Master Lock facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Headquarters |
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United States
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| Products | Padlocks, safes, and security products |
| Parent | Fortune Brands Innovations |
Master Lock is an American company famous for making strong locks. They create many types of locks, like padlocks, combination locks, and safes, to help keep your things safe. The company started in 1921 thanks to an inventor named Harry E. Soref. Today, Master Lock is part of a bigger company called Fortune Brands Innovations and is based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
Contents
The Story of Master Lock
How it All Started (20th Century)
Before he started Master Lock, Harry E. Soref was a clever locksmith and inventor. He traveled around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Harry even invented a special lock to protect military equipment.
In 1919, Harry came up with a new idea for a padlock. It was made from many layers of steel, which made it super strong and cheap to produce. He tried to get big companies interested, but they weren't.
So, in 1921, Harry and two friends, P. E. Yolles and Sam Stahl, decided to start their own company. They called it Master Lock and began making these new locks in Milwaukee. They started with just five employees. In 1924, they received the first patent for their layered lock design.
Sam Stahl helped the company grow into a major lock maker. The three founders worked closely together until Harry Soref passed away in 1957. At that time, Master Lock was not yet a household name. Sam Stahl continued to lead the company. Later, Harry's children took over. In 1970, they sold the company to American Brands Corporation.
In 1974, Master Lock showed how tough their locks were with a famous TV ad during the Super Bowl. The ad showed a sharpshooter trying to break a Master Lock with a bullet. The lock survived! This proved their slogan: "Tough Under Fire." Master Lock kept running similar ads in future Super Bowls.
In the early 1990s, Master Lock had about 1,300 workers in the Milwaukee area. But in 1993, the company started moving much of its manufacturing to China and later to Mexico. Many jobs at the Milwaukee plant were lost. However, the company still made some products there using advanced machines.
Master Lock in the 21st Century
In 2002, Master Lock launched its Titanium Series of padlocks. This was the first big redesign in fifty years. They wanted their locks to look good, not just be useful. These new locks had titanium-reinforced steel and a stainless steel body. They even came in different colors.
In 2003, Master Lock bought another company called American Lock. This helped them get more ideas and products.
In 2010, Master Lock started offering a password manager service called Master Lock Vault. This service helps people keep their online passwords safe. In 2011, Master Lock became part of a new company called Fortune Brands Home & Security.
Good news came in January 2011 when about 36 jobs were brought back from China to the Milwaukee plant. This increased the number of jobs there to 379. Most of these new jobs were for making combination locks and keys. The company still worked with factories in China and Mexico for some parts and assembly.
In February 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama visited the Master Lock headquarters in Milwaukee. He praised the company for bringing jobs back to the U.S. By that time, Master Lock had returned about 100 jobs from overseas in two years.
In 2012, Master Lock introduced a new line of combination padlocks called the dialSpeed. These locks run on batteries and have a lit screen. You can set many different combinations for them. They also have a special master code you can get from the company's website if you forget yours. In 2014, Master Lock bought SentrySafe, a company that makes safes.
However, in August 2023, Master Lock announced that its Milwaukee plant would close by March 2024. This meant about 325 employees would lose their jobs.
Master Lock Products
Master Locks are made for many different uses. You can use them to lock your personal belongings, secure vehicles, and for other safety needs.
While Master Locks are very strong for everyday use, it's good to know that no lock is completely unbeatable. Some very skilled people can find ways to open certain locks, even strong ones. Master Lock continues to work on making their products as secure as possible.
- Master Lock padlocks
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A Master combination padlock.
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Master Lock with shackle open.
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Master lockbox for key storage.
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Master 175 combination lock
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Master Lock securing a belly chain on an inmate
