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pin tumbler
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Figure 1: Ancient Egyptian lock
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pin tumbler

lock
Also known as: Egyptian lock
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Quick Summary

Figure 1: Ancient Egyptian lock
Figure 1: Ancient Egyptian lock

A pin tumbler is a component within a cylinder lock that, along with others, prevents movement unless the correct key is used. Locks themselves are mechanical devices designed to secure doors or receptacles, requiring a key or specific manipulations to open. The pin tumbler lock, a modern adaptation of an ancient Egyptian principle, uses pins of varying lengths that must be lifted to precise heights by the key's serrations to allow the cylinder to turn. This mechanism, evolved by Linus Yale Jr., is now widely used for its security and numerous combinations.12

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