Gonzales
Locksmith Service
Locksmith Service
GONZALES LOCKSMITH SERVICE, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA 505-920-5004 * info@gonzaleslock.com |
MEET THE PARENTS!
Most lock manufacturing companies started out small or at least independent. Now most of them
have parent companies, if they still exist. This page will try to explain who owns who. It may be slightly
inaccurate on some companies but the big ones have big parents. If a company trades on the stock
market, it's ticker will be in parentheses.
For me it started with Yale, one of the most recognized names in this industry. Yale revolutionized the
industry with the Pin-Tumbler system. The first picture on the home page is of Yale's Pin-Tumbler
system, that picture was taken by me at the Smithsonian Institution in 1986. Anyway, the products
made by Yale & Towne were BAD-ASS! Some of the safe locks were beautiful. But then they got Eaton
(ETN) and the products got really crappy. The company has changed hands a few times since Eaton
Corporation ownership. They may be OK in other parts of the world, but here Yale is nothing but
JUNK.
Schlage Lock got assimilated by Ingersoll-Rand (IR) in 1974 and the quality didn't suffer until the
90's. Schlage ate an interesting company called General Lock, totally different from the "General
Lock" marketed now.
The founding family of BEST held out for a long time and then sold to the Stanley Works (SWK). Many
locksmiths hate Best because of their marketing strategies which usually don't include us. Anyway,
the products were extremely well-made. I'm sure quality has suffered there as well.
Here's the meat and potatoes of this page.
have parent companies, if they still exist. This page will try to explain who owns who. It may be slightly
inaccurate on some companies but the big ones have big parents. If a company trades on the stock
market, it's ticker will be in parentheses.
For me it started with Yale, one of the most recognized names in this industry. Yale revolutionized the
industry with the Pin-Tumbler system. The first picture on the home page is of Yale's Pin-Tumbler
system, that picture was taken by me at the Smithsonian Institution in 1986. Anyway, the products
made by Yale & Towne were BAD-ASS! Some of the safe locks were beautiful. But then they got Eaton
(ETN) and the products got really crappy. The company has changed hands a few times since Eaton
Corporation ownership. They may be OK in other parts of the world, but here Yale is nothing but
JUNK.
Schlage Lock got assimilated by Ingersoll-Rand (IR) in 1974 and the quality didn't suffer until the
90's. Schlage ate an interesting company called General Lock, totally different from the "General
Lock" marketed now.
The founding family of BEST held out for a long time and then sold to the Stanley Works (SWK). Many
locksmiths hate Best because of their marketing strategies which usually don't include us. Anyway,
the products were extremely well-made. I'm sure quality has suffered there as well.
Here's the meat and potatoes of this page.
Ingersoll-Rand (IR) owns companies like Schlage, VonDuprin and LCN, though I don't think it's a large
part of their business. Von-Duprin and LCN and the best exit devices and door closers, of course I
don't recognize "Brand-S" because they are dead to me. (IR) also owns Falcon, Ives and others.
It would be really great if (IR) would trade Von-Duprin and LCN to the Borg for Yale, Corbin-Russwin
and Sargent. Even Arrow if they don't get better soon! That'll never happen.
part of their business. Von-Duprin and LCN and the best exit devices and door closers, of course I
don't recognize "Brand-S" because they are dead to me. (IR) also owns Falcon, Ives and others.
It would be really great if (IR) would trade Von-Duprin and LCN to the Borg for Yale, Corbin-Russwin
and Sargent. Even Arrow if they don't get better soon! That'll never happen.
ASSA-Abloy (ASSAB.ST) is a security CONGLOMERATE! Probably the only one. They have been like a
hungry shark, eating almost anything they want. In addition to the obvuious ASSA and Abloy, they own
Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Yale, Corbin-Russwin, Arrow, Sargent and Securitron. Many, many more
companies making doors, locks, hinges and anything else related to physical security became part of
the Group. Like the Borg, they are always assimilating something, resistance is futile!
hungry shark, eating almost anything they want. In addition to the obvuious ASSA and Abloy, they own
Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Yale, Corbin-Russwin, Arrow, Sargent and Securitron. Many, many more
companies making doors, locks, hinges and anything else related to physical security became part of
the Group. Like the Borg, they are always assimilating something, resistance is futile!
Kwikset is owned by Black & Decker (BDK).
Fortune Brands (FO) owns Master Lock Company who owns American Lock. Fortune also owns
Waterloo who makes tool chests and sells them to others such as Craftsman.
In addition to Best, Stanley also owns Sargent & Greenleaf.
Fortune Brands (FO) owns Master Lock Company who owns American Lock. Fortune also owns
Waterloo who makes tool chests and sells them to others such as Craftsman.
In addition to Best, Stanley also owns Sargent & Greenleaf.
The company that would eventually become Kaba-Ilco was also a very hungry "Fish"! Munching down
on Taylor, Silca, Keil, Dominion, Star and nearly anyone else who thinks they want to manufacture
keyblanks. They also own kaba-Mas, formerly known as Mas-Hamilton. La Gard locks are part of
them too, as well as Simplex. Kaba and Ilco also make locks.
on Taylor, Silca, Keil, Dominion, Star and nearly anyone else who thinks they want to manufacture
keyblanks. They also own kaba-Mas, formerly known as Mas-Hamilton. La Gard locks are part of
them too, as well as Simplex. Kaba and Ilco also make locks.
Napco Security Group (NSSC) owns Alarm-Lock and is also in the alarm business. Napco also owns
Continental Access, manufacturer of the original though obsolete "Cypher-Lock".
Continental Access, manufacturer of the original though obsolete "Cypher-Lock".
A company called Comp-X (CIX) bought most of the well-known companies that make cabinet locks,
including Chicago Lock, Fort Lock, National Lock, and Timberline.
including Chicago Lock, Fort Lock, National Lock, and Timberline.
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One company has a real live father, Mr. Marks of Marks USA. This company has an innovative and
interesting product line, made here in the good 'ol USA!
interesting product line, made here in the good 'ol USA!
Strattec (STRT) is a spin-off of the Briggs & Stratton Corporation. They make locks and keys for most
domestic models, including re-badged vehicles such as the Nissan Quest and Mazda B3000.
domestic models, including re-badged vehicles such as the Nissan Quest and Mazda B3000.
The Eastern Company (EML) owns CCL Security which was originally Corbin Cabinet Lock before
being spun-off. Eastern also owns Illinois Lock, Greenwald and Eberhard.
being spun-off. Eastern also owns Illinois Lock, Greenwald and Eberhard.
ASSA-Abloy recently assimilated Simons-Voss and also Valli&Valli.
Stanley Security Solutions acquired OSI, maker of the OmniLock.
Stanley Security Solutions acquired OSI, maker of the OmniLock.
Update 2/19/08
Check out my BLOG!
UPDATE: 11/14/08
Marks USA has recently been
acquired by Napco Security
Systems Inc. (NSSC), which also
owns Alarm-Lock and Continental
Access Control. George Marks
remains as President of Marks
USA.
Marks USA has recently been
acquired by Napco Security
Systems Inc. (NSSC), which also
owns Alarm-Lock and Continental
Access Control. George Marks
remains as President of Marks
USA.
UPDATE: 11/14/08
I'm not mad at Schlage anymore
since they introduced the new
B500 deadbolts. Now it's up to
Arrow to improve their deadbolts.
I'm not mad at Schlage anymore
since they introduced the new
B500 deadbolts. Now it's up to
Arrow to improve their deadbolts.