A Company Portrait: 137 Years and Still Going Strong

There is a famous saying, “Keep your Secrets Under Lock and Key.” Morse Watchmans is proud of their history and their story of how they have successfully helped businesses around the world to keep their valuables under lock and key, and safe and secure. They have been solving key management problems and providing security solutions since 1882.

Morse Watchmans was established to help business owners and managers worldwide rest well knowing that their businesses were safe and secure. They innovated the tape clock to get rid of bulky, often unreadable metal dials. They gave our tape clocks solid-state quartz works to assure the greatest accuracy and most reliable performance.
As the digital revolution set in, they embraced new ways to gather, store, and share security information electronically. In 1987, they introduced the first data recorder that automated complete guard tour reports and track stations with a storage capacity of 2,000 readings.
In 1991, they produced the Boss 2000 guard tour system that is still working in more than 20,000 facilities throughout the world. In 1996, they created the Powercheck 3000, a sleek, compact product that gives businesses all the knowledge they need in the palm of a hand. The Powercheck is the perfect system for fire and safety applications.

In 1900
In the early 1990s, Morse Watchmans realized an increasing need for companies to track their sensitive keys. They also found that companies were not afraid to share their key problems and concerns with them, which included companies storing their master keys on pegs inside locked strongboxes. They learned how keys that were lost or stolen were not always accountable. This system lacked the security and flexibility that their customers needed.
In 1993, they developed The Keywatcher Illuminated, the first stand-alone key management system that electronically released keys to authorized users. It was engineered and built in their office in Oxford, Connecticut, as they do with all of their products.
This system allowed keys to be stored in a smart storage cabinet that accounted for each user by access code, time and date. Keys were physically locked in place and only released to authorized users. A patented feature called Random Key Return was also implemented, which allowed users to return keys back to any open location within the cabinet, therefore, protecting sensitive keys from pattern location placement.
As the popularity of this system began to grow, their customers came forward and expressed to them new features they wanted to see, and Morse Watchmans were happy to oblige. They introduced new features such as durable polycarbonate cabinet doors, which enable users to view the keys inside and connectivity to a printer, PC or modem to give an on-demand management report with all pertinent key tracking data.

The 2000s
As the company moved into the 21st century, they always kept one thing in mind – designing innovative products that meet their customers’ needs.
In 2004, they introduced their next generation Keywatcher system – The Keywatcher Illuminated III, followed by Keybank in 2007, and the Keywatcher Touch in 2011, a more advanced version of the classic Keywatcher Illuminated system with a large, convenient touchscreen interface. This introduction was followed by the launch of the Keybank Touch, bringing ease-of-use to the Keybank market, as well.
As the security industry continues to evolve, keys remain an important element of a layered security program. Morse Watchmans never lose sight of this basic fact, and key security continues to be at the core of their solutions.
Every day, Morse Watchmans employees in Oxford, Connecticut – from the skilled team of Field Service Technicians to their CEO – work together to design, build and support products that help thousands of organizations stay safer, run more efficiently and save money. They look forward to continuing to design and manufacture innovative products that meet customers’ needs to create a secure and safe working environment for employees.