Book: On the Dev and Dist of Primitive Locks and Keys 1883

[echoplot]

Subject title shorted me.... "On the Development and Distribution of Primitive Locks and Keys"
For you history buffs...I happened upon a hard copy of this text in the "Curiosities and Antiques" case of one of my local used book haunts.

Printed in 1883, detailing specimens in the Pitt-Rivers Museum collection (University of Oxford).
I've only briefly skimmed through it, but it seems to cover a number of points regarding the development of lock technologies in various parts of the world and the distribution of said technology (anthropologically speaking).

It's a pretty short book, but with a number of plates detailing historical as well as some modern lock technology of the time period.

Best news for last...if you'd like to read it yourself, a scan is fully available on the archive.org internet archives. See the link below...
https://archive.org/details/ondevelopmentdis00pittuoft

[escher7]

Thanks for the link.

[echoplot]

No problem!

Update for all interested...
I've read through it a bit deeper at this point. It's a historical analysis of the development and spread of three branches of lock and key improvements throughout history, beginning with simple latch bolts and drawing upon examples of locks, keys, and lock components found at archaeological sites, descriptions of locking devices in historical texts and depictions of locks/keys (paintings, carvings, etc) on other artifacts.
Two of the branches being variations of the tumbler lock, and the third being the spring latched lock. It also delves into the development of a hanging (portable) padlock vs fixed locks, and the extensive etymology of the words lock, key, padlock, etc.

[jharveee]

Some one here was building a storage shed and needed ideas for an easy to open lock.........this has some really good examples.
Day late, dollar short.
I enjoyed it.
Thanks

[gnarus8429]

Thanks for the link. The plates in the back are awesome! Love the drawings of those old locks.

[femurat]

Some one here was building a storage shed and needed ideas for an easy to open lock.........this has some really good examples.

That's exactly what I thought when I saw it jharveee

Thanks for the link echoplot, I've saved all the pictures in my phone to read them in the next future