Antique Locks and Keys Books
Artisan Ideas began publishing books on antique locks and keys in 2019. Our first book was a high quality, corrected version of Vincent Eras’ famous “Locks and Keys throughout the Ages” which has sold thousands of copies worldwide and is in the collection of the libraries at such prestigious universities as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, The Smithsonian Library, Notre Dame, etc., etc.
Our other books on vintage locks and keys have won awards and much critical acclaim.
If you are interested in the history of locks, old padlocks and keys, or you are a collector of vintage locks and keys, or want to re-create an old-fashioned blacksmith lock and key, we have books for you.
Suggestions
If you have any suggestions for us on lock and key books to publish, or a hard-to-find book we should be offering on our site, please let us know. My name is Jim Blaho and I’m the owner of Artisan Ideas. Please email me directly with any suggestion you may have. My email is jblaho@ArtisanIdeas.com. THANK YOU!
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THE NEW SPRUCE FORGE MANUAL OF LOCKSMITHING: A BLACKSMITH’S GUIDE TO SIMPLE LOCK MECHANISMS (REVISED AND EXPANDED)
$44.95Silver Medal Winner for the HOBBY and CRAFT BOOKS category, 2023 IBPA Book Awards.
Hardcover, 304 pages, full color photos and illustrations.
Scroll down page for complete description.
International Orders
Artisan Ideas ships within the United States only. Customers outside the US can order our books through our international distributors. Click on the links below.
- UK and Europe: Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop)
- Australia: Woodslane
Availability varies by title and distributor.
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Locks and Keys Throughout the Ages – Classic Reference on the History and Mechanisms of Locks and Keys
$32.50A classic reference on the history of locks and keys, tracing their development from prehistoric devices to modern mechanisms. Vincent J.M. Eras combines detailed explanations with over 280 black-and-white photographs and drawings to illustrate how locks function and evolved over time.
Hardcover, 186 pages, over 280 black-and-white photos and designs.
International Orders
Artisan Ideas ships within the United States only. Customers outside the US can order our books through our international distributors. Click on the links below.
- UK and Europe: Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop)
- Australia: Woodslane
Availability varies by title and distributor.
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Persian Locks: 1500 Years of Iranian Padlocks – Illustrated History of Antique Persian Locks and Mechanisms
$32.50An award-winning, beautifully illustrated book on Persian lockmaking, presenting 1,500 years of antique locks history through over 500 photographs and drawings. Explore the design, craftsmanship, and mechanisms of traditional Iranian padlocks in this richly detailed visual reference.
Hardcover, 144 pages, 10 × 8.5 inches, over 500 full-color photos and drawings.
Scroll down page for complete description.
International Orders
Artisan Ideas ships within the United States only. Customers outside the US can order our books through our international distributors. Click on the links below.
- UK and Europe: Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop)
- Australia: Woodslane
Availability varies by title and distributor.
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Antique Locks and Keys: Their History, Uses and Mechanisms – Comprehensive Reference on Antique Lock Mechanisms and Key Design
$58.952024 Gold Medal Winner – Independent Book Publishers Awards
A comprehensive reference on antique locks and keys, covering their history, mechanisms, and artistic development from Roman times through the Industrial Revolution. Features over 1,000 high-resolution photographs with dates, dimensions, and provenance, along with detailed insights into internal lock mechanisms.
Hardcover, 290 pages, over 1,000 color photos, 12¼ × 9¼ inches.
International Orders
Artisan Ideas ships within the United States only. Customers outside the US can order our books through our international distributors. Click on the links below.
- UK and Europe: Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop)
- Australia: Woodslane
Availability varies by title and distributor.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Order from our European distributor, Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop). Trade enquiries: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
