Swedish Locksmithing in the 16th-18th Centuries
During the 16th to 18th Centuries, a system was set up in Sweden known as the guild system, a collection of professional which included cobblers, tailors, blacksmiths, brass founders and locksmith Dundee. The first of these guilds reached their peak during the Vasa Renaissance, which was a particularly busy time in terms of construction and therefore required many people working in professions such as these, specific professions requiring highly skilled individuals.
Each guild was specific to each type of profession, and was regulated by using guild rules. There were three levels a craftsman could progress to: apprentice, journeyman and master craftsman, the only ones who were permitted to work alone in their job, much in the same way as apprenticeships are carried out today. After a number of years working as apprentices, the craftsman could then advance to the journeyman stage, only becoming a master craftsman if he created a "masterpiece" which the guild could then use as proof of the stage at which the person's skills had been reached. This system lasted in Sweden until 1846, when it was abolished; however a similar structure is seen today in the locking and security industry whereby an apprentice will accompany a more experienced specialist in order to gain new experience and skills.
aaaaaaaaaaaaiii