’s improvements on bolt’s sliding with keys [5] [7]<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In Ancient Greece, locksmiths will design several improvements in the way of moving the bolt by a tool which will later be called a “key”. This kind of mechanism will be called “Homeric lock” by archaeologists because it is described in the Homer’s Odessey dated from the end of the 8th century BCE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greeks use the pin tumbler’s technology and called it the “laconian lock” because it was very common in this region. Greek locks don’t use any springs like the Egyptian’s design from which they were inspired. The lock is made generally in wood and its key forged in bronze or iron. The Laconian key is recognizable by these particular forms limited by the forging techniques used at that time. It is generally composed of 2 to 4 prongs, of varying lengths and configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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En Gr\u00e8ce Antique, les serruriers inventeront de nombreuses am\u00e9liorations sur la fa\u00e7on de d\u00e9placer le p\u00eane au moyen d’un outil que l’on nommera plus tard une “clef”.<\/em> Ce genre de technologie sera nomm\u00e9e “serrure Hom\u00e9rique” par les arch\u00e9ologues car il est d\u00e9crit de fa\u00e7on tr\u00e8s pr\u00e9cise dans l’Odyss\u00e9e d’Hom\u00e8re dat\u00e9 de la fin du 8\u00e8me si\u00e8cle avant JC.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les Grecs utilisaient la technologie des serrures \u00e0 chevilles et l’appelaient la “serrure Laconienne” car elle \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s courante dans cette r\u00e9gion. La serrure grecque ne comportait aucun ressort comme la technologie \u00e9gyptienne dont ils se sont fortement inspir\u00e9s. Elle \u00e9tait g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement fabriqu\u00e9e en bois et sa clef forg\u00e9e d’une seule pi\u00e8ce en bronze ou en fer.<\/span><\/em> La clef Laconienne est reconnaissable par ces formes particuli\u00e8res limit\u00e9es par les technique de forge utilis\u00e9es \u00e0 cette \u00e9poque. Elle est g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement compos\u00e9e de 2 \u00e0 4 dents, de longueurs et de configurations variables.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wooden laconian lock with metal keys [6].<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Greeks mastered some advanced blacksmithing techniques like the Celts [7] and will improved upon the Egyptian’s old model by passing the key through a small opening that would later be called the “keyhole”. But the sliding of the bolt isn’t operated with the key, its opening and closing is transmitted by ropes or another tool shaped like hook as do temple keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Les Grecs ma\u00eetrisaient les techniques avanc\u00e9es de la forge comme les Celts et am\u00e9lioreront l’ancien mod\u00e8le \u00c9gyptien en passant la clef \u00e0 travers la porte par une petite ouverture que l’on appellera plus tard le “trou de serrure”. Mais le d\u00e9placement du p\u00eane ne se fait pas encore avec la clef, son ouverture et sa fermeture est transmise par une corde ou par un autre outil en forme de crochet comme le font les clefs de temple.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Laconian lock with T-shape key opening procedure.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Between the 1st and 2nd century BC, Romans will improve the “Egyptian lock”. The invention of the spring will allow this type of lock to be used both vertically and horizontally mounted on trunks, boxes or doors. The cylindrical wooden pin-tumbler, called “balanos” by the greeks, will give a way to more complex geometric shapes thanks to the excellence of the metalwork of the Romans locksmiths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Entre le 1er et 2\u00e8me si\u00e8cle avant JC, les Romains am\u00e9lioreront la “serrure \u00e9gyptienne”. L’invention du ressort permettra d’utiliser ce genre de serrures aussi bien verticalement que horizontalement mont\u00e9es sur des malles, des coffres ou encore les portes. Les chevilles cylindriques, appel\u00e9es “balanos” par les Grecs, feront place \u00e0 des formes g\u00e9om\u00e9triques plus complexes gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 l’excellence du travail du m\u00e9tal des serruriers Romains.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A vestige of a roman bronze lock’s plate and its reconstruction by Louis Jacobi [5].<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Roman’s lock mechanism using a flat forged spring.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Cocolitos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1] “On the development and distribution of primitive locks and keys”, Lieut-General. Pitt-Rivers, Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly, 1883<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2] “Voyage dans la basse et la haute Egypte, pendant les campagnes du G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Bonaparte”, Dominique Vivant Denon, Didot, Paris, 1802.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3] “Bellicorum instrumentorum liber”, Giovanni De Fontana, 1420.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4] “Der keltishe schl\u00fcssel und der schl\u00fcssel der Peneloppe, ein beitrag zur geschichte des antiken verschlusses”, Heinrich Jacobi, Homburg, Vor Der H\u00f6he, 1930.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[5] “Parmenides Lehrgedicht”, Hermann Diels, Berlin, 1897.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[6] “Das Romerkastell Saalburg”, Louis Jacobi, Homburg, Vor Der H\u00f6he, 1897.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[7] “La serrure laconienne, essai de reconstitution de l’agencement des diff\u00e9rentes serrures laconiennes en usage \u00e0 Vertillum (C\u00f4te-d’Or) d’apr\u00e8s les clefs, les garnitures d’entr\u00e9e et quelques autres d\u00e9bris recueillis dans cette localit\u00e9”, Charles Courtois, Bernigaud et Privat, Dijon, 1925.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Origins & Developments Around 2000 BC, the pin-tumbler lock was used in ancient Egypt. The “Egyptian lock” has become a generic term like “Chubb lock” or “Yale lock” and the generalizations of some archaeologists have made it difficult to estimate their origins. This design of primitive locks has been found in North Africa, Greece, India,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1184","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1184"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1184"}],"version-history":[{"count":141,"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1341,"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1184\/revisions\/1341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lockanalyst.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}