In 1907, when young precision mechanic Emil Henriksson was repairing a cash register, he noticed that the principle of rotating detainer discs inside a cylinder could also be applied to locks. The invention was patented in 1919 under the name Henriksson’s Patent Lock. To produce the locks industrially, Ab Lukko Oy (Abloy) was founded the same year. Henriksson sold the rights to his invention to the company in 1921. He continued his work in the company board long afterwards. After Abloy, Henriksson became a mechanic – first with the Defence Forces, and later in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Helsinki.
In his spare time, Henriksson studied languages and was a passionate arts enthusiast. In 1954, he was awarded the First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland, and one year later an honorary Finnish Economic Society silver coin.
Emil Henriksson passed away in Helsinki in 1959. In his obituary, his family commemorated him thus: “Your life was full of work, but you never relented”. He did not get a chance to enjoy his deserved reputation as one of Finland’s greatest inventors during his lifetime, but it is said he was not disappointed about it, either.
ABLOY is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, it is about time to tell the public more about Emil Henriksson and his achievements.