Interested in Collecting Locks?

Advice for the Beginning Lock Collector

If you’re just going to buy a couple of locks or keys because they look nice then there’s nothing more for me to say. Stop reading and continue about your business.

But if you want to start any kind of lock collection here’s one piece of advice. Learn about what you want to collect.

Sources:      Learn through books, lock collecting associations, antique lock shows, lock museums, other lock collectors, including their personal internet sites. A more recent resource is the Padlock Collectors group on Facebook.

Books:       The two most recent price guides today are The Padlock Collector, 284 pages, 6^th edition, 1996, Franklin Arnall, and Poorman’s Story & Ornamental Padlocks, 160 pages, 3rd edition, 1992, Don Stewart. Both books are long out of print, but can still be found through various sources.

The Padlock Collector is the most comprehensive, featuring twenty-five different categories of padlocks. It is illustrated with black-and-white photographs, with price listings on separate pages. This is the reference book of choice for the serious collector.

The Poorman’s guide covers the more common types of padlocks, and categorizes them alphabetically by the name or image on the lock. It is illustrated with line drawings of the locks with prices next to the drawings.

Organizations:       Join a lock collecting organization. Two organizations in the United States are the West Coast Lock Collectors Association (WCLCA) and the American Lock Collectors Association (ACLA). Don’t let the geographic location hold you back. Both associations publish journals at least quarterly, with in-depth articles about collectible locks and keys.

Lock Shows:       Currently there are four different lock shows held annually in the United States where collectors from across the country meet to buy and sell locks as well as to showcase locks from their collections. In February the WCLCA sponsors a show in the Los Angeles area. April features a lock show in Indianapolis, and in July a show is held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Lock Museum of Terryville, Connecticut hosts a show in Terryville every year in October.

Try to fit one of the lock shows into your vacation plans. You’ll be glad you did.

Happy hunting.