About The Author...Laurence D. Simon

Laurence (Laurie) D. Simon is the third generation of his family to be in the Lock and Hardware Industry. For over one hundred and twenty years, the Simon family been active in many operations of the profession. Laurie has been in various phases of the industry for close to sixty years. He has been in the fields of Architectural Hardware, Locksmith Supplies, Locksmithing and the manufacturing of products related to the industry. His number of major contributions includes designing and engineering of products currently manufactured by major firms in the industry.

Over these many years, Laurie has been active in various associations and has
frequently been called upon to give lectures and programs covering product knowledge, history stories and experiences in the Lock Hardware field. A dream came true with the latest method of communication, the Internet.  Viewers world wide will now be able to see what it was like in the late 18th and
19th centuries. What Laurie prides himself in is the ability to present all this material and put fun into the reading.

Motivated by an almost daily barrage of requests for technical information from
Distributors, Locksmiths, Architects, Designers and Manufacturers worldwide, he assembled the Lock Hardware Cross Reference program. There is close to 40,000 data records including product from over 88 manufacturers. Originally published in book form, in 1995 the printed version weighed in at 8 pounds, therefore it had to be converted into a data base for computerized retrieval. As
a guide, the data is based on minimum ANSI standards and includes the old Government numbers for reference. Facts are based on manufacturers standards and his own expertise.

Laurie and his wife Helen, reside in Richardson, (Dallas), Texas where they operate the H&L SIMON COMPANY. Their firm is quite diversified, serving as manufacturers’ representatives, marketing, advertising and technical consultants.

Helen  also  operates  an accounting  practice and assists  both her  clients   and H&L SIMON’s customers in accounting procedures, tax and general business advice.

His business associations include memberships in DHI, ALOA and many regional trade associations where he is a frequent lecturer