48 History Of Locks
The Scandinavian Story
^ Christopher Polhem,
1661-1751, prolific scientist,
inventor and industrialist.
^ Polhem aged about
80 wearing his
knighthood medal.
There are many factors that dictate the shape and form of
a lock, not least the environment that it’s to be used in. The
northern latitudes environment is challenging for anything
mechanical and a class of locks emerged from that part of the
world especially to cope with predominantly wet, freezing or
harsh conditions but also offering greatly enhanced security.
^ Polhems Padlock,
entirely spring-less and
eminently suitable for
harsh environments but
also greatly improving
security at the time.
»»THE EARLIEST WAS THAT
attributed to Cristopher
Polhem, of Sweden. Born in
1661, in the Swedish town of
Visby Polhem was orphaned
by the age of eight and went
to live with his uncle in
Stockholm.
He showed a talent for
maths, science and technology
and soon set up a workshop
where he made such things as
clocks, tools and household
utility items. He devised
an industrial system based
on water power driven by
a large water wheel; water
being an abundance source
of power in the Scandinavian
countries. His contributions
to his country earned him a
knig