This book has been prepared to assist the collector of bit style keys of the 19th and 20th centuries. A short history and an explanation of various locks have been included to assist the collector in understanding the types of keys and how they operate. This third edition is a complete departure from the previous editions in that the format has been changed and all new illustrations have been prepared. No illustrations from the old manufacturers catalogs have been used in this edition. All the illustrations in this third edition were made from the actual keys or photocopies. ~ From the Foreword