Locksmiths and others who are interested in antique locks and hardware can find a number of museums that offer wide displays of this craft. One of the largest museums exhibiting an extensive collection of locks is the Lock Museum of America located in Terryville, Connecticut. The museum displays its abundant variety of locks in eight different rooms. The displays comprise of bank and vault locks, ornate hardware with gold plated locks, and a numerous variety of locks and keys dating back to the 1800's manufactured by renowned firms as the Eagle Lock Company and the famous Yale Lock Company. Among the attractions at the museum is the original patent model of the pin tumbler lock designed by Linus Yale, Jr. in 1865. This was considered the greatest invention in lock making history and can be viewed alongside an animated display of how this type of device works.



Also exhibited are antique European locks as well as Colonial locks preserved from as far back as the 1500's. An impressive collection of mounted door knobs has just been added to the museum illustrating a number of detailed styles including Roman, Greek, French and Italian Renaissance.

The lock museum located in Willenhall, Stratfordshire, exhibits the famous 3" Iron Bar Padlock produced by Richard Hodson & Sons. The company, established in Willenhall in 1792 manufactured various types of padlocks and exported their products around the world. This type of padlock is still found today in famous buildings such as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.

The Black Country Living Museum took over the museum and spent months renovating and redesigning the exhibition. The museum has recently been reopened to the public in a restored house depicting the Victorian style of a locksmith's dwelling and workshops. The museum exhibits a comprehensive collection of locks and keys. The prestigious collection includes a copy of an Egyptian lock from 2000 BC and the Dreadnought Padlock patented in 1895. Also displayed are the living quarters of the Hodson family with their household possessions as well as the office where actual order books and customer correspondence can be viewed. The workshops hold the original machinery and tools where the unique handmade padlocks were produced. The museum is a tourist attraction not only to lock enthusiasts but also to those who are interested in learning about the history and tradition of the lock making trade in Willenhall.

Additional lock museums are scattered around the world and locksmiths or avid collectors of antique locks and door knobs will certainly enjoy the extensive and specialized collections of locks and keys exhibited. They can travel to Hotel Liberal Bruand in Paris, France, to the Hanns Schell Collection in Austria, or as far as the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia to view the different collections. Locksmiths and antique lock collectors can also share their knowledge and collections of this craft with others in organized clubs that put on yearly shows or conventions. They can enrich their hobby by joining such a club and receiving informative articles and newsletters from other members.