Medeco® (short for the Mechanical Development Company) is the World’s leading manufacturer and supplier of locks. The company as we know it today, was started by Paul A. Powell and Roy C. Spain in the mid 1950’s, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Upon setting up his company, Mr. Spain devised a unique advertising stunt, making the claim that he would pay $50,000 dollars to anyone who could pick his new lock. His design was unmatched at the time, as it employed a unique locking principle of angled cuts and elevating rotating pin tumblers that made millions of key combinations possible. It offered the highest level of security. His locks subsequently became renowned worldwide for being highly resistant to most forms of attack.
Ultimately, it was a detective from New York City who was able to decipher the lock. Since then, Medeco® locks have been notoriously difficult to crack.
Since the 1980’s, Medeco® have been leaders in the field of locksmithing, producing innovative designs such as “keymark” for installations requiring strong patented key control without the need for additional drill and pick resistant features, right through to state of the art electronic lock systems.
The company also developed a unique bi-axel cut key system, which ensures their keys cannot be duplicated. The system was one of the first to use hardened steel inserts to defend against physical attack.
To this day, Medeco® products consistently provide a high level of security for ultimate peace of mind.
Medeco® locks protect U.S. government and military installations, schools and universities, hospitals and banks, vending machines and parking meters, as well as homes and offices. As a leading brand specialising in high security locks, they are a household name you can trust.
Call us today on 1-877-864-4134 to see how Medeco® products can protect YOUR home and business.
How to Choose New Locks for Your House:
Purchasing new locks for your home or business can seem like a daunting task. Although the look and cost of the hardware are both important concerns, the main consideration must be the level of security the new locks will provide. There’s a vast array of choices available on the market today, and making decisions about which hardware to purchase can be difficult if you don’t have the expertise. Follow our simple guide to help you make the right choice for your property.
Exterior Doors
Exterior doors are vulnerable targets for intruders. For this reason, both front and back entrance doors, and garage doors will require a higher level of security than those inside the property.
Most front and back doors use a keyed entry function, and are fitted with handle sets. There are three main options for exterior lock hardware.
Single cylinder deadbolt
A thumbturn allows the door to be easily to be easily opened from the inside. When the handle or knob is turned, the door will open freely. However, in order to gain entry from the outside, a key is needed to unlock the door.
Double cylinder deadbolt
This works in a similar way to the single cylinder deadbolt, but a key is needed on both sides of the door. This type of lock is recommended for glass doors such as patio doors. Should an intruder manage to break the glass, the handle on the inside would not open without the key.
Auxiliary deadbolt/Mortise lock with dwelling entry function
These are often installed for added security. A deadbolt is a one inch solid bolt that can only be retracted with a key or a thumbturn. It is a secondary lock usually located above the primary lock, although it can be used on its own.
The purpose of a Mortise Lock is to act as a combination of locks. It is dual action means that it can act as a door knob and a deadbolt. A mortise lock allows for faster exit during an emergency.
How to Choose the Right Level of Security:
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non profit organisation whose aim is to grade security ratings for builder’s hardware, so that customers can identify the quality and durability of locksets through a series of operational and security tests.
Grade 1: The highest level of security available for both residential and commercial properties.
Grade 2: Excellent security and durability for residential and some commercial properties.
Grade 3: Basic residential security. The lowest grade provided by ANSI and the minimal acceptable quality for residential door locks.
The BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) product number is another way of checking the grade of any particular piece of hardware. This number gives information about the product category, the material used and the function of the hardware.
How to Rekey a Lock in 10 Easy Steps
You don’t have to be a locksmith to learn how to rekey a lock. This relatively straightforward process basically involves configuring a lock so it can be opened with a new key.
There obvious advantages to doing this:
- You don’t have the expense of replacing the whole lock if you lose your keys
- You can be certain that no unauthorised person can gain access to your property
- You can open both front and back doors with the same key
To do this, you’ll need a few basic tools:
- A plug follower
- A pin kit (Purchase the right kit for the brand of lock you want to rekey)
- A key decoder
Instructions:
1. Carefully remove the spring-loaded pin from the back of the lock, and unscrew the retainer. (Keep everything in a safe place as you’ll need to replace these when you’re done.)
2. Put the original key in the barrel, and turn it 90 degrees.
3. Using the plug follower, gently push the cylinder out. The plug follower will hold the top pins in place. Put this to one side.
4. Take the lock and remove all the bottom key pins.
5. Using a decoder, take the new key and work out which size pins fit each “cut”. Do this by placing each “gap” of the key in the decoder and sliding it along until it stops. Most pin kits contain a chart which shows which size pin corresponds to which cut. You’ll need to do this for all of the pins.
6. Put the new key in the lock and place the new bottom pins in the corresponding holes, making sure that all the pins are flush.
7. Turn the key back 90 degrees to make sure that none of the pins fall down into the lock.
8. Place the lock back into the cylinder by gently pushing the plug follower back through.
9. Turn the key to make sure it works .
10. Replace the spring-loaded pin back into the lock and replace the retainer housing, making sure it isn’t too tight.