Walter Schlage
Encyclopedia
Walter Reinhold Schlage was a German born engineer and inventor, best known for the bored cylindrical lock
and the lock company that bears his name, Schlage Lock Co.
.
, Germany
. During his apprenticeship, Walter learned drafting, applied mechanics and engineering. After four years he graduated with a special award of merit, as a result of his applied scholarship.
Walter developed a sense of adventure that was whetted by guests that stayed in his father's hotel, in Thuringia
, Germany
. Following his training he left Germany for London where he worked as an instrument maker for Hileger, Ltd.. Lasting only a year in England
he emigrated to the United States
where he gained employment with the Western Electric Company.
With a continuing desire to see the world however, Schlage signed on as a ship's engineer and sailed for Brazil
, the West Indies and Central America
. Eventually, Schlage worked his way to California
and then on to San Francisco, where he again was employed by Western Electric Company.
Leaving employment with Western Electric Company again, in 1920, Schlage opened a shop in San Francisco in what is now the financial district. Here he designed and tooled the parts for the first lock with the push-button centered in the door knob.
Schlage's new company grew quickly and into larger facilities throughout the 1920s. In 1927, Schlage partnered with a San Francisco businessman and financier, Charles Kendrick.
In 1940, Schlage was awarded the Modern Pioneer award given to outstanding American inventors.
Walter Schlage died in 1946.
Bored cylindrical lock
A bored cylindrical lock is one in which two holes are bored, perpendicular to one another, into the door. A large hole is bored into the door face and a smaller crossbore hole is bored into the door edge, as opposed to a mortise lock prep cut into the edge of the door...
and the lock company that bears his name, Schlage Lock Co.
Schlage
Schlage is a lock manufacturer founded in 1920 by Walter Schlage in San Francisco. Schlage is one of the most popular brands of consumer and commercial locks in the United States. The company was acquired by Ingersoll Rand in 1974 and continues to be a subsidiary. Schlage also produces...
.
Early Training and Travels
Later in his life he became known as the Lock Wizard of Thuringia. Early on in his life, however, his father recognized his aptitude for mechanics and academics and worked on his behalf to have his son admitted to the Carl Zeiss Optical Works in JenaJena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. During his apprenticeship, Walter learned drafting, applied mechanics and engineering. After four years he graduated with a special award of merit, as a result of his applied scholarship.
Walter developed a sense of adventure that was whetted by guests that stayed in his father's hotel, in Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Following his training he left Germany for London where he worked as an instrument maker for Hileger, Ltd.. Lasting only a year in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he gained employment with the Western Electric Company.
With a continuing desire to see the world however, Schlage signed on as a ship's engineer and sailed for Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the West Indies and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. Eventually, Schlage worked his way to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and then on to San Francisco, where he again was employed by Western Electric Company.
Settling in and Inventing
Schlage would work at his job and then return to home where he experimented with lock mechanisms. His first patent was in 1909, inventing a door lock that turned lights on and off.Leaving employment with Western Electric Company again, in 1920, Schlage opened a shop in San Francisco in what is now the financial district. Here he designed and tooled the parts for the first lock with the push-button centered in the door knob.
Schlage's new company grew quickly and into larger facilities throughout the 1920s. In 1927, Schlage partnered with a San Francisco businessman and financier, Charles Kendrick.
In 1940, Schlage was awarded the Modern Pioneer award given to outstanding American inventors.
Walter Schlage died in 1946.