Best Lock Corporation
Best Lock Corporation was an American manufacturer of commercial door hardware and locking systems whose products are now associated primarily with the Best Access brand.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Best Lock Corporation was an American manufacturer of commercial, institutional, and architectural locking hardware. Its roots date to 1925, when Frank Ellison Best established the Best Universal Lock Company. The business developed from Frank Best’s earlier work on interchangeable-core keying, including a removable-core configuration patented in 1919, into a specialized supplier of locksets, cores, padlocks, specialty locks, and related accessories. The company moved its operations from Seattle, Washington, to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1938. Indianapolis subsequently became the center of the Best business and remained associated with the company after later ownership and name changes. Best’s corporate structure included several related entities. Frank E. Best, Inc. held original patents, Best Universal Lock Corporation was licensed to manufacture and sell products, and Best Lock Corporation was later formed to manufacture and market the 10K tubular lockset. Over time, these companies operated as an interconnected family-controlled enterprise. Best became particularly recognized for small-format interchangeable cores. Introduced under Frank Best’s direction in the 1960s, the system was designed as an alternative to the removable-core configuration he had developed earlier. Interchangeable cores allow authorized users to rekey or replace the core without changing the entire lock housing, making the technology useful in large master-key systems. Best’s products were aimed principally at corporate and institutional customers and were commonly sold directly to end users rather than through broad locksmith and wholesaler distribution. The company’s hardware was generally positioned for moderately sized and larger master-key installations. The product portfolio included commercial locksets, padlocks, specialty locks, interchangeable cores, key systems, housings, and accessories. Its Premium Key System used key sections with a heavier profile than many common industry designs. Best’s key and core technologies also became the subject of competitive and legal disputes. Best Universal Lock challenged Falcon over the manufacture and use of compatible core housings, but the courts rejected the infringement theory because the relevant housings were not specifically covered by the patent documentation. Best also pursued patent litigation against Ilco over key-blade and related utility-patent claims. In 1996, the court ruled the asserted patents invalid, relying in part on prior art and the determination that the keyway shape was not an ornamental matter for users. Ilco later introduced compatible blanks, attracting attention at the 1993 ALOA convention. Family control continued for much of the company’s independent history. Walter Best, Frank Best’s oldest son, held majority ownership in the related Best companies and served as president from 1966 to 1994. During his leadership, the business expanded its mechanical lock-hardware range. In May 1994, Walter’s son Russell Best acquired Best Lock Corporation. Russell changed the company’s name to Best Access Systems in November 1997. On November 25, 2002, Stanley Black & Decker purchased the holdings associated with Russell Best and acquired the outstanding business interests, after which the operation became part of Stanley’s security business and continued to trade as Best Access Systems. The Best Lock Corporation name therefore represents the historical corporate entity, while Best Access is the principal commercial identity associated with the surviving product lines. The business has been described as a trademarked corporate division within Stanley Black & Decker’s Stanley Security group. In 2005, members of families connected with former Best ownership established Marshall Best Security in Indianapolis, producing interchangeable cores and related commercial hardware. Best’s legacy remains most closely tied to interchangeable-core systems and institutional master-keying rather than c…
History
Best Lock Corporation emerged from Frank Ellison Best’s work on locking and keying mechanisms. Frank Best had developed a removable-core keying configuration by 1919 and later founded the Best Universal Lock Company in 1925. The enterprise was organized through related companies, including Frank E. Best, Inc., which held original patents, and Best Universal Lock Corporation, which was licensed to manufacture and sell the inventions. Best Lock Corporation was subsequently created to produce and market the 10K tubular lockset. In 1938, the business moved from Seattle to Indianapolis. The relocation established Indianapolis as the company’s principal operating community and helped support the expansion of its manufacturing and commercial activities. Best gradually broadened its portfolio beyond individual inventions, supplying locksets, padlocks, specialty locks, cores, key systems, and accessories for commercial and architectural applications. A major technical and commercial turning point came in the 1960s with the introduction of Best’s small-format interchangeable cores under Frank Best’s direction. The system provided a practical way to change the keyed core without replacing the complete lock hardware, an important capability for institutional and corporate customers operating master-key systems. Best primarily sold to corporate and institutional end users and maintained a distribution model that did not provide the same broad locksmith and wholesaler access as some competitors. Its products were commonly specified for moderate and large master-key installations. The company’s Premium Key System became associated with relatively substantial key sections compared with many widely used industry formats. Best’s patents and market position generated competition from other hardware manufacturers. Best Universal Lock brought an unsuccessful infringement action against Falcon concerning compatible core housings and related core technology. The court concluded that the housings at issue were not specifically identified in the relevant patent documentation, allowing Falcon to continue manufacturing housings and develop a similar competing core line. Best also litigated against Ilco over key-blade and utility-patent claims. Ilco counterclaimed that the patents were invalid. In August 1996, the court found both patents invalid, including on the basis that the utility-patent subject matter was anticipated by prior art and that the keyway shape did not qualify as an ornamental concern for users. Ilco subsequently produced compatible key blanks, which were first distributed with considerable interest at the 1993 ALOA convention. Ownership and management remained concentrated within the Best family. Walter Best, Frank Best’s oldest son, held majority shares in the related Best companies and served as president from 1966 through 1994. During his tenure, the business developed a fuller line of mechanical lock hardware. Russell Best, Walter Best’s grandson, acquired Best Lock Corporation in May 1994. In November 1997, he renamed the company Best Access Systems and, according to the reference account, acquired the outstanding stock held by minority shareholders of the three related businesses in a legally challenged transaction. On November 25, 2002, Stanley Black & Decker purchased the holdings associated with Russell Best. The operation became part of Stanley’s security organization and continued doing business as Best Access Systems. The Best Access name became the principal commercial identity for the surviving product portfolio, while the historical Best Lock Corporation entity ceased to operate independently under its former name. In 2005, members of families connected with people displaced from the original company established Marshall Best Security in the same Indianapolis community. That enterprise produced interchangeable cores and related commercial hardware, extending the local industrial legacy associated with Best’s technology. Best Lock Corporation’s continuing significance is consequently concentrated in its technical contribution to interchangeable-core systems, its role in institutional master-keying, and the Best Access product identity within Stanley’s security portfolio.
- 2005
Marshall Best Security founded
[1]A new Indianapolis security-hardware business was established by family members associated with former Best ownership.
- 2002
Acquired by Stanley Black & Decker
[1]Stanley Black & Decker purchased the relevant Best holdings on November 25, bringing the operation into its security business.
- 1997
Company renamed Best Access Systems
[1]Russell Best changed the corporate name from Best Lock Corporation to Best Access Systems.
- 1996
Best’s patent claims against Ilco rejected
[1]A court ruled that the patents asserted against Ilco were invalid, citing prior art and the nature of the claimed keyway design.
- 1994
Russell Best acquired Best Lock Corporation
[1]Russell Best acquired the company from his father, Walter Best, in May 1994.
- 1993
Ilco distributed compatible key blanks
[1]Ilco distributed compatible blanks after challenging Best’s key-related patent position, drawing attention at an ALOA convention.
- 1966
Walter Best became president
[1]Walter Best began a presidency that lasted until 1994 and oversaw development of a broad mechanical lock-hardware range.
- 1960
Small-format interchangeable cores introduced
[1]Best introduced its small-format interchangeable-core approach under Frank Best’s direction, strengthening its position in institutional master-key systems.
- 1938
Operations relocated to Indianapolis
[1]The company moved from Seattle, Washington, to Indianapolis, Indiana, where its operations expanded.
- 1925
Best Universal Lock Company founded
[1]Frank Ellison Best founded the company that became the foundation of the Best lock-hardware business.
Products and positioning
A commercial and institutional security-hardware specialist focused on interchangeable-core technology, master-key systems, and architectural door hardware for organizations requiring scalable access control.
Commercial access-control hardware · 1960
Small-format interchangeable cores
Best’s signature product category allowed a core to be removed, replaced, or rekeyed without replacing the entire lock housing. The format was designed for commercial, institutional, and corporate master-key systems, where administrators may need to change access credentials across many doors. Best products were commonly specified for moderate and larger systems and were marketed primarily to end users rather than through unrestricted competitive distribution.
Keying system
Premium Key System
The Premium Key System was a Best keyway and blank format characterized by key sections with greater girth than many common industry types. Its design supported controlled keying arrangements for commercial and institutional master-key systems. The system became part of the competitive dispute surrounding compatible blanks and the validity of Best’s key-related patents.
Commercial lockset
10K tubular lockset
The 10K was a tubular lockset manufactured and sold through Best Lock Corporation. Its development was one reason Best Lock Corporation was established as a distinct manufacturing and sales company within the wider group of Best family-controlled entities.
Door hardware
Commercial and architectural hardware
The broader Best portfolio included locksets, padlocks, specialty locks, core housings, key systems, and accessories used with commercial and architectural doors. These offerings were intended for organizations managing structured access permissions rather than primarily for residential consumers.
Brand decisions
2002
Sell the Best business to Stanley Black & DeckerM&ABackground
The Best companies had operated as a family-controlled security-hardware group, with Russell Best holding the relevant interests after the 1990s ownership changes.
Action taken
Stanley Black & Decker purchased the holdings associated with Russell Best on November 25, 2002.
Aftermath
The operation became part of Stanley’s security business and continued doing business as Best Access Systems.
1997
Rename Best Lock Corporation as Best Access SystemsStrategyBackground
After acquiring Best Lock Corporation in 1994, Russell Best reorganized the business and changed its name in November 1997.
Action taken
The company adopted the Best Access Systems name and continued commercial development of the Best product family.
Aftermath
Best Access became the principal operating and product identity before the business was acquired by Stanley Black & Decker.
Recent events
- 2005
Marshall Best Security established in Indianapolis[1]
Other
Family members connected to former Best ownership established a separate Indianapolis security-hardware enterprise producing interchangeable cores and related commercial products.
- 2002
Stanley Black & Decker acquired the Best business interests[1]
M&A
Stanley Black & Decker purchased the holdings associated with Russell Best and brought the operation into its security business.
- 1997
Best Lock Corporation renamed Best Access Systems[1]
Other
Following Russell Best’s acquisition of the company, the Best Lock Corporation name was changed to Best Access Systems.
- 1938
Best operations moved from Seattle to Indianapolis[1]
Other
The company relocated its operations to Indianapolis, Indiana, which became the long-term center of the Best business.
Sources1 sources
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