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Almost every glass and aluminum storefront or commercial building entrance you see contains one of the two most common Adams Rite locks, the MS1850 Deadlock, or the deadlatch (various 4500-4900 numbers). The deadlatch is commonly found on apartment buildings or other similar applications that require the door to automatically lock. This is usually installed with the Adams Rite push paddle on the inside. These locks use a standard mortise cylinder, usually 15/16" or 1", depending on door thickness. A shorter cam, commonly referred to as an Adams Rite cam is used on the mortise cylinder, instead of the full sized cam used on most full mortise locks. This gives the ability to use any brand or quality cylinder including high security types. These locks are often used with an electric strike hooked up to an intercom or phone entry system. This allows tenants to 'buzz in' a visitor, saving you the trouble of running down to the lobby to let someone in, or meet the pizza delivery guy.
Installation of these locks is usually limited to replacement of an existing lock, as most of the involved doors are already factory cut specifically for them. These replacements often start out seeming like no big challenge, but to make matters more difficult, the newer versions do not neccasarily fit right in place of the older models, requiring some modification of the door cut out or lock mounts. At the same time, to make matters easier, the newer versions of the deadlatches can have the handing, or direction of swing, reversed without having to dissasemble the lock. Since these locks are very often exposed to the weather, corrosion can become a factor, freezing up the mounting screws and or cylinder set screws. The fact that the doors are aluminum, and the locks and mounting screws are steel, galvanic (bi- metallic) corrosion is sometimes found. The newest model of the deadbolt, the 1950 is a stainless steel version of the 1850. I have yet to install one, but I can think of several customers who can probably benefit from this upgrade in material on their outdoor applications.
Installations on doors not already cut out can be a real challenge for a locksmith. It usually involves a special jig and a heavy duty router. The fact that you are not working on a bench in a shop, and you are holding the router right up in front of your face can be somewhat nasty and dangerous. The thought of the bit shattering on a powerful high speed power tool is a bit discomforting. I do not recommend this for the inexperienced.
Adams Rite makes many other products such as panic bars, electric strikes, electromagnets and keypads, but the two types of locks mentioned above are certainly their most popular and recognizable items.
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