LOCKS, HANDLES. AND OTUKR LOCKSMITH WARES. 



173 



of town factories, but wliicli generally make them of more complex systems and 

 chiefly to order; such locks, being sold per piece, are somewhat dear and the quan- 

 tity of them worked by the different shops is inconsiderable. Their prices according 

 to the size and combinations vary from 5 to 15 roubles per piece. The chief custo- 

 mers of such establishments are the owners of storehouses and shops. 



The quantity and the value of the import of locks of different kinds, with the 

 exclusion of brass locks, which since 1886 are regarded as brass goods, are shown 

 in the following table. 



The growth of the import noticeable in recent years relates exclusively 

 to small locks, which are brought to Russia from Germany and sold mainly in the 

 western region. The prices of these wares are generally very low, therefore they 

 are readily bought, but the quality is very unsatisfactory. The locks imported from 

 England and France belong to the category of compound locks and, although 

 comparatively dear, are of the very best makes. 



The locks for safes must be also related to the category of locksmith wares. 

 They are generally made at the establishments where the safes are manufactured. 

 These articles requiring very minute workmanship are made not only at large lock- 

 smith establishments, but at some of the manufactories as well. The quality of the 

 safes made in Eussia is quite satisfactory, although their prices are higher than 

 those of foreign makes; the same true, also, of the other locksmith wares; still, 

 safes are very seldom imported. 



The comparative expense of the locksmith goods produced by Eussian makers 

 depends greatly upon the fact that machines for working the metals are little used, 

 while the employment of such means is constantly increasing abroad, especially in 

 Germany and in France. The Eussian establishments use equally seldom the stamping 

 process when shaping the different parts of the lock ; this also has an influence upon 

 the expense of the wares. Finally, the comparatively small production of malleable 



* These figures include all varieties, brass locks as well as all kinds of screws. 

 ** Since 1891 the locks of both categories, as Avell as screws, are given in the same 

 customhouse data; the figures for the years 1887 to 1890 relate to locks only. 



