In 1959 an Oregon Realtor named Delbert A. Williams acquired a US patent for The Portable Safe. His invention lead the way to the very first key lock box which is said to have been the result of Delbert’s frustration locating house keys for showings.
The “KeyBox” as it was originally called, was constructed of a small aluminum container which was secured by a Yale® Bicycle lock. The patent drawings illustrate a slender box with a “U” shaped shackle and a single keyed lock at the base. Once the lock was in the open position the bottom housing would release the shackle as it detached and a hollow compartment would allow the storage of “small items of value” including currency, jewelry and valuable keys. The idea which is well known today as industry standard in the world of Real Estate, was to attach this locked box to an immovable object for extra security.
Since that first key box the key safe, lock box or contractor’s lockbox as it has become known throughout the years has undergone a series of cosmetic changes. The most significant came in 1969 when the box form took on the shape still commonly used today. Although still requiring a key to unlock it, the new body was much thicker than the original model. Instead of the bottom dropping out to allow access to the chamber a door now detached from the face of the box allowing more room for storage and “positively” preventing the latch from releasing the shackle. Now a days there are many different key safes on the market. The bulk of the models have foregone the keyed locking mechanism in favor of a push button, combination or digital lock. However until another Oregon Realtor named Ryan Belshee invented the RocLok Hide a Key in 2008 there were no options for concealing these boxes in plain sight.
At the time of his invention, Delbert had been practicing Real Estate for 6 years and was running his own brokerage out of the home he shared with his wife Alma. It was here that he went on to found Supra Products, Inc. which continues to be a leader in Key Safes today. Little can be found about Delbert’s life after his monumental discovery but one thing is for certain, his invention changed the face of history forever.
In today’s society where locking your doors is mandatory, the key safe has become more than just a way for Realtor’s to get into homes, it has become something every homeowner should have to safe guard their home and themselves. Delbert didn’t know it at the time but he’s invention made our world safer and for that he was truly a hero before his time.
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