Unique Security Products and Specialty Locksmith Services

Locks210.com - St Louis Locksmiths for Greater St Louis Missouri
'Securing America - One Door At A Time'314 266 1533
'Keep It Yours... Lock Your Doors!'

June 12, 2017

Meroni Pigio 1-13E Push-Pull Entrance Set Installed To High-Traffic Door In Luxury Car Dealership



Last week, we installed the Meroni Pigio 1-13E to a high-traffic door in a local luxury car dealership.
As expected, teething problems occur with many new products. We went back today to adjust and re-allign the product and fitting.

The installation was in place of a typical lever handle set, that was causing no end of problems for staff and they were taping over the latch to keep the door from locking/closing.

Using a Meroni Pigio enables efficient and simple intrinsic operation of the door by anyone, with the benefit of virtually hands free use. Operate the handle with your elbow, your arm, your butt, your hip or even your hand. No handle to turn or grip, makes physically challenged or arthritis suffering users feel more in control because physically gripping and turning a knob or lever can be painful.

In this environment, we installed the product to a heavy steel door and were required to use additional Don-Jo scar plates to cover the old holes, for a clean professional look.

This version of the Meroni Pigio is the emergency unlock feature, which unlocks the locked handle from inside when the paddle is activated, turning the locking turn-button (a design change recently adopted by Schlage in their F51 series residential knobset)

Meroni Pigio locks come in 3 versions, P1, P2 and P3

Meroni Pigio P1

Meroni Pigio P2


Meroni Pigio P3
The Meroni Pigio range is available in a host of varying color finishes and materials.
Check out the source below for the MSDS.

With a range of accessories and functions that suit many varying styles and sizes of doors, using the Meroni Pigio lock system offers advantages that other brands do not offer and often attempt to emulate.

June 11, 2017

Extra-Strong Security Blocker Plate And Concealed Continuous Hinge Installed To Very High Traffic Shopfront Door

 Very early today, we installed a custom built mild steel security blocker plate and concealed fix continuous hinge to a very high-traffic convenience store, to upgrade and improve the operation of the relatively newly installed aluminum shopfront door.

Our loyal returning customer, who has used us consistently for the last 5 years, a user of our Extreme Security Bilock Restricted Key Control System for multiple properties, owns this convenience store on a busy main arterial road in the North County of St Louis.

The area is experiencing a gradual rebirth, especially since the recent issues with nearby Ferguson Missouri, a site that was in the national and international news a few years ago due to the unfortunate shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager by a police officer.

The incident sparked riots and protests unseen in the St Louis region for a great many years.

We were required to custom design and install mild steel blocker plates with sex bolts. There was a 3/16" clearance difference between the operating door and the fixed leaf
door. We had to remove the existing security bars, cut them down in length to enable the concealed continuous hinge to fit correctly (not pictured).


 Installing the custom designed mild steel long blocker plates, required a 3" wide x 1/8" thick inside plate, combined with another 4" wide x 1/8" thick outside plate to be installed to the external of the operating door, so that the plate would conceal access to the latch mechanism and cover the fixed leaf edge (which was sitting 3/16" out from the operating leaf when closed)

Installing sex bolts (also known as concealed bolts) is the obvious solution to providing top security for externally mounted product because they prevent would be burglars from using conventional tools to remove the bolts.

Drilling through 2 separate mild steel plates, that were deliberately separate and not conjoined, providing a minimal gap between the plates increases the security application due to the laminating effect.

Laminating is a term used when there is a slight separation between panels. The effect of laminating, naturally increase the strength of the product (depending on the laminate material).



You can see the inside screw under the internal security bar in this image. We installed a number of these sex bolts to the application to increase the security across multiple points, providing significantly greater strength to the application.

The customer, had new doors installed only 2 months previously by a shop fitting company. Unfortunately the installer decided to use only 2 regular butt hinges on this extremely high-trafficked door. The door is operated between 10,000 and 20,000 times daily.

The extreme use and operation of these doors by customers, meant that the 2 4" butt hinges were not up to the job requirement for continued longevity and efficient operation. In 2 months, the door was already beginning to sag, to the point where the owner required to pay an employee overtime to maintain a continued presence on site, because the doors would not secure correctly.



We have not provided an external image of the concealed continuous hinge, but it is fitted with more sex bolts securing it permanently in place.

The concealed continuous hinge is manufactured by Select Hinges, a company that produces there products in America and are designed to last 50 years and that is their warranty period too.

With correct installation these doors will not sag, due to the number of fastener points, increasing the strength of the fitting.

We have installed a significant number of continuous hinges in recent years, mostly to shopfront doors due to the standard pivots wearing quite quickly and customers having many issues relating to sagging doors, inability to secure properly and causing angst for staff.

We were required to modify the security bars on this door to enable the continuous hinge to install correctly.

The entire project was required to be completed before the late Sunday opening time, because it is the only day of the week, where traffic is quietest before 9 am. We arrived at 6 am and began the project at 6.30am. Total completion in 5 hours. Certainly a mean feat in extreme heat conditions (but before the main heat of the day).

We will return at another time to upgrade the door locks at this property to the customers Bilock Extreme Security Restricted Key Control system. Then they will enjoy 100% bump proof and virtually pick proof lock cylinders with virtually impossible to duplicate color coded restricted keys, that will increase the security while protecting the owner from would be surreptitious attempts to copy keys.










June 9, 2017

Bolt Buddy - Proactive Security Product Made In Canada Prevents Door And Frame Failure



Always Affordable Locksmiths Ltd are a family owned professional locksmith company  in Canada that produce the fabulous Bolt Buddy deadbolt protection product.

The product, as described in the video above, is an effective security protection device that can thwart the most typical method of door break ins - kicking the door down.

We have been touting the strength and usability of the fabulous Strikemaster II Pro Door Frame Protection device for many years now and continue to offer the product as one of the best protection and jamb repair products on the market. American made and from North Carolina, The Strikemaster II Pro is unsurpassed in it strength, design and quality.

While we do find that some customers are proactive enough to install the Strikemaster II Products, most appear to wait until the horse has bolted before doing anything to "fix" their issues. This means that most customers wait until they have been broken into to install quality security protection products.


When you compare the average cost of replacing an entry door and frame in today's market to the sense in using the Bolt Buddy or the Strikemaster II Door Protection products, it really is a no-brainer. Yes, you can purchase a new door and frame at the big box store for $300-$500 and pay a cheapo handyman another $300-$500 to install it, but remember,"if you only want to pay peanuts, expect to get monkeys". The average cost for a professional door installer in my local market to supply and install a new entry door and frame, depending on desired model, is between $1200 - $1500.

The Bolt Buddy is a product designed to offer tentamount security at a fraction of the cost compared to other products. The ease of installation is attractive because a DIY'er or locksmith can easily install them in minutes.

I receive many calls to repair doors after being broken into. Over the last 10 years, I think it is one of my most called for project requests, to repair a kicked in door. I swear by the quality of the Strikemaster II Pro product. I am a user of it myself and it has protected my home from an attempted break in, so I  am very happy to recommend it, from first hand experience.

I am really impressed with the simplicity in the design of this Bolt Buddy product. The small footprint and ease of installation will protect entrance doors for many years. The security protection of your family and your belongings is paramount in maintaining a happy balanced life and using a Bolt Buddy will help to ensure you are protected.

We are not a reseller yet of this product, but hope to be soon. It is not expensive and worth considering if you're proactive about the security of your home and family.

(source...)


June 7, 2017

Steel Desk With Non-Removeable Drawers - No Match For An Experienced Locksmith Using Meroni Cabinet Furniture Locks

 One of our regular customers, an ongoing account customer that has been using us for about 10 years now recently contracted us to devise a system for securing a metal desk in a very busy upmarket car dealership.

The application was a steel built desk with non-removeable drawers.
There is a lockable tray directly under the midst of the desktop they had also lost the keys for, but the lock didnt secure the drawers too.

They wanted a system that allowed them to lock the side drawers.

Because of the weight and construction of this type of steel desk, conventional cabinet lock products would not easily install to the application.



 You can see that the drawers fit into relatively thin metal walls, that are strong but thin. The issue was being able to secure the new locks but not having enough material to install with metal thread self-tapping screws. We couldnt remove the drawers to access the internals of the desk drawers so that made using nuts and bolts impractical either.


The drawers, when open would pull out somewhat, but not enough to completely withdraw the drawer to enable easier access to the insides.

We would have been required to flip this heavy desk over to be able to work on the project, meaning the customer would have had to remove everything from the desk and all it's contents in advance of completing the project - a task not heavily favored.





 You can see the insides of the drawer and desk body where the position/location of a lock would have been difficult to install.

With thin but strong steel walls, we determined that using a push lock with an extension threaded bolt, we could rivet the lock body to the outside of the desk, in such a position to miss the drawer walls and channels.

But due to the distance between the back of the bolt and the actual drawer itself when locked, the bolt was not long enough for many other brands to accommodate.





You can see here that by using the Meroni 2224 Push Lock with Brass Cylinder Body, with a threaded hole at the back of the bolt, we were able to extend the length of the bolt sufficiently using a stainless steel screw. This enabled us to have a conventional cabinet lock that could be mounted externally and have enough distance to secure into the body of the drawer wall itself.




Installation to the outer body of the steel cabinet, under the desk makes an almost hidden locking feature to secure each individual drawer separately.

We simply drilled the appropriately sized hole in the steel body and secured the cabinet lock with rivets.

The benefit of riveting instead of using screws or nuts and bolts in this situation, is that the lock is mounted permanently and there is less likelihood of fasteners coming loose over time.

This means that little to no service will ever be required in future.

June 1, 2017

Handshake Free Zones - A New Idea To Mitigate The Spread Of Potentially Harmful Germs

Mark Sklansky, a pediatric cardiologist and self-described germaphobe, tested a new method for limiting the spread of germs in 2 UCLA neonatal intensive care units.

He describes the method as a "handshake free zone".

According to an article that appears on NPR, the doctor tried these "handshake free zones" in an attempt to minimize the spread of germs often transferred in hospital (clean) environments.

The article talks about how harmful bacteria are too easily spread in hospital environments, suggesting that patients dont come to hospital to get sick, rather to find treatment for illnesses.

EDIT: Another article has appeared on ABC News  today that expands upon the NPR article. I found this quote particularly interesting...

"WHO estimates of compliance for hand hygiene in medical settings frequently fall below 40 percent, Sklansky said. Poor hand hygiene can mean increased risk for hospital-acquired infections, which kill approximately 80,000 patients in the U.S. each year, according to the WHO." 

We have talked about the fabulous Meroni Anti-Bacterial door handles on a few recent occasions and have received a number of diligent inquiries about these products.

The Meroni Anti-Bacterial handles are especially designed using a special polymer designed by Meroni to lessen the spread of pathogen micro-organisms, thereby mitigating the spread of germs through contact.

Meroni Pigio Anti-Bacterial

The Pigio Anti-Bacterial handle offers not only a method to mitigate the spread of germs, but is the first handle of it's kind to be awarded  CE EN179 certification by European Door and Hardware Federation, in compliance with building codes for emergency exits. A truly "hands-free" mechanical door lock that you can open with your hip or your elbow.

By offering the anti-bacterial components too, Meroni make available high quality, simple to operate door handles that will match almost any decor or ambience in use by many hospitals, clinics and medical or laboratory facilities.

Meroni Combina Anti-Bacterial
The Combina Anti-Bacterial handle offers a typical door knob type model, that can fit in replacement of many other brands with little to no door modifications. Also available in conventional coatings, the broad color range of the Combina product line make it another product that will fit in with modern decor and ambience, desired by many interior designers, architects and floor managers.

Meroni products are exclusively brought to you by Master Key Systems America LLC




May 18, 2017

Lockwood Paradigm Series Lengthy Entry Hardware - Stylish, Classy, Secure

 Recently, we returned from our factory tour and meetings with a few world-leading lock and door hardware manufacturers.

During our trip, we experienced the manufacturing procedures for many of  Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia's super-high quality products.

One new product we are currently evaluating for North American market entry is the new Lockwood Paradigm Pull Handle Lockset or Deadbolt.

 The product, (pictured here) is a totally new design that originated in the research and development department in Australia. With a lengthy handle and built-in key cylinder, this new product design, exceeds many requested features by commercial and residential builders, designers and dwellers. Ease of operation with a conventional mechanical bump resistant and pick resistant key cylinder, options include double cylinder, single cylinder, safety release, locking/unlocking indicators, deadlatch, passage latch or deadbolt functions and are available in a host of desirable color finish options.

 Stylish hardware is the modern choice by many new homeowners who want to maintain a minimalist yet sexy ambience without detracting from the features of their doors. This new series of Assa-Abloy Lockwood Australia Paradigm Series combines security excellence with noveau and modern lines that enhance virtually any entrance.
 As you can see, the handles are unique in their design, with a slightly longer external handle that hold the outside key cylinder and a shorter interior handle with a separate thumbturn handle beneath. Using a version of the award winning design Lockwood 001 inner handle makes the product easily operated by physically challenged users.
Of course there are a few different designs to whet your appetite, from plate mounted to straight door mounted hardware.

Double cylinder with safety indicator or no interior cylinder. Safety holdback feature with indicator, so anyone approaching the door from inside can easily view the operational status from farther away.


With replaceable cylinders that can allow for higher security mechanical key systems to also operate, these modern breed of door hardware and entry products are providing modern increased options for residents, businesses and operators to benefit from intuitively easy to use hardware that increases the value of your entry and the value your visitors place on you.


We are putting the product through our internal tests and hope to make this product available in North America shortly.

(source...)

April 15, 2017

Price Gouging - Is This The Norm For Auto-Dealerships?

A March 2017 article in New Zealand's Business Day website shows the displeasure many consumers face today, especially regarding the super-high cost for car keys, compared to years gone by.

The article (in the source below) tells the story of a consumer who decided to sue their dealer and Toyota New Zealand after the said dealer charged him NZD$525 for the remote plus an additional NZD$50 to program said remote.
The outrageous cost for OEM parts ticked off the consumer enough to file suit and the New Zealand consumer agency The Dispute Tribunal agreed.

The tribunal found Toyota guilty of price gouging.

Similarly, in other parts of the world, car dealers in some towns charge exhorbitant prices to provide their customers with duplicate keys and new remotes also,

Interestingly, the cost to produce the internal components is staggeringly miniscule and many auto dealerships and some after market dealers are continuing to take advantage of the consumer by massively inflating prices.

Auto locksmiths around America and other parts of the world, provide key origination and duplication services for many consumers at significantly competitive costs when compared to dealerships. Many of these auto-locksmiths have spent many years honing their skills and purchasing the unique equipment to enable fast duplication, creation and programming of modern electronic keys and fobs.

Specialist tools that are the cornerstones of the auto-locksmith industry, make significant light work in picking and decoding automobile locks but they do have a learning curve. There are a number of different brands who manufacture all sorts of differing programming equipment because "one size does not fit all". Many professional auto locksmiths have their own preferences and some may be better than others (machinery) for wide range of vehicles offered.

In recent years, the locksmith industry around the world has been infected by growing numbers of fraudulent operators, posing as professional locksmiths. Typically these sheisters will offer a very cheap estimate over the phone or online and dramatically increase the price when they arrive on site (often after completion of their task). Most of these fraudsters are untrained butchers who have never deliberately learned how to use the tools correctly and quite often cause more issues than they fix.
Another issue recently found with locksmith fraudsters is that some of them are making duplicates of their customers keys, leading to an increase in theft of vehicles. Insurance companies were originally responsible for the automobile industry requiring security systems and chip keys, in an effort to reduce the growing quantity of vehicle theft. The effort certainly had it's desired effect, reducing the insurance companies payout costs by many millions of dollars. Unfortunately, the original savings envisioned soon turned to those same insurance companies hiking the costs of auto insurances.

(source...)

April 5, 2017

Our Directory Of Locksmiths From Around The World Is Slowly Taking Shape... A Locksmith In...

We developed a directory for locksmiths, a while back and are pleased to see some excellent page-rank results in search engines across the world.

New enrollments continue to trickle in to our directory with a difference.

We include links to our colleagues sites too.

New features are on the drawing board too.
Plans are underway to include a blog roll and a featured page of the month.

The latest sites to enroll are featured on the navigation menu at the top.

All sites featured within include 1 page free, with copy designed in-house at our discretion.

Check out http://www.alocksmithin.com/

Home Advisor (formerly Service Magic) Testimonials And Sites That Recommend Us

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Testimonials

Danny was very professional and friendly at the same time. He not only gave me the quote and fixed the exterior door and explained his work. He was prompt and upfront about the work and did the work. He came in time took care of it on the same day. (Sasheethn K St Louis MO) June 2018d out problems but assured not urgent. Please feel free to have Danny pass out my number for my total experience review 314-351-5553

Charlie M. (St Louis, MO) November 2015


Danny was pleasure to meet and was very knowledgable. He explained several lock replacement options but I decided none of them were a good fit for a storm door, however, I did replace a lock on my entry door with a type of lock I had never seen before. I would highly recommend this company.
Patricia J (Bridgeton, MO) March 2014
They were prompt and showed up when he said he would show up. He knew his stuff. I had ordered new handles and he was honest enough to say that we don't need them that he can fix the doors and he did. Made me lock and unlock my doors to his satisfaction so that I knew what to do. Am very, very pleased with the service and cost.
Joyce K (Glencoe, MO) May 2015

Showed up on time for appointment. Was very knowledgeable about the project and offered a solution beyond what I asked to be done.
Stephen G (Chesterfield, MO) May 2015


Daniel was right on time, assessed the problems I had with two doors, made the repairs, and explained what caused the problems to begin with .... He is a "door expert" and a true professional. I highly recommend him.

Vince V (St. Louis MO) May, 2015




Danny was fabulous! He went over my concerns and he provided me with more than a fair quote. He was there when he said he was going to be there. I would highly recommend Danny. Cheers!
Denise S (Imperial, MO) May 8, 2014

Hired Danny to re-key locks on "new" house purchase. He advised to replace with new deadbolts & door knobs on 3 entry doors instead which I agreed with. All doors have 1 matching key & the safety of excellent quality product & workmanship. He also added new strike plate to door frame to complete project.. I recommend as your 1st & only call to a Locksmith.

Denise F (St. Louis, MO) April 3, 2014


Danny was very helpful in solving a pretty complex problem involving many lock.
Scott C (Eureka, MO) March 27, 2014




Needed patio door track to run smoothly. Arrived early, fixed door and explained what he was doing during repair. Quick and easy. Door works great, my wife will now speak to me, and I've become a better dancer.

Mike W. (Arnold/Oakville MO) July 2013


The owner spent a longtime with me on the phone helping diagnosis the problem. He was on-time, friendly and helped resolve my issue. I will definitely use him again!

Chris C (Lake St Louis, MO) July 2013


I had a very pleasant experience with Master Key Systems. They came out, did the job (which took longer than expected) and they did not change the price they quoted me. Now, I am not certain that it was a great value for the money because I don't have a comparison, but they did what they said, when they said, for the price they said. Enough said!!!

Antonio B (Saint Louis, Missouri) March 2013


Professional.. Upfront about charges. Fixed the sticky door within 20 minutes. I will recommend Master Key for exterior door issues.
Muthu R (Ballwin, MO) July 2012


Danny was a master craftsman, knowledgable and professional. I will be calling on him again in the future as well as passing on his services to friends and family.

Marsha L (Saint Louis, MO) July 2012


Danny was excellent! I called him on a Monday to fix a sliding glass door. He happened to have the exact part we needed (and it was not an easy find - we had looked everywhere) and he came over Tuesday evening. He stayed until 8:00 until the job was done, and cleaned up afterwards. He was courteous, professional, and efficient! I could not be happier!

Rachel P Maryland Heights, MO (July 2012)


He did an excellent job. Got there on time and quickly solved the issue. Was very pleasant and explained the situation and how to keep the door from sticking in the future. Would definitely use Master Key LLC again!

Neil F. (Saint Louis, MO) April 2012


Danny was very friendly and knowledgeable, although his apprentice seemed to do most of the work, Danny kept an eye on him to make sure it was done right. He had very reasonable pricing for re-keying.
Greg D (St Louis, MO) October 2011


He was extrememly fabulous and helpful and did a wonderful job. He was very professional.
Shannon M. (Arnold, MO) October 2011


Growing up spending so much of my time in Italy, the uniqueness of the Nova Classico left quite an impression on me. To be able to have and enjoy them in my own home here in the states is a nostalgic indulgence I'm enjoying beyond words. Thank you Danny for coordinating this transaction.

Joseph M (Chicago, IL) September 2011





great job. hired on the spot and he did job right then at great price

Ron B (Arnold, MO) July 2011







I searched the internet and found your services. I received three phone calls within several days. A service call was scheduled. Two gentlemen arrived promptly, analyzed the problem and fixed it.
James & Florenc M Saint Louis, MO July 2011

The repairman was on time and did an excellent job of fixing a very stubborn door lock. He was persistent and cleaned up the work area afterwards. I would use this service again.

Brenda F (Saint Peters, MO) June 2011


Danny at Master Key Systems has succeeded in making the purchasing of our Meroni door locks, from Italy, an absolute breeze. Even though I live in Australia with a 16hr time difference and was ordering door knobs from Italy that weren't in stock, the whole process was faultless. Danny was prompt and efficient with all his emails and made sure we had covered every possible variable so that the product I received was exactly as required. I would have no hesitation in recommending Danny for your next purchase.
Patrick Carr (Canberra, Australia)


Your product really helped because I needed to secure a nurse's station adjacent to a waiting room and needed a pocket door. Unfortunately, no real options were available to lock a pocket door effectively that would keep me compliant with HIPAA and secure an area that stores medical supplies. This was vitally important as this particular waiting room was for "waiting detox patients". Thank you very much.
Randall R The Fritz Clinic (Birmingham, Al) March 2011


Danny was very polite and knew what the problem was and how to fix it. He also gave me some information about other issues that could arise with my door and locks. Will hire again if I ever need that type of work done.
Jason M Imperial, MO March 2011




I had an exterior basement door that dragged when opening and closing. The hinges were not fitting properly and the door frame had shifted, probably due to the age of the house.The screwswould not go far enough into the wall without hitting stone...even using a special drill bit. Dan worked a long time drilling and sanding to shore up the door as best as possible. I know it will never be perfect. He could have easily sold me a new door and the same issue would happen. He was honest, thorough, and did an excellent job without charging me a fortune. I'm satisfied with the door now. If you want an honest, experienced man, Then Dan is the man

Roger M Saint Louis, MO March 2011


I purchased the Cowdroy P697 Pocket door lock with key over the internet. I emailed questions before my purchase and was provided with the answers quickly by return email. The purchase was quick and easy and the lock was shipped immediatly. Installation is quick and easy. But you do need to convert millimeters to inches (use the internet) in the installation instructions. And the lock looks great and works great. I will do business with them again. THANK YOU

Ed D (February, 2011)





Who Are We?





Welcome to Locks210.com.
This site is to inform about historical and modern approaches to Keys and Physical Security products and services.
Locks210.com, established in 2006, offers residents and businesses of St Louis Locksmith premium quality products and services. As the Premier Bilock Extreme Security Dealer in The Mid-West,
Our conveniently located workshop and service vehicles are uniquely designed to offer trade qualified, bonded, insured tradespeople with knowledge and experience spanning multiple countries and product lines.

Shipping and Returns

All products are sent in manufacturers condition.
All products are subject to sales tax where applicable.
All products are dispatched within 10 business days of remittance.
All products are subject to manufacturers warranties.
All products returned within 30 days, will be 95% refunded less shipping.
Prices are subject to change without notice.
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