From the days when keys were a status symbol of wealth, power, and privilege to the electronically coded keys that are phasing out the typical metal keys, the future of keys may play an interesting role in our security.
After keys were ultimately deemed an essential item of safety, key trimming machines made it easier and much faster to get a copy. Lost keys didn't mean that one had to put their life on hold any longer. The original cutting machines did a pretty good job of providing spare keys.
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The semi-automatic key cutting machine was able to give the general public access to instant copies. If copies of car, house, or office keys were lost, it was really not a big deal to run to the local hardware store and ask them to make you an extra set. These machines used a single pass to cut the key.
A grip was used to ensure that both keys were set in place on opposite sides of the machine. The tracing was made by following the outline of the original key so that the second key would be an exact match.
The improvement of key cutters was essential and the micrometers or the automatic cutters were able to provide more accurate results. This machine made two passes instead of one over the key, and measurements were introduced to help people understand how to improve their accuracy without providing additional training to the employees of the store.