Locksmith books (UK)

[kwc]

Hi All,
Does anyone know of a good source of locksmith books which have a UK content.
Most books i have are written for the USA market and i would like to find any information regarding the UK locksmith industry.
Thanks Kev

[Shrub]

I dont really know of any.

What info are you actually after?

[oldlock]

The Union enyclopedia is worth getting, just so you can learn the correct terminology, it's out of print though but copies pop up on ebay from time to time.

Apart from that there's not much that was published in the last 100 years, although the older stuff is interesting.

[kwc]

Iam wishing to learn more about the locksmiths role as i hope to join this career some time in the future.
There must be more to just picking locks and cutting keys and would like to see books relating to the subjects that a Uk locksmith would be doing.
Are Uk locks vastly different to the USA locks and if i learn using USA books does it hold when it comes to the Uk.
Does most training involve being with a locksmith and learn hands on.
Having worked in the security industry for 25 years i wish now to expand into the world of locksmithing and want to learn the correct way.
Cheers
Kev

[Shrub]

Ok well the best thing you can do at the moment is read up on the training threads of this site along with the whats needed to set up a lockie business in the uk.

You wont find any books on setting up a lockie business that are worth reading and forget the ebay stuff.

You need full and proper training and then practice on many differant locks with all the differant tools, the US dont really have many BS lever locks so they arent really written about, they are going to be your biggest problem over here.

Oh and its very expensive to start up, £15k plus is the norm

[toomush2drink]

AS oldlock mention the bok to get is "an encyclopedia of locks and builders hardware" by josiah parkes and sons ltd , basically union. Its out of print now but it contains stacks of info on lever locks etc, not so much picking them but how they work etc and lots of history. Im always looking in mine every now and then and continue to learn new things from it. Some of the stuff isnt so obvious until you encounter a certain lock then it clicks into place. The terminology is great.

[kwc]

Thanks for the pointers lads.
I don't want to start my own business, rather i wish to join an existing company but need some basics first.
25 years ago i did fit locks and safes but "makes and models" haved moved on (I hope).
I will continue to search this forum for info as i always find something each time.
Kev