GM Ignition Switch Recall Part

Here is a picture of the part that fails in the ignition switches of GM vehicles, as listed in their recent recall of millions of vehicles.

GM dealers mechanical workshops across the country are preparing to be inundated with the backlog of repairs to rectify this serious flaw that has resulted in accidents and deaths on American roads.


The issue with the $0.57 part is that when it fails, often due to the weight of keys on a customers key ring, it can switch off the vehicle electrical system and computer, while the vehicle is in motion, affecting airbag safety, brake systems, fuel injection and other connected vehicle electrical systems.

Many automotive locksmiths around the world, continue to repair/replace faulty ignition locks across a wide variety of vehicles, not just GM, due to wear caused by customers having too many keys and other attachments on their vehicle key chain.

The expected deluge upon GM and Chevrolet dealerships will likely send customers nutty for a while, especially considering other vehicles (not in the recall) still require to be serviced, maintained and repaired also.

We choose to not offer automotive locksmith services (apart from unlocking vehicles) at this time. Not because we are unable to perform the skilled part of the job, but because we feel that many of the current service technicians in our area are undervaluing their jobs (They dont charge enough).

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Yelp Reviews Found To Be Misleading and Prejudicial.

In the source below, you will find a copy of a letter from the United States of America, Federal Trade Commission in Washington DC, Assistant General Counsel Dione J. Stearns, to Angus Loten, a reprter with the Wall Street Journal, following Mr Loten's FOI (Freedom Of Information) Act inquiry into a number of reports about misleading and prejudicial reviews being found on the social networking site, Yelp.

In the letter (dated March 18, 2014), the FTC representative informs about over 2000 complaints received at the FTC since 2008.

While the record of the complaints is not tabled in the letter, the reporter outlines the nature of the complaints in his article, after which apparently Yelp's share price took a nosedive.

The particulars of the article include the following excerpt...

"A steady stream of business owners have gone on record, including in the Los Angeles Times, claiming that Yelp threatened to display negative reviews more prominently if they didn't pay for advertising. Yelp also deals with constant posting of fake reviews by business owners or companies, a practice called “astroturfing,” that have created additional controversy."


As a locksmith business, we take great pride in maintaining excellent reviews online that are all verifiable through third party sources. We were recently a victim of false reviews posted at Yelp

Already Deadly in Africa, Could Ebola Hit America Next?

In recent days there have been numerous news reports about the deadly Ebola virus spreading maliciously throughout Africa.

The article in the source below, gives an example of how this deadly disease can spread so easily and because the world is quickly becoming too small for deadly diseases like this to be contained easily within borders.

Apparently an outbreak of Ebola occurred in a Washington DC suburb in the last few weeks. Luckily it was contained quickly but the issues about deadly virus' continue to be front and center news that potentially can affect all of us.

The spread of disease is all too common today, as the last few years have shown us with H1N1 and Avian Flu and H4N1 being the most well known and talked about.

Minimizing potential disease infections and spread is a very serious challenge for medical centers, hospitals, aged care centers, hospices, hotel, schools, child care centers, gymnasiums, swimming pools and almost any public building. Many of the businesses and institutions mentioned employ quality janitorial staff who expertly maintain and clean railings, doors, bathrooms, handles and shared public facilities.

But many handles can still transfer deadly bacteria that can contain germs of the kind that spread diseases very easily and are used by very many patrons of establishments between times that the janitorial staff perform their cleaning routines. It is not possible to prevent the transfer of microbial and infection borne diseases all day every day, is it?

Well, thanks to the fine Italian manufacturer Serrature Meroni, it is. Meroni have been at the forefront of handle design for many years and continue to produce award winning designs. Their Combina and Pigio handles are especially designed with anti-bacterial properties that directly disperse infectious bacteria and other potentially harmful virus' .

Any facilities manager realizes just how important the safety and health of staff, patients, visitors, residents and children is to the efficient and continued running and management of institutions as mentioned above.

We at Master Key Systems America LLC appreciate that the health and well being of all peoples is vital and important to continued happy existence and are proud to offer the fabulous Meroni Anti-Bacterial handles to the the North American market.

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Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - New Inventory Arrived Yesterday

I decided not to post another picture of our most popular selling product. Suffice to say, we just received our next supply of the Satin Pearl (satin nickel) product.

We have a few units to go out that were back ordered before we will be updating the purchase page.

Thank you for your patience.

Dormi - Dont Throw Away your Old Android When You Update, Use It As A Baby Monitor or Security Listening Device

Dormi is a product for the modern era. Y'know, most of us who use smartphones, update them every 2 years at the end of our contract.

There are recycle programs out there, but why not, instead of disposing of, selling or recycling your old phone keep using it but as a baby monitor (or any listening device actually).

Dormi is an app for Android that does exactly that. All that is required is to download the app to 2 Android devices and pair them.

There is no need to have a telephone network connection on your old phone because Dormi uses the WiFi feature built into most existing Android phones. so there is no extra phone line cost involved.

The added ability to communicate back with your child, if necessary means you may not even have to get up and tend them.

Unobtrusive and silent, it works in the background oblivious to the surroundings. It may even make a potentially secret listening device if you so desire.

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Carlock - iPhone And Android Vehicle Tracker Made Simple

 Trust the Europeans to come out with a sensational smartphone compatible product that enables real time GPS tracking of your most prized possession - your vehicle.

This absurdly intelligent idea to use the OBD (on board diagnostic) port, found on just about every modern day vehicle and connect a small (almost hidden) dongle that operates on the GSM network (AT&T or TMobile), install the appropriate app from either Apple iTunes or Google Play and you suddenly have a super intelligent vehicle monitor.

The system works using the GSM (Global System for Mobiles) telephone network, where the dongle houses a mini SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card that you can purchase from AT&T or T Mobile on a prepaid plan.

 Plug the dongle into your OBD port, usually located under your dash and it receives its power from there.

Install the appropriate app from your network provider to your iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S running on both iOS 6 or iOS 7 platforms. Android 4.0 smartphones and up.


Currently available across the European Union, the plan is to release the product to the USA and Latin American markets toward the end of 2014.

The product is designed to work straight out of the box, which means no learning curve is necessary for any person to install, use and operate the Carlock. Because the product is plugged into the vehicles OBD port, it constantly trickle charges the built in battery, yet doesnt affect any of the vehicles operating systems. 

The product will come with a 2 year warranty. See the source below.

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Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - Demand So Strong, We Sold Out Quickly

I apologize for yet another post and picture of the Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock but this product continues to defy all our sales records.

We are now sold out of all colors.

New inventory is not expected for another couple of days (of the Satin Nickel) and we expect that most of them will be gone next week, due to covering back orders and the speed in which this product sells.

It is not that we are unhappy selling them, but keeping up with demand is a challenge.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will continue to visit our site often to keep abreast of the latest news.

Thanks for your understanding.

Is GM Guilty Of Misbehaviour?

There has been much talk across news media in recent weeks about General Motors and their knowledge, since 2001 of a fatal problem with the ignition switch in a number of vehicles they produce.

This issue relates to the recent recall of over 1.5 million vehicles with faulty ignition key switches.

An article in yesterday's St Louis Post Dispatch (see source below) highlighted GM's knowledge about the problem since 2001.

Summarized from the Post Dispatch, "In that environment, basic components could take low priority, such as the ignition switch that GM sourced for Ions, Cobalts and other models. The right to manufacture the switch had been won by Dublin, Ireland-based Eaton Corp., according to documents from a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against GM. Delphi bought Eaton’s switch division in 2001.

Inside that switch, which cost as little as $2 to $5 to produce, was a spring loose enough to allow the ignition to switch out of the “on” position when bumped, a risk that would grow if the key was weighted by a heavy ring, GM has said. The turned key would then shut off the engine and power steering and disable the air bags.

The fatal flaw in the ignition switch, which GM now says its engineers discovered in 2001 while developing the Ion, has spurred the automaker’s biggest crisis since its 2009 bankruptcy and bailout."

As a locksmith, I choose to not work on automobiles at this time for various reasons. This revelation from GM is further disturbing to the locksmith industry I suggest, because there are many automotive locksmiths who are called upon to make keys for GM vehicles. In making a key for a GM vehicle that has one of the faulty ignition switches, if the customer has an issue, post locksmith service, usually they will claim warranty from the locksmith and most reputable legitimate locksmiths will honor their labor to the customer...

Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - Price Increase

Due to unfavorable exchange rates and increased materials cost, the manufacturer in their infinite wisdom are forced to increase the cost of this especially popular product.

We have not determined the new price yet for the product, but we anticipate a 15% price increase will be necessary.

We are currently sold out of the satin pearl color option as it is the most popular requested option.

We have about 15 units left in polished chrome that we will maintain at our original price of $115.00 + shipping. Compared to other competing products in this class, the Lockwood 7444 keyed Pocket Door Lock is still the most competitively priced option for use on pocket/cavity sliding doors.

If you are not concerned about the color, hurry and order today while the current price remains!

We are expecting a new delivery of the satin pearl option in about 2 weeks time. We appreciate your patience and thank you for your understanding.

EDIT 3/21/14 We only have 10 units left in Polished Chrome.

Price Rise Season Is Again Upon Us.

It is unfortunate that price rises are a natural part of life in a capitalist economy. Due to increasing costs of raw materials and shipping and taxes, many companies are forced to increase their prices to remain solvent.

Listed below, are some companies that have announced price rises effective immediately.

Olympus Lock

Dynalock

Schlage (Commercial & Residential)

Von Duprin

LCN

Ives

Glynn-Johnson

Steelcraft

Schlage (Electronics)

Dexter Brands

Belwith

Not all companies are announcing price rises at this time. Our Meroni product line continues to maintain 2012 price structures. The fabulous Meroni products service the residential and commercial markets with their wide range of specialty door hardware, handlesets, cabinet locks, door closers and specialty Automotive security solutions .

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Meroni Nova Entry Set Replaces Broken Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point Entry System

 We were recently called to one of our returning customers to provide a solution to secure their patio entrance door.
They had been using a Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point entry system on this door for many years, however the product had not worked for about the last 7 years, easily.

These doors and all the windows around the room used surface mounted, raised Venetian blinds that caused them to have to reverse the lever handle on the inside of the door, to be able to use the door. This was rather unsightly and as their children grew, became a handling issue that eventually caused the lock mechanism to break.

Having performed our services for them in the past, they called me to see if i could fix their latest issue where the lock had completely stopped operating from the outside too.

On my initial attendance, in which we always offer a free estimate, we determined that the entire unit be replaced. Unfortunately Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point locks of the particular vintage are no longer made. We were able to source a supplier who could provide us with a new lock, but the entire mechanism requires to be removed to be able to fix it.

We offered a solution that would work far better and they would regain use of the inside of the door with a normal type handle that would work easily with the raised Venetian Blinds already fitted to their door.


We were still required to remove the old Peachtree Mechanism, not a simple task and could then install a Meroni Nova N13 Entry set to their door. We removed the faceplate from the Peachtree lock, intending to reuse it and used large push plates in polished brass on both inside and outside to cover the old holes left by the old hardware. The Meroni Nova lock uses a push button to pull the latch back, so there is no knob to turn or lever to pull. This action means that they can operate and lock the door easily while maintaining aesthetics.

The pictures above are deliberately large to allow you to click on them for a close up view.

It took about 4 hours to complete the project, but the customer is ever so satisfied and we workers are pleased with our efforts too.

Rip Off Artists And Con Men Continue To Proliferate Across The St Louis Region

About 4 years ago, the Missouri Attorney General was instrumental in catching a gang of crooks deliberately scamming consumers by impersonating locksmiths.

That particular gang became well known across the country for willfully ripping off unsuspecting consumers.

The locksmith industry is one of the oldest industries in the world. There are a small number of qualified locksmiths across this country who still do business with ethics and morals, but they are seeing the trade brought to disrepute by sheisters bent on ripping people off.

In June last year, #ABC's The Lookout played a segment where they caught and filmed the leader of the scam operations, who has since escaped the country without paying fines and taxes owed.

But the scammers continue to trick customers into using them with nefarious search engine tactics. In fact, if you type "Locksmith Your City", replacing "Your City" with the name of your town, and press search, you will be bombarded with ads that point you to these companies.

(after the break, we will list some of the companies and their websites. we'd appreciate anyone reading this article to list other scammer companies in the comments) All comments are subject to moderation.

Electronic Locks - Wireless Or Wired Are Not A Very Green Oriented Product

 It seems that wireless or wired electronic locks are all the rage today in this rapidly progressing tech-electronic age we are in. Products like the Lockwood 001T, pictured here use a battery pack to offer keyless access control options.

But in recent years, many discussions continue to be held about green, ecological alternatives that cause no drain on power or grid electricity supplies.

Many customers seem to be considering the use of wireless battery powered products or even hard wired lock systems to add so called "convenience" to their lives.

While it is understandable that some systems can add convenience and access control to our homes and offices, the available products are not really "green" alternatives.

 The August Lock, came out a little while back, offering the ability to have a keyless/smartphone connected access control solution.

The product is very intelligently designed and may offer concerned customers the alternative they are seeking, however it is worth remembering that batteries require replacing every so often. What happens when your smartphone battery has run out? What happens when the products battery pack loses power?
How do you operate the product without a mechanical "keyed" back up?

The increasing evidence of smartphone theft and the quantity of known hacks, presents problems that many consumers may not have considered.

 At least Kwikset, are including their mechanical "keyed" cylinder in many of their Bluetooth and wireless battery powered products, even though the Kwikset Smartkey product has a poor track record of quality and is too easily compromised.

The Kwikset Kevo product was released last October. It is a Bluetooth, battery powered deadbolt that can be operated by a connected Bluetooth device (smartphone). It also comes with the Kwikset Smartkey cylinder, enabling a mechanical backup solution, even though there are many published records of the Smartkey problems, in the news.

Certainly there are many and varied options for wireless, keypad controlled, keyless solutions, but the quality of manufacture still leaves much to be desired in terms of quality and sustainability.

Many manufacturers continue to bring out ever increasing product options to whet the appetites of consumers.

But not too many are including the necessary mechanical keyed component as a backup.

I realise that many customers are impressed with the ability to grant access to certain people and then change that access on the fly, but the use of electronic products is not a "green" consideration, is it?

Magna Latch Series 3 - New Visibility Indicator

Magna Latch products are well known worldwide for their specialty security products designed for swimming pool gates and fences.

We have talked about Magna Latch products by D&D Technologies before.

This new design continues the products world leading design and construction while improving demanded visibility. D&D Technologies consulted the market, asking what their customers wanted. In the greater majority of responses, instant visible knowledge of whether the gate is locked or not, is the most desired option.

This Australian designed and built product has served swimming pool owners worldwide for over 20 years.

The locking system has also been updated to allow for key cylinders that can be swapped with other brands of keyways, like Schlage, Yale etc. This means that high security key control systems can be added to pool gates, simply and cost effectively.

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The Fabulous Hooply Manufacturing Facility In China

The Fabulous Hooply Manufacting facilities located in China, uses state of the art technology and practices to create their sensational line of high-security lock products and door hardware.
As shown in the video, the product line is exceptionally well made and offers one of the widest varieties of style and security available in todays market.

We are pleased to become known as a representative of this sensational product line in the USA.

Unlike other stateside companies, who choose to offshore their manufacturing in attempt to save costs, Hooply have always designed and built their products in China, but tailored them for the worlds market.

We have mentioned some of their products already in this blog and intend to write more individual articles about different pieces in their range. Stay tuned!

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Repairing Sliding Patio Doors - An Increasing Call For Our Expertise

We typically receive a large quantity of requests to repair sliding patio doors for many customers.

Many of these requests come from the popular Home Advisor network.

Just yesterday in fact, we attended to repair a 30 year old door in use at a customers home, where the front wheel was missing completely.

There were no remnants of a disintegrated wheel anywhere inside the track, underneath the door and I cannot explain how the door was working all these years.

Getting the door off the track easily is/was very difficult and we were on a limited time schedule due to the customer requiring to pick their kids up from school.

Thinking outside the box (which we have to do quite often), enabled us to devise a simple and quick repair that, while not a perfect solution, holds the door higher at the front of the track and allows it to ride smoothly and the door can now be locked and operated much more easily, until the customer purchases a complete new door.

The solution we came up with was to install a small right angle bracket to the bottom of the frame, with the angle resting under the door. We lubricated the track with Teflon based lubricant thoroughly and the door now slides easily and lines up nicely to be able to lock.

Keyed Pocket Door Lock Will Soon Work With Thicker Doors Using Easy To Install Modification Kit - Exclusive Supplier

Our fabulous keyed pocket door lock is especially designed for 1-3/8" thick doors.

Until now, that is.

We are in the final stage of production of an expansion kit that will allow you to use this fabulous lock on 1-3/4" thick doors.

You can now even get cylinders that will allow you to re-key to Schlage (or almost any key-way) 6 pin tumbler key-ways.
We were the only dealer in the USA until recently, but we are the only dealer with the modification package allowing installation up to 1-7/8" thick doors without the difficult modifications offered by other dealers.

The modification kit will be able to be purchased in almost any brand key-way, so you will be able to use Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, Sargent or just about any restricted key or high-security key control systems like Bilock, Primus, Abloy etc.

We are the exclusive manufacturer of this modification kit. It is not quite ready for public release but we expect to make it available in about 2 months.

To maintain our exclusivity on this modification kit, we will not be tabling our technique for using this fabulous product on thicker doors, much to the angst of our wannabe competitors.

EDIT 2/22/14: Lockwood just informed us of a price rise of 15% for the product, effective immediately. This may have to be carried over to our next inventory orders. If you want this product, now is the time to order it prior to the expected price increase.

Clay - Introducing Cloud Controlled Wireless Access Control

Clay are proudly introducing a Salto inspired access control solution across Europe, the UK and Australia.

This intelligent access control solution will work with just about any type of mortise or rim lock, narrow style frames and padlocks.

The intelligence of the Salto systems is being heralded across the world as the new frontier in keyless access control solutions.

We say keyless, although you still need to carry a fob, if you are an authorized entrant. Remote control from any platform, be it Android, Apple iOS, Windows, Linux etc allows for cross platform operation that minimizes inconvenience, allows you to use an app to control your systems so that you can still let in your technician or plumber or anyone you choose, without actually being at the location yourself.

There is a fabulous video on the company's site that I encourage all to view, to better understand how it works. Visit the website in the source below.

Salto, have been mentioned in this blog before and are slowly becoming a major player in the hotel arena and other industries intent on maximizing control of their locking hardware systems.

The intelligence is in the handle not the lock and because of this, there are many options available to the customer.

We anticipate becoming a local dealer of the fabulous Salto - Inspired Access Control systems in the near future. We have already recommended numerous enquirers and owners of CISA hotel access control systems to upgrade to Salto. (No word on the North American release dates)

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Meroni UFO+ Installation Video - Superior Security For Sprinter Trucks

We recently wrote an article about the fabulous Meroni UFO+ super secure lock system designed in consultation with Shipping companies and fleet managers and auto manufacturing engineers.

We have been inundated with inquiries and people are lining up to pre-order the product.

Above find an installation video that shows the correct procedure for fitting the product.
The UFO+ comes with a unique key cylinder that is copy resistant and virtually pick proof. Keys can be registered with the factory (us) for future origination. Locks can be keyed alike, master keyed or keyed to differ. Fleet managers can use their master key to access multiple separate vehicles as needs require.

There are few quality options available that secure Sprinter trucks and the UFO+ is quickly becoming the sought after solution for companies and owners wishing to protect their valuable tools and equipment on board.

We still anticipate releasing them commercially in the USA this summer. Stay Tuned!

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Cruise Ship Illnesses Increase - Solutions Sought

The number of reports in recent weeks about cruise ship passengers falling prey to onboard diseases is being seen to have sharply increased. Without any specific reasons being discovered, authorities continue to seek methods to prevent the spread of disease.

Serrature Meroni manufacture anti-bacterial door hardware that helps to minimze the spread of infectious disease. The fabulous Meroni Combina and Meroni Pigio range of door handles are being sought as a possible solution to minimize the spread of these virus'.

The unique attributes of the anti-bacterial handles, continue to impress authorities. The handle ranges are nouveau in design, naturally simple to operate, functional and ambient. The range of handles can allow for discerning owners to  still enjoy elegant looking functional hardware while protecting the lives and interests of crew and passengers.

Simple to install and retro-fit in place of many commonly used products today, both Combina and Pigio are considered a valuable asset that directly protects the lives of passengers, crew, patients and anyone that might touch the handle.

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Saddle Lock - Simplistic Bicycle Security Concept

 Bicycle enthusiasts continue to push the boundaries of security with novel concepts that minimize weight and offer ambience combined with natural security functions.

The Saddle Lock pictured here is a 2012 Red Dot Design Award winner.

The unique design concept minimizes weight by combining the seat saddle with a cantilever type ratchet that allows the seat to fold back. The pocket at the saddle rear is shaped to the size of the rear bicycle wheel and it neatly fits over the wheel. The combination mechanism built into the saddle allows the lock mechanism to secure through the wheel spokes.

Unlike chaining your bike to a post or fence, which often requires a third party product, that you usually need to carry or attach to your frame, the saddle lock is a built in product.

Although you leave your bike without attaching it to a rack, fence or post, no one can easily ride your pride and joy away.

More pics after the jump

UFO+ To Debut In The USA This Summer

We have written about this product a few times recently and it seems to have generated significant interest from sections of the automobile industry. We are happy to announce that we will debut this fabulous product this summer in the USA.

Intelligently designed with input directly from automobile manufacturers, Serrature Meroni have produced a game changing product that benefits the shipping industry immensely.

Installation time is usually about 45-50 minutes by a trained technician.

Companies who run fleets of Sprinter or similar vehicles enjoy the benefits of ultra-secure master keying and copy protected keys in the easy to use UFO+ Slam Lock.

The UFO+ Slam Lock installs on both front and rear doors

Pictures of the rear door operation, after the break

Keyed Pocket Door Lock Arrived 32 Hours Early - Available Now - Hurry

The Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock we had been expecting to arrive tomorrow night has arrived early and is now in stock and available for purchase. We just updated the order page and suggest to our customers to place their orders quicksmart to avoid missing out.

This product is super popular and sells extremely quickly.

Thanks for your patience.

Keyed Pocket Door Lock - New Inventory arriving January 28, 2014

We have been inundated with additional requests for this popular and fabulous product. It is challenging to maintain sufficient inventory to meet customer demand.

We expected our last shipment to go in about 4 weeks and were spot on with our prediction.

We are currently out of stock completely until next week, when we will update the shopping page and make them available again.

We appreciate our customers patience and thank them for understanding.

Salto - Inspired Electronic Access Control - Interview With Respected Industry Analyst Marc Tobias

We have talked about the fabulous SALTO electronic access control products here before.

Salto are a very modern company specializing in high-end access control systems for hotels, institutions, Universities, Schools, hospitals and almost anyone seeking better quality from their entry hardware and systems.

Bilock are an integral partner with Salto, to the point of integrating Mifare chips into Bilock key heads, so that electronic, trackable extreme security keys can be used in structures that also require mechanical access control where wired or wireless power is inappropriate.

Recently, Salto sat down with respected industry watchdog and product quality analyst Marc Tobias in a brief interview abut his opinion about the quality and security of Salto products. See the interview after the jump.

UFO+ The New Addition To The Meroni Family of Ultra-Secure Light Commercial Trucks/Vans Security

UFO+ is one of the latest additions to the expanding range of fabulous Serrature Meroni ultra-high-security products. This product has been built in consultation with engineers and automobile designers to provide light commercial trucks and vans with premium quality products that are functional while maintaining a profesional image for your company.

Widely used throughout Europe by two of the leading delivery companies (worldwide), the UFO+ is the new generation version of the UFO already widely used by industrial, commercial and private customers.

We have previously talked about UFO products in this blog before.

In the link provided above, you can see some videos of the strength of the UFO product.

The collaborative efforts in consulting with vehicle manufacturers to produce a product that complements style and security of a wide range of vehicles, serves to cement Meroni's commitment to it's customers and also goes to show, that by working together across different industry sectors we can all hope to achieve mutually beneficial products that stand the test of time, function and better security for all.

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Hooply Locks Continue To Impress

We continue to see increased interest in the fabulous Hooply range of door handles and locking systems.

Hooply are a specialty manufacturer of very strong mechanical locking systems, Their product line has been snapped up by many builders and homeowners especially in severe weather affected locations.

Many homeowners in the Florida and gulf states regions especially like the wide range of handle designs that compliment their style of hurricane and wind resistant doors and frames.

We have recently sold more products to customers on both sides of the Florida coast, to repair/replace parts.

The competitive cost of Hooply products, combined with the extremely strong all steel internal mechanisms, makes the product line an extremely attractive alternative to more mainstream brands.

Pictured here is the Hooply 5510 handle set. There are numerous styles and color choices available and we will be bringing these to light here in the near future. Stay Tuned!

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5 reasons to stop using antibacterial soap

The FDA, recently announced the culmination of a 42 year study into the health benefits of the use of anti-bacterial handsoap.

To summarize. the FDA discovered that after a decades long investigation, the benefits derived from this multi-billion dollar industry, do not significantly add value to our lives, more than normal soap and water.

I meet people regularly who swear by their practise of using some alcohol based antibacterial soaps, hoping to minimize their own exposure to the easy transference of bacteria and virus'.

With this 42 year study finally releasing their results, concerned users are realizing that common used door knobs, that multiple people touch daily have been a harbinger of diseases that are too easily transferred.

That is of course until they learn about the Serrature Meroni range of Combina and Pigio range of push/pull entry levers and knobs, that are specifically designed with anti-microbial surfaces that minimize the spread of colds and flu.

We are the North American distributors of the fabulous Nouveau and Ultra-Modern door entry products made by the highly respected European (Italian) manufacturer Serrature Meroni.

We maintain a relatively large inventory, in multiple color options of Nova, Forma, Combina and Pigio (1, 2 & 3) door hardware.

We will showcase some special quantities of Meroni Nova, passage, privacy and entry handlesets, in large quantaties and diverse color options.

The five reasons are...

1. Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than conventional soap and water. As mentioned in the announcement, 42 years of FDA research—along with countless independent studies—have produced no evidence that triclosan provides any health benefits as compared to old-fashioned soap.

“I suspect there are a lot of consumers who assume that by using an antibacterial soap product, they are protecting themselves from illness, protecting their families,” Sandra Kweder, deputy director of the FDA’s drug center, told the AP. “But we don’t have any evidence that that is really the case over simple soap and water.”

Manufacturers say they do have evidence of triclosan’s superior efficacy, but the disagreement stems from the use of different sorts of testing methods. Tests that strictly measure the number of bacteria on a person’s hands after use do show that soaps with triclosan kill slightly more bacteria than conventional ones.

But the FDA wants data that show that this translates into an actual clinical benefit, such as reduced infection rates. So far, analyses of the health benefits don’t show any evidence that triclosan can reduce the transmission of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. This might be due to the fact that antibacterial soaps specifically target bacteria, but not the viruses that cause the majority of seasonal colds and flus.

2. Antibacterial soaps have the potential to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The reason that the FDA is making manufacturers prove these products’ efficacy is because of a range of possible health risks associated with triclosan, and bacterial resistance is first on the list.

Heavy use of antibiotics can cause resistance, which results from a small subset of a bacteria population with a random mutation that allows it to survive exposure to the chemical. If that chemical is used frequently enough, it’ll kill other bacteria, but allow this resistant subset to proliferate. If this happens on a broad enough scale, it can essentially render that chemical useless against the strain of bacteria.

This is currently a huge problem in medicine—the World Health Organization calls it a “threat to global health security.” Some bacteria species (most notably, MRSA) have even acquired resistance to several different drugs, complicating efforts to control and treat infections as they spread. Health officials say that further research is needed before we can say that triclosan is fueling resistance, but several studies have hinted at the possibility.

3. The soaps could act as endocrine disruptors.  A number of studies have found that, in rats, frogs and other animals, triclosan appears to interfere with the body’s regulation of thyroid hormone, perhaps because it chemically resembles the hormone closely enough that it can bind to its receptor sites. If this is the case in humans, too, there are worries that it could lead to problems such as infertility, artificially-advanced early puberty, obesity and cancer.

These same effects haven’t yet been found in humans, but the FDA calls the animal studies “a concern”—and notes that, given the minimal benefits of long-term triclosan use, it’s likely not worth the risk.

First H5N1 Avian Flu Death In North America

Serrature Meroni make a handle that is taylored to hospitals, aged care centers, schools and institutions that care about the health and safety of their staff and patrons.

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From CNN...

(CNN) -- Canadian health officials confirmed Wednesday that a resident from Alberta has died from H5N1 avian flu, the first case of the virus in North America.

Canada's Health Minister, Rona Ambrose, said the infected individual had recently traveled to Beijing.

The Canadian case also is the first case of H5N1 infection ever imported by a traveler into a country where the virus is not present in poultry. No such H5N1 viruses have been detected in people or in animals in the United States.