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. It makes and sells many security items. These include padlocks, combination locks, and safes. The company started in 1921. A clever locksmith named Harry Soref created it. Master Lock's main office is in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Today, it is part of a bigger company. That company is called Fortune Brands Innovations.
Master Lock's Story
Early Years: 1900s
Before starting Master Lock, Harry Soref was a traveling locksmith. He worked in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He even invented a special lock for military gear. In 1919, Soref designed a new type of padlock. This lock used many layers of steel. This made it very strong and affordable to make.
He tried to get big companies interested in his design. But they were not. So, in 1921, he teamed up with two friends. Their names were P. E. Yolles and Sam Stahl. They started the Master Lock company in Milwaukee. They began with just five workers. In 1924, they received the first patent for their layered lock design.
Sam Stahl helped the company grow a lot. He made it a major lock maker. The three founders worked closely until Soref passed away in 1957. After Soref's death, Stahl sold his shares. Soref's children took over the company. In 1970, they sold Master Lock. It was bought by American Brands Corporation.
In 1974, Master Lock showed a famous TV ad. It aired during the Super Bowl. The ad showed a sharpshooter shooting a Master Lock. The lock stayed strong! This proved their slogan: "Tough Under Fire." Master Lock kept running similar ads. They spent almost all their yearly marketing money on these ads.
In the early 1990s, Master Lock was very busy. About 1,300 people worked for the company. Most of them were in the Milwaukee area. In 1993, the company started moving some work to China. Later, they also moved some work to Mexico. This was because of a trade agreement. Over 1,000 jobs in Milwaukee were cut. But the company still made some products there. They used many automated machines.
Recent Times: 2000s and Beyond
In 2002, Master Lock launched new padlocks. They were called the Titanium Series. This was the first big redesign in 50 years. The goal was to make locks look better. They wanted them to be more stylish. These locks had titanium-reinforced steel. They also had a stainless steel body. A cover allowed the locks to come in different colors.
In 2003, Master Lock bought American Lock. This company was based in Illinois. In 2010, Master Lock started a new service. It was called Master Lock Vault. This service helped people manage their passwords. It included a website and apps for different devices. In 2011, Master Lock became part of Fortune Brands Home & Security.
In January 2011, good news came out. About 36 jobs were brought back to the Milwaukee plant. These jobs had been in China. This increased the plant's staff to 379 people. Most new jobs were for making combination locks and keys. The company still worked with factories in China. They also had a factory in Mexico. Mexican workers did tasks that needed a lot of hand labor.
In February 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Master Lock. He praised the company for bringing jobs back. By then, about 100 jobs had returned from overseas. In 2012, Master Lock introduced the dialSpeed locks. These locks used batteries and had a lit face. They also had many combinations you could set. In 2014, Master Lock bought SentrySafe. This company makes safes.
In May 2023, Master Lock announced a big change. Their Milwaukee plant would close. The closure was finished in March 2024. Over 300 employees lost their jobs.
Types of Locks
Master Locks are used for many things. They help keep personal items safe. They can also secure vehicles. The company has also made other security items. For example, they made ways to seal industrial spaces.
Some Master Locks have been found to be easier to open than others. This can happen if someone knows how to pick locks. This is because many locks use standard pins.
- 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
