Best Lock Corporation was an American publicly traded door hardware and lock manufacturer. Founded in 1925 as Best Universal Lock Company by Frank Ellison Best, the privately held company relocated from Seattle, Washington, to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1938, where operations expanded and evolved. Product offerings are now marketed under the Best Access brand, which is one of several trademarked corporate divisions in Stanley Black & Decker's Stanley Security group.[1]
Overview
In addition to its associated commercial and architectural primary hardware components - such as locksets, padlocks, specialty locks and accessories[2] - Best Access is primarily known for its "small format" interchangeable cores, which were introduced under Frank Best's direction in the 1960s as a replacement for the removable core keying configuration that he had first developed in 1919.
Best Access products are sold primarily and directly to corporate and institutional end users without locksmith and wholesaler access to competitive distribution. Its products are typically marketed toward and installed into moderately sized or larger