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@manchester-locksmith
lemans classic - lotus elite
Australian 2011 Formula 1 rookie, Daniel Ricciardo, has been linked to the Caterham Formula 1 team (formerly known as Team Lotus) in 2012 if the team decide not to retain current driver Jarno Trulli.
The teams No.1 driver, Heikki Kovalainen, has confirmed his allegiance with the team...
A national qualification for the locksmithing profession
A national qualification for the locksmithing profession (25/10/2011)
There has been a great deal of discussion over the perception of the locksmithing profession and much debate about what a national qualification will mean for practicing locksmiths on a day-to-day basis. The announcement of the Master Locksmiths Association’s (MLA) ambitions to develop a nationally recognised locksmithing qualification and apprenticeship framework has led to much industry debate. Hoping to answer some of the questions raised, Dr Steffan George, development director for the MLA explains why the association believes a national qualification is a step in the right direction for the industry and why it feels locksmiths should support the Association’s ambition. Commenting on the development of a locksmithing national qualification Dr Steffan George said: “We have been working with the security sector skills body Skills for Security (SfS) for months now to spearhead the development of a nationally recognised qualification to help legitimise the locksmithing profession, raise standards and boost perception of locksmithing as a skilled trade. “I’m sure most locksmiths will have come across customers that have passed comment about paying a perfectly reasonable fee for a job they claim ‘didn’t look that difficult’. Although a lot of industries will come across this same issue it also indicates the misconception many of the public have of locksmithing with many perceiving the trade as more of a ‘job’ in oppose to the reality of it being a skilled profession. “In many instances customers do not understand the years of training and level of skill required to become a professional locksmith and take the services provided for granted. Although something might look ‘easy’ to them, in reality the thought and understanding behind the actions taken by a locksmith are not simple, and with every job individuals apply their expertise and use their knowledge to provide a valuable service. “It can be argued that customers sometimes don’t consider the fact that a locksmith has had to train and practice for years to build up their skill levels. Neither do they consider the fact they are constantly learning how to use new products and about complex regulations in order to provide them with the best possible advice and service. “The MLA feel a national qualification that recognises a minimum standard of achievement and is instantly recognisable to the public and fellow locksmiths will go a long way towards combating these misconceptions and raising the profile of the profession. “As the UK’s biggest locksmithing trade association we are constantly striving to ensure minimum levels of skill and ethics exist in the trade. Sadly we’re increasingly seeing a number of training courses that promise would-be locksmiths a £60,000 salary after just two days training. Although we all know locksmithing can be a rewarding career it is by no means the “get rich quick” industry that some training providers seem to portray it as. “A national qualification will help combat this problem through a new regulation system whereby awarding bodies will require training bodies to meet minimum criteria such as adequate premises and hands on experience for trainers. This in turn should help raise standards and address the issue of people attending training courses and then shortly thereafter setting themselves up as trainers – a bugbear of many in the industry. “In addition, a national qualification is also expected to help employers gain a better understanding of the competency of staff they may be looking to employ so it not only helps with public perception but also within the industry itself. “In addition to supporting those established in their careers the development of a national qualification will lead to the creation of a formal apprenticeship framework which currently does not exist. This would enable employers to gain funding for training their apprentices (subject to certain criteria) and provide locksmiths with an excellent, solid introduction into the world of locksmithing. “We’ve all seen the headlines about the Government’s intentions to create more apprenticeships in the coming years. To add to this we have seen MLA members struggling to find new staff, wanting to be able to take on apprentices but not being able to currently do so. This not only reaffirms our belief that there is demand for such training but we feel this clearly shows that the locksmithing industry is proud to support young people wanting to enter into the profession. “As with all initiatives of this nature we are aware of some concerns regarding the national qualifications and believe it is important to address a few misconceptions out there about the project as early as possible. “Firstly, despite marketing claims by some providers, at the moment there are no nationally recognised qualifications available to locksmiths. Currently only tailored awards exist so this qualification will hold a unique position in the marketplace. “Secondly a nationally recognised qualification is just that – nationally recognised. It is not something that a group / association / training provider can hijack for themselves or for their exclusive benefit and although the MLA is funding the qualification it will be open to all locksmiths and we will not have sole delivery of it. “Any qualifications will also be optional, so it doesn’t mean that those who’ve been in the industry for a while will have to take the exam although they are of course welcome to do so. Developing a national qualification will go a long way towards helping the public understand the skills required to be a locksmith and it will highlight genuine industry desire for appropriate regulation, accountability and raising standards, which can only be a good thing. “We are delighted to have received some fantastic feedback from MLA members, non-members, manufacturers and stakeholders about the positive impact they feel a nationally recognised qualification will achieve and greatly appreciate all of the support we have received to date. “Whilst establishing a national qualification may be one small step, it is hopefully the start of something bigger for the industry at large. It won’t clear up all the issues faced overnight but we have to start somewhere and we believe this is the way to move forward. “In the same way that the National Occupational Standard was a stepping stone towards establishing a nationally recognised qualification, the qualification itself will be a stepping stone towards creating the apprenticeship framework, which in-turn will see this whole process move another step towards any potential future regulation of the industry – whether that be Government or industry led.”
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Obit of the Day: Bringing DIY Stability
The Black and Decker Workmate, a compact work bench for do-it-yourselfers (DIY) came from a home improvement project gone wrong. Ron Hickman was cutting wood at his home and using his dining room chairs for stability. He nicked a chair, felt his wife’s wrath (understandably) and decided he needed something to do these simple jobs that wasn’t furniture. So he developed the “workmate” but could find not buyers. Eventually after figuring out the design (blueprint above) he had it patented and then tried to sell it to major companies but there were no buyers. Finally Black & Decker bought it and they’ve sold 100 million units around the world. (Not bad since Stanley Tools once told Hickman that he could mark potential sales in the dozens.)
Hickman didn’t just design workbenches. He also brought the world the Lotus Elan, made famous by Emma Peel in The Avengers.
Common locking faults and advice
Door locks, like any other mechanism, can cease working properly at inopportune times. If you are having issues with a lock then this article could help you to solve the issue. Key gets stuck or is hard to turn If you are having difficulty operating the key in a lock then there's some simple steps that might free things up before calling out Cusworth Master Locksmiths. Key is hard to turn Check the key The first step is to make positive you are using the right key! In the event you require to lift the handle before locking, try pushing it down then lifting again. Oil Oil the lock by spraying a tiny light oil in to the cylinder. Call a locksmith If these methods don't work it is a nice suggestion to call a Manchester locksmith. A stiff key could mean that your lock is in require of replacing. Pull Grip the key firmly and together with your other hand push around the keyhole. In the event you cannot receive a nice grip try using pliers, but keep in mind to be gentle to keep away from damaging the lock. Call a locksmith If the key won't come out then you will require to call a professional locksmith to remove it without damaging your lock and door. Key is stuck If the key turns but doesn't lock or unlock the door then this usually means that an internal mechanism has failed. Call Cusworth Master Locksmiths on 01625 250275 to solve this issue. Key turns but doesn't work Key won't go in lock In the event you cannot get your key in the lock then the first thing to check is that you are using the right key. If none of these steps solve the issue then you may require to have a replacement key made or the lock replaced. Defrost the keyhole If it is very chilled then the lock might be frozen. Gently heat the key and insert it gradually in to the keyhole. Repeat heating and inserting until the ice has melted. Be cautious as this process could lead to a stuck or broken key. Oil Oil the lock by spraying a tiny graphite in to the cylinder. Check the key In the event you have a new key it might have been badly cut. Lots of cobblers and heel bars and market stalls have badly set machines, bad choice of keyblanks and bad training. It is always best to to have keys cut by a member of the MLA (Master Locksmiths Association) If the door latch doesn't engage then it may be out of alignment with the strike plate (the bit on the door frame that the bolt goes in to). Try the following: Door won't latch shut Tighten the screws on the door hinges. Try adjusting the strike plate by loosening its screws and shifting it slightly. Spray graphite in to the latch to oil it. Latch is stuck If the door latch is stuck then there's several things that you can check: Check the door hinges Try lifting the door slightly to check that the hinge screws are tight. If the door is out of alignment then the latch will stick. Check the strike plate Check that the strike plate aligns with the latch and bolt. If not, try loosening the screws of the strike plate and adjusting the position slightly. Try oiling the latch Spray some graphite in to the latch to oil it.
A little about Locksmithing in Manchester
Joseph Bramah and Jeremiah Chubb were two of the earliest inventors creating locks designed to keep people secure in their homes. A burglar aiming to pick one of their locks would have wasted his time and soon given up. None of their locks were ‘cheap’, but they were tested by the most incredibly skilled engineers of the day, and proved to be of outstanding quality. You won’t find locks of this quality in B&Q, but they are still available from true lock professionals. Customers who have a dislike of ‘being ripped off’ usually go for the cheapest quote rather than the best qualified professionals, and so, end up being cheated. They don’t FEEL cheated, because they think they’ve saved money. Unfortunately it’s too late to find out that you’ve paid for a lock that has low security value when you come home to a house that’s been burgled. The reason these DIY cylinders are so cheap is that they’re made from a mixture of scrap metals - a bit of brass, old iron, a strip of lead, baked bean tins - anything goes into the melting pot. They are poorly made, fragile, and they wear out in a very short time. But because they’re so cheap, you’ll be back to buy another one at the same low price, and not worry about it. No wonder there are DIY stores on every street corner. The people who settle for this are dream customers - happy to pay for rubbish time and time again. When it comes to buying from a DIY store, men hate asking for advice. So DIY stores don’t provide any qualified advice. Why should they? If you’re not sure what you want, you’ll probably buy something. If it’s the wrong thing, you’ll buy it anyway, because it‘s so cheap, and chances are, you won’t take it back if it‘s the wrong thing because you don‘t want to look silly. Suddenly, everyone in Britain was doing DIY, and new stores emerged - B & Q in 1969, Texas Homecare and Wickes in 1972, Homebase in 1979, and Focus DIY in the early 1980’s. This had a devastating effect on hundreds of lock and hardware businesses across the UK. However, the worst aspect of this move towards DIY was that customers were replacing well-made locks with cheaper alternatives. Even the best-known companies in the lock industry, under pressure from the big DIY chains, were cutting corners to produce cheaper locks, adding other metals to brass and steel to cut costs. Durable and secure locks of good quality are still made, but they cost markedly more than the budget versions available to DIY enthusiasts. At the end of World War II, young American men returning from war service after four gruelling years often found themselves with no jobs and no prospects. For many, there was always the chance to use what they’d learned in the armed forces and work for themselves - as builders, carpenters, roofers, electricians, plumbers, painters - rebuilding their country after 15 years of the Depression and war. So, after nearly two centuries of having very secure locks at our disposal, why are most homes left so vulnerable to burglary? There are several factors that have contributed to this state of affairs: the emergence of a DIY ethic, the growth of the uPVC industry, and a distrust of professionals. It may shock many people to learn that such locks, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, were greatly superior to the locks that most people now have on their doors. Like Bramah a generation before him, Jeremiah Chubb invented locks that were designed to be ‘unpickable’ for the growing middle classes, newly affluent on the wave of the Industrial Revolution. In 1818, Chubb exhibited his ‘detector’ lock, with an anti-tamper feature that ‘detected’ when any foreign object, such as a lock pick, was inserted into the mechanism. Following any attempt to open the lock without the key, it would go into a ‘failsafe’ mode, and had to be reset using a special key before it could be used normally again. In theory, it is perfectly feasible to make a lock that can’t be picked or forced to get it open without a key. The big problem with such a lock is, what do you do if you lose the key, or if the lock goes wrong? How do you get in without ruining the door? The first locks, dating from nearly 4000 years ago, were rather basic compared to modern locks, but the workings remained a complete mystery to all but the craftsmen who constructed it, who were often sworn to secrecy on pain of death. Most locks still follow the same fundamental principle as these early models, using a key to move several pieces up and down until they line up and allow another piece to move across. This technology started with wood, and in 40 centuries, we have advanced by substituting metal parts. There have been many refinements to this principle over the millennia, as lockmakers aimed to keep at least one step ahead of thieves. In the late 18th century, Joseph Bramah, the famous inventor of the hydraulic press, and an improved water closet, turned his hand to the manufacture of locks. In 1784 he patented a new lock design, claiming it to be ‘unpickable’, and Bramah was so confident of this claim that he offered a prize of 200 Guineas (worth approximately £60,000 today) to anyone who could pick his lock. In 1851, Victorian Britain wanted to show the empire, and the rest of the world, why Britain could rightly claim to be the foremost nation of the age. A huge glass structure was built in London’s Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition. Here, in the ‘Crystal Palace’, as it was popularly known, the achievements of British ingenuity, inventiveness and enterprise were paraded for all the world to see. Both Bramah and Chubb proudly exhibited their ‘unpickable’ locks, representing a peak of engineering excellence. The 200 Guinea Bramah prize had been unclaimed for over 60 years at that point, but the ‘Challenge Lock’ was finally picked by an American locksmith, Alfred Charles Hobbs, after 51 hours of effort spread over 16 days. The prize, however, represented several years’ wages, and would allow Hobbs the means to set up in business for himself. But Hobbs wasn’t finished there. Next, he turned to the Chubb ‘detector’ lock, and picked that open, much to the annoyance of the British lock fraternity. Neither Joseph Bramah or Jeremiah Chubb lived to see these defeats, but with their egos bruised the technicians of both companies set out to restore their reputations. In the following years, Hobbs went on to invent the ‘Protector’ lock. A degree of British pride was restored when, in 1854, Hobbs’ lock was in turn picked by one of the skilled locksmiths who worked for the Chubb company, by this time relocated in Wolverhampton. Unfortunately, many of these tradesmen were no more skilled than their customers, and there were some notable failures - buildings, walls and roofs collapsing, families getting electrocuted, and homes being flooded. Rather than pay for poor work, many people opted to do the work themselves. The retail sector responded by making materials available in smaller quantities - a pack of 20 screws rather than a box of 1000 - and the ‘Do-It-Yourself’ movement was born. The popularity of TV programmes showing consumers how to do various home repairs and improvements spread across the Atlantic. In 1960’s Britain, we had Barry Bucknell presenting a live show every week, complete with occasional mishaps on air (although none were ever as serious as those depicted by comedian Kenny Everett in sketches where the Reg Prescott character - reputedly based on Bucknell - usually ended up wrapped in blood-stained bandages). But he wasn’t incompetent by any means. In 1962, Bucknell (along with Jack Holt) designed the 2-man Mirror dinghy, a DIY project available as a kit. It was very successful, with over 70,000 produced, and is still raced at Olympic level. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s I won several trophies in Mirror class racing and I can assure you it was perfectly seaworthy. These big stores don’t care if you buy the wrong thing, just as long as you keep buying - cheaper items will always sell. This is why so many DIY handymen had 2-lever bathroom locks on their front doors, and why they couldn’t get spare keys anywhere, while better quality, more expensive items stayed on the shelves. DIY store managers know that most people will risk a small amount for something they’re not sure about, but not for expensive items, which gather dust on the shelves. So the public end up with cheap locks that have limited security value. When uPVC doors were first introduced, the manufacturers used a locking system that was designed for a steel door, and modified it to fit in a uPVC door. The cylinders, first introduced in 1924, were intended as a ‘quick change’ lock for medium to high security applications. When fitted in a steel door, the cylinder is secure. When fitted to a uPVC door, the cylinder is not secure. They never have been secure, but now, the secret is out. Too many people know how to open them. Yet most of these insecure cylinders will be opened in seconds, and replaced with others that are equally insecure. What you may not know is that such cheap cylinders won’t provide even 60 seconds of security. If we define a security lock as one that stops a burglar, then this lock would fail the test in a shocking way. These cylinders serve no purpose except to keep you out of your own home. If the key is lost, then ANYONE who knows the trick can open the door in under a minute! Some will charge you for this, and others will take whatever they can carry from your house - and neither of them will leave you secure when they finish. One way or the other, you‘ve been ripped off. There are experts you can consult, but DIY thinking means that you’re supposed to know as much about it as the experts. The problem is that there are lots of tradesmen who think the same way. In recent years, numerous individuals all over the UK have set themselves up in business, man and van, lacking professional training or experience. The DIY thinking they follow means they believe they can do what the professionals do, but for less money. It wouldn’t be so bad if the customer saved money and still received the same quality of goods and service, but they don’t. Too many people will go to a DIY store for what they want, and probably buy the wrong thing. However, if you’re not careful, you could call an ‘expert’ who is actually a DIY enthusiast calling at the local DIY store to collect his stock. Why buy the wrong thing when you can hire a professional to save you the journey and buy the wrong thing for you? These ‘experts’ are no more qualified than the people who engage them, and can’t provide better quality goods or services. At Cusworth Master Locksmiths Manchester we are happy to hear your locking problems and offer secure solutions. You may be surprised at our prices, because we supply affordable quality locking products. Our aim, first and foremost, is to help our customers to achieve a goal of being secure in homes and workplaces. Visit our shop to see what we can offer, and feel free to discuss your locking requirements with an experienced and knowledgeable member of our team
How about this for a solution for a code lock with a broken return spring?
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Dwarf burglar- "crime is my only career option"
A dwarf burglar has defended his life of crime claiming that it is the only career open to a man his size.
Photo: NORTH NEWS & PICTURES
By Richard Alleyne
Lee Kildare, 22, who is 3ft 11in tall, confessed this week to burgling an empty house for scrap metal but said it was his only option because he struggled to get a normal job in a "tall man's world".
manchester locksmith
Kildare, 22, said: "I've been burgling houses for years. I choose to do it – no one forces me.
"In fact, it's what I have to do for money because I couldn't get a normal job. It's a tall man's world.
"I have shoplifted in the past and it is easy as no one would ever suspect me. I normally get away with it because of my height.
"Now I burgle derelict houses for metal so I can sell it on as scrap. I do it for extra money, to go with my incapacity benefit."
Kildare, who lives with his mother, was used by a gang to plunder empty houses for copper and other metal to sell to scrap yards.
He was arrested after a security guard saw his head poking out of a small hole in the front door of a house in Newcastle.
Magistrates heard Kildare was very drunk and his accomplice fled leaving him to take the rap.
"People come to me for help with burglaries because I'm small and can get through small holes.," he said.
"But they are not taking advantage of me. I'm well-known and well-liked and no one picks on me."
Kildare was born with an incurable condition called achondroplasia, caused by an abnormal gene, which affects about one in 20,000 children.
He was given a 12-month community order with supervision, and put on a three-month curfew between 8pm and 7am.
to protect yourself from this problem find a Manchester locksmith
Locksmith Humour!
A Manchester United player was on his mobile, outside an Alderley Edge Restaurant calling a Manchester locksmith. " I locked my keys in my Ferrari!" said the nervous millionaire. " No problem, I should be there in about an hour," replied the locksmith. " Do you think you can make it a little sooner?" pleaded the overpaid primadona. "My top is down and it's starting to rain."
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