Yale (company)

In 1868, the business was founded in Stamford, Connecticut by Linus Yale, Jr., an inventor of the pin tumbler lock and Henry R. Towne. The founding name of the corporation was Yale Lock Manufacturing Co. and later the name was changed to Yale & Towne.[1]

From 1843 to 1857, Yale had registered eight patents such as pin tumbler safe lock, safe lock, bank lock, vault, safe door bolt and padlock to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.[1]

In the early 20th century, the company expanded its international sectors and engaged in global market by conducting partnership, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures with other companies in the same industry. In addition, the firm increased employment to more than 12,000 people along with the business expansion.

As one of the business expansion, Yale established a British operation by acquiring the business of H&T Vaughan, a long established lock manufacturer in Wood Street, Willenhall. The acquisition allows the firm to be the historic centre of the British lock industry, and became the major employer in the town.

Then, the British Yale has involved in the early motor industry and supplied locks to various manufacturers when the cheaper diecast based leaf tumbler technology became available. Yale saw an unexpected revival of activity in the motor trade from the 1960s onwards when security fitters adopted its 'M69' window lock as a simple add on fitting to prevent theft, especially on vans. This trend had continued until the early 1990s, when it was superseded by electronic devices.

The firm had continued to supply all lock requirements to Rolls-Royce Motors until 1991, when there was an acrimonious parting. However, the British business had been sold by its parent to merge with the Valor Company to form Yale & Valor in 1987. After a further takeover by Williams Holdings, various sections of the Willenhall operation and outlying operation such as their diecasting foundry were closed.

In March 2000, the remainder of the British business especially Yale Security subsidiaries was sold to Assa Abloy which were producing fire alarm systems, burglar alarms and glass break detectors.[2]

Between July 2012 and late spring of 2013, Assa Abloy started to relocate Yale's factories from Lenoir City, Tennessee, their home since 1953, to Berlin, Connecticut.

• Yale-Cady Octagon House and Yale Lock Factory Site
• Business Technology Association
• Chubb Locks
• Westminster Group

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yale Lock Company.

• www.yalelock.com — official site, United States
• www.yale.co.uk — official site, United Kingdom
• www.yale.co.in - Official Site, India