Kwikset
Encyclopedia
Lock (device)
A lock is a mechanical or electronic fastening device that is released by a physical object or secret information , or combination of more than one of these....
and lockset
Lockset
A lockset or alternatively lock set is the hardware and components that comprise the locking mechanism that can usually be found on a door or other hinged object but can also include sliding doors and dividers....
manufacturer owned by Black and Decker Hardware and Home Improvement Group (BDHHI), a Division of Black and Decker. Kwikset was founded in 1946 by Adolf Schoepe
Adolf Schoepe
Adolf Schoepe was a German-American inventor and businessman.Schoepe, a master metalworker with no formal education, immigrated to the United States in 1927. At the time he did not speak English, and had only about $25...
and Karl Rhinehart. The name was derived from the company's first locks, which pioneered the then-revolutionary tubular lock design, which were relatively fast to install. Kwikset is one of the most popular brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
of consumer locks in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with Kwikset key blanks (KW1 or 66) available at almost every location where keys can be made.
Kwikset currently has manufacturing facilities in Denison, Texas
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, and Mexicali, Mexico. Currently a Kwikset facility in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
is being built. Kwikset previously had manufacturing facilities in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
; Bristow, Oklahoma
Bristow, Oklahoma
Bristow is a city in Creek County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,325 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bristow is located at ....
, and Waynesboro, Georgia
Waynesboro, Georgia
Waynesboro is a city in Burke County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Burke County...
, but starting in 1996, these facilities were closed in a consolidation of operations to the Mexicali facility. Kwikset's Corporate headquarters is in Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest, California
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 77,264 at the 2010 census.Lake Forest incorporated as a city on December 20, 1991. Prior to a vote of the residents in that year, the community had formerly been known as El Toro since the 1880s...
.
In 1957 the American Hardware Corporation (AHC) purchased Kwikset. AHC in 1964 merged with Emhart Manufacturing Corporation, which was purchased by Black and Decker in 1989. In 2010 Black & Decker was purchased by Stanley Tools. Kwikset is part of the BDHHI Division of Black and Decker, which also owns lockset manufacturers Weiser and Baldwin.
In 1992 Kwikset introduced its higher-quality, high security Titan product line. About 2005 the line was rebranded as the "Signature Series".