Company Presentation, but most importantly
Company History
City Lock and Safe Ltd is one of the premier locksmith, safe engineer and security companies in the north west of England. Founded in 1957 by Ray Clarke, the business was formed initially in 1870 in Manchester, latterly trading as G.W.Wilkinson Locksmiths and Whitesmiths. It was there, under the guidance of Mr Wilkinson, that Ray served his apprenticeships. Following the death of Mr Wilkinson in 1955 Ray, then aged 20, ran the business until 1957 when he purchased the company.
In 1966, Ray opened a branch in Stockport, where he had studied at the Technical College. Ray closed the Manchester office and workshops in 1972 and established new premises, initially at 19 Buxton Road and then having out-grown those premises, at present location at 33 Buxton Road. At this time the new motorway connections linking Stockport, enabled the company to service its many contract clients throughout the North West.
During 1976 Ray’s son Tom joined the company, and, like his father, spent the first four years ‘on the bench’ learning the trade, followed by three years as a service engineer gaining further ‘hands on experience’. Tom then progressed to Sales and Marketing, and in 1989 was appointed Managing Director. Tom continues in the role today, having now bought the business from his father. Ray continues to call in, but chose to retire in 2007 after 50 years in business.
Two of Ray’s first apprentices were Harry Handford and Neville Hough. Harry unfortunately passed away in 2006 having recently retired. In 2013, Neville also retired, after serving for 50 years. Like Ray, Neville still calls in and is a close friend of the company.
Tom is also assisted by his two sisters. Belinda joined the company in 1976 as Secretary and now controls Sales Ledger and Special Orders.
Annali joined in 1989, and is now Company Secretary in charge of finances and Purchase ledger.
Tom has developed the business, creating a new showroom and workshops. The Master Key Systems element to the business has been greatly enhanced. In 2007 Tom achieved his Diploma from the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers and has since established ‘Pinnacle Hardware’, now an integral part of the business supplying Architectural Ironmongery.
In September 2005 Tom’s son George joined the company, serving his apprenticeship under the guidance of Tom and his grandfather Ray, as well as long-serving employee Neville Hough.
In 2005, City Lock & Safe established ‘Euro Safes’, the online buying arm for Safes and Data cabinets. This advance into website sales has led to the company exporting safes and security hardware throughout Europe and beyond.
Keys and cylinders can record every operation to provide audit trails of user’s access. Yet this technology still combines with a lock case on a door: the company knows the value in deadlock security!
The company has recently been accredited as a Yale Doormaster and Yale Expert Centre, serving the public with the ever-increasing replacement of traditional doors by PVCu products.
City Lock & Safe has also developed an invaluable next-day replacement service of all types of coded keys under ‘Keys Express’.
The company is a member of the Master Locksmiths’ Association, Guild of Architectural Ironmongery and Constructionline. The wealth of knowledge and expertise supplied by these employees means that City Lock & Safe Ltd is exceptional in its understanding of the complexity of all types of locks and safes. With its roots firmly established in Stockport, but with its horizons broadened to new and existing clients at home and abroad, City Lock & Safe Ltd, continues to invest in the future of both itself and its customers.
